New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-06
THE BOY MAGICIAN;
THE SECRETS OFTHE SEA.
CHAPTER ].
THE pRIsoSER OF MD-0cEAN.


ago. O solitary white stood peiorc an WIZ
pie on island In the South Paoiho
He was OF middle age tall, thin, ana gauh'' WIN rug
eed features and sorrowfu eyes, ana VIII every 'sh
goodness and intelligence
Reside him was grim stone idol, IN grotesque human
FORM more than twice as tall as himself winch no nao
lust finished "a was indicated by the malle ana chsei
his hands. man.
at ia donep he muttered. "And these heather little
usnec that have cut my name and story into the base
OF this idol" -, - ..-.
He hisleye rapidly oyer THO inscription in question
1t was as folc-.ss
HTho 9Th of May 1882 David LestsF q the das m Oi
Lester Nichols Of Norfolk Virginia ss ans H ~ in the
Ship Hecla cyclone struck in mid ocean, the snip
toundered and took to the Roa dr a
which my Sas me saSe
this island The doarous hap fouT years been
doing mental offices and carving images 1 nave peen
chained every night, and watched c9 its sesame
and shall soon make an0ther-doubtless my last, as M
resolved to succeed die preferrlng death 10 onge
captivity therefore write these words upon Ihis aoI y;
praying any one who may them to report my iate
possible, to my family at Norfolk va fi7neu '"''
scrpton this 18th day OF July, 1857
For several minutes the prisoner contemplated these
lines in silence and then aroused himself looking wary
around.
"Three times have tried to escape In canoe he
muttered, and every time was caught and visited
with tortures To DO caught again in such an attempt
will be certain death. Yet will risk all the first oppor
tunity that offers. This longing for freedom and my
family Is becoming positive madness Oh, my God what
is thatP
He gazcd in pcrfectEstupeacon to the eastward far
out upon the ocean
There miles and leagues away, was ship, her white
sails cleaning as she lay becalmed upon the watersi
"a shipi shlpp cried Lester sobbingly. AT last,
oh Heayen At last my prayer is answered.
THE PRISONERS HOME.
On the east bank Of the Elizabeth River just out OF
Norfolk. and overlooking Hampton Roads, stood beau,
tifu cottage the home OF the wife and daughter OF
David Lester the prisoner Of the lone island in tho far
Pacific.
Near the close Of a lovely afternoon in May, Mrs.
Lester and her daughter sat together upon their front
verandah.
The mother was lovely sWeetfaced, saoeyeu "o-
man OF two.and- thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet hfteen, was
strange compound OF child and woman.
"You are thinking OF father. dear mother " muir
INJURED the maiden, as shoimarked tho adys longing
gaze
eyes child Your father, my husband. Where Is no '
Somewhere under the sea-waves wrecked on q desert
island or laugushng hostile shorel 1t Is five years
since left that fatal voyage to China My reason
assures me that he is dead yet Amy can only think OF
him as living"
"Itis 80 with me- mother, I" said Amy. with tremu-
ous culver of her lips %" dream often that he living
that no is coming home"
owe need him In q hundred ways" said Mrs. Lester,
signing "If anything were TO happen 70 me, Amy I
shudder to think what would become OF you You have
been brought up in luxury, and would feel keeny any
change TO poverty"
Are wo not rich then, mother" asked Amy, in sur
prise
supposed So dear until three years ago." replied
the mother sadly. "Your father was merchant and
shp-owner partner OF Colonel Nichols But two years
ago Colonel Nichols informed that the outstanding
debts OF the firm more than balanced the in short
Amy that he was the verge oibankruptcy, his Tor
tune and ours alike wrecked"
don't like Colonel Nichols said Amy thoughtfully.
If no lost all his money with ours how does he live IN
such grand syei whom do his ships and great house
beongr
ITO his nephew. Ally Bell Colonel Nichols s Ally's
guardian Colonel has nothing Of his own, except
ing farm or two upcountry, which not risked IN
the business"
Amy contracted her little brows renectively and WAS
about to reply, when tho garden gate swung on its
hinges. and boyish figure came lightly mp the walk
TITS Ally, mothcr-it's AllyBenw exclaimed Amy, all
smiles and bushes Ill bring him to you"
The young girl ran lightly down the verandah steps
and met the conner linking her arm in his and draw
ing him gently toward the house.
He a lad OF seventeen orphan, the nephew and
ward OF Colonel Nichols Bright and gay and handsome
OF those noble. manly boys who mature early into
grand and noble Boy he was he loved Amy
Lester with pure and chiyarous love- which babe fair
20 deepen In time into the great love or his life.
He the bearer OF a letter from his uncle 20 Mrs
lester and having delivered II, he sroled with Amy
down the wide garden walks into the cool shadows Of
grove at the bottom OF the garden
"Tyc been expecting you this good while, Ally" said
Amy. With charming frankness IL thought you woud
be Down here TO try those scientific experiments to-day
wen try them, tonight, Amy" replied Ally. "The
blue Lights show better at night I'm getting along finely
In my chemistry Amy like 1t best OF all my studies
al am sure you do" said Amy, earnestly You are
the incest boy ever saw !"
F AIly Bell laughed aloud. Amy'S chldlke simplicity
And otpeken truthiulness her greatest charm In
d,t5Ths si4t Of thatbflgyonder, said Ally. reminds
NE That promised TO meet Col Nichols board OF it
directly after delivered thai letter your mother.
u mn't 10 how but you ay expect me as soon as It's
dsrkftsIG'i Yssa - asliga ~ 90
y Nc claspcd her In hf. arms and kissed her.
For inmate Tie youthful lovers stood ut the garden
gate, toward which they had slowly walked. and here
they parted soberyAl 20 ~ down 10 the brig where
no had engaged to meet his nhee aud Amy to return to
her mother. ,sG ss,a.- ls.iay Oh q. ......-.Ie
she found Mts lester the OPEN letter IN her Tap silent
and motionlcss rs statue her attitude that profound
DESPAIR. sl.li o.. 3't.s cd "a. +.5, .-. s.H ,.t.
What it, usotherl cried Amy in Wild alarm spring
ing 10 side. - - ~ - > ..s .... e.
~ MrsTester looked ut her daughter with stricken
face. .,r 49, a. t.Fs-.- a.. 80 .., o.,
20. Amy p she cried.turning to that brave childish
Heart Tor strength and comfort Colonel Nicholas writes
ME that We are beggarsi lie reminds me that no has
asked me three several times TO marry hia, And Amy.
he says he knows your ther bo dead, and he Offers
himself 10 for thoIst time He reInuds ME OF my
,llLhealth. of your youth aud heltssneSs And he says
ahd hr0k A nf snhs
THAT one hand he oaers me wealth. comfort. and
happiness, on tho other Bofefty 9Dd sorrow II re.
tse him, ho gswesrs TO turn Ont OF our henfe to-
morrow - ,, .-,e ,:f.. - -.' ---' +.