The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-06-21

was so ardcntly icNOicd to his wife
Jack rarely, if ever missed climbing
into his favortc tree for the purpose
of getting his breath of fresh air. He
generally remained in this place for a
half hour, and then descended and
spent the remainder of his time with
his wife.
Eight, nine, ten years passed on, and
Jack found one day that he had been
just ten years at work in the diamond
mines; he had served out his full term,
and was now free TO go whithersoevcr
he pleased.
When the time came TO start for
Rio Janeiro, his wife held back. Jack
inquired the reason.
1--WE are poor; how shall we get
home TO America p
"Never mind, me Teddy" replied the
lrishman, III most significant tone,
maybe ! amt as poor as you think |
baas."
She asked an explanation.
did Jack Ford ever desaye yees p
She confessed that he had not.
"Thcn trust him in this matter, and
yell find when yess gifts to Asleriky
that thero'll be mighty few with more
goold than Alsthur Ford
He would not give any further ex-
PLANTATION, but reiterated that he had
abundance Of wealth, us she would dis
cover in due time. Knowing him as
we'll as she did, she could not disbe-
lieve him, and bidding her parents
goodbye, they started for Rio,
Precisely how this mysterious wealth
of Jack Ford's had been obtained, it
would be extremely difficult to imag
inc. AS to stealing the diamonds it
would have required n genius to do
that. The convicts are searched and
physicked in every possible way topre-
vent the concealmcnt of the precious
gems about or within their bodies
Indeed Jack declared that he took
enough physic during the last week of
his stay to last him the remainder of
his life.
Our heros conduct during the ten
years of his service at the mines had
been so meritouous and pleasing to
those in authority, that the govern
ment furnished him mules for both
himself and wife to return to Rio.
On the day of their departure, Just
as they were about TO start, Jack de-
clared he would have shillalah from
his favorite tree. Just to kape away
the witches, or larrup the lazy mules,
as it NAV be wanted.
Accordingly he climbed to the top,
cut the limb to suit him, which he
trimmed, and off started the happy
pair for the emporium of South Amer
/ lea.
The distance of the diamond mines
from Rio Janeiro is about six hundred
miles, and the route, as we have al
ready shown, was a most trying one
\ to the convicts. But Jack returned
in far more comfortable manner,
physiciQ and mental, syhan he went.
Then h5 was scourged, Bound and OH
foot to punishment; noe he was riding
beside his wife to freedom-and he
was carrying momcntous secret with
him
One night, when passing through
the mountains, Jack lay down to sleep
III his tent, which had been cast near
high cliff Something occurred to
alarm the guard in the night and il
his excitement, one of them caught up
Jacks staff and flung it at the spot
I whore the animal was supposed To be.
I Whatever it was, it did not disturb
them any further, and all lay down to
slumber again.
When certain all around him were
asleep, our hero crept stealthily forth,
made his way to the spot where the
animal was supposed to have been,
and there he searched for over three
hours for his coveted stick. When, at
length, it was secured he stole back
again to slumber, and slept with the
thing in his arms until morning
At intervals his wife would endcavor
to ascertain the grounds for his asser-
ton of vast wealth, but he always put
her off.
"Arrah, my dear, can't yees be aisy.
It's meself that yees know would be
the last ono to desave yees. | tell
yees nothing but the gospel truth, as
yen lafn whin yees raiches Rio"
This was generally followed by n
rousing smack, and the wife was fain
to give over her entreaties.
Finally Rio Janeiro was reached,
and Jack, after taking up his quarters
at hotel, proceeded at once to hunt
passage homeward AS he went
down to the bay, he was struck dumb
with amazement ana Joy to see the
identical Sea-Witch lying there, look
ing just as she did ten years before,
when he had hidden, as he believed,
an eterna! farewell to her deck.
Jack rubbed his eyes and could
hardly credit his senses. But she was
there-there was no denying that, and
with heart surcharged with emotion,
he engaged waterman to row him
out to it. When he reached the deck,
the first man with whom he shook
hands was his old captain and mate
These were the only acquaintance
that remained.
The officers were indeed glad t.
meet Jack, and when they assured him
that they were to sail on the morrow
for New York, it need scarcely be said
that passage was engaged Immediate
lv This eocnrpd Iack honJaI tbo