The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-17
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial AObertisrr
MAY Il.
Adam Flidge's Gold.

dollars in gold This snug sum was Considered Z
fortune in Auddybrook; and Muddybrook accord
inSiy extended it's arms 10 receive the 2mtable
Adam; although am sorry 10 say-the ridge
family being poor, the young adyentnrer had
never been appreciated by his townspeople, until
the news that ne had made his fortune IN CaiilOr-
MA, opened their eyes 10 his extraordinary merits.
All black, and bearded, and uncouth in his
manners, as Adam was, he was care5sed by the
first people Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. gay and
proud, who had formerly noticed Adam no more
than If he had been a dog. But Adam, fresh from
the society of bsrbarians, and altogether unae-
custoIned to the smiles Of the tender sex, was fiat
tered, bewildered, dazzlcd by the bright eyes
which beamed fondly on him now. Womans
smiles TO him were welcome Sc the breath OF
Spring to the bleak hills and tempest rended trees.
With a heart hungry for love, it is no wonder that
he betrayed the most amiable of human weak
nesses; no wonder that even the not very beauti-
ful Matilda Moore led him q willing captive; the
cold and coquettish Matilda, to whom Adam had
offered himself in the days Of his poverty, and
been fatty, contemporary rejected.
Seen through gold bound glasses, however,
Adam appeared no more the worthless wretch Ma
tilda formerly considered him. As the youngest
Of five unmarried daughters, in whose maiden
footsteps she was following fast, the proud Matilda
was pretty well qualified TO Judge of Adams
newly discovered merits. She judged indeed;
and when tine stupid fellow, believing every wo-
man true, once more offered her his hand, she gra-
ciOusly accepted it. Adam almost burst With JOY
and pride. lie firmly believed himself to be the
most fortunate fellow in the world.
But while Adam was so happy, somebody was
very miserable. To every laugh Of his somebody
echoed a sigh. While the balance OF his happl-
ness was full, that of another kicked the beam.
That other was his fCster-sister-the fair Rose,
who had loved him ever, from his youth upward
with an u~Daltered affection. She was a gentle,
winning creature, and it is one of the wonders OF
2 Guuid that Adam had never fallen in love with
her. She was lairer than Matilda Moore, and 1t
must have been a silly pride which caused Adam
to prefer the position OF the latter to the charac-
ter OF Rose.
Adam, in effect, did not appreciate Rose. He
did not understand her. Could be have known
how well she loved him, the startling truth might
have brought him to his senses. But he was one
of Cupid's bats; he could not see the light. Often,
after bis return, he discovered tears in the soft
eyes of Rose.
MY dear sister, he would say, " what is the
matter?' kissing her fondly, and ~playfully blow
ing the tears off from her long eye-lashes. What
is the matter?'
Fool not to seel fool not to discover, in her
evasive answers, the grief which was breaking her
heart Blind, indeed!-he appeared 10 see moth
ing except the charms of Matilda, and the glitter
of his gold, which be kept locked up in q stout
oaken chest, previously to investing it III u farm
for 81 self and wife"
Now Adam had many old friends who warned
him against Matilda, and whose wise counsel was
despised. His father and elder brother begged
him to make q different choice, cndeavoring to
convince him that 1t was only his money that Ma
tilda loved.
ssDo you think I'm q baby?'' cried Adam,
once in Roses presence. Cant L read a wo-
mans heart? II Matilda didn't love me, do you
suppose | would be fool enough not to see it!
She'd have me for her husband if hadn'ta penny
in the world
"She wouldn't look ut you,'' exclaimed his
father.
Upon which, both left the house in different d-
%rections. Rose, trembling and weeping, remained
alone.
1t is rather a singular coincidence, that on the
very next morning Adam opened his eyes consid-
erably wider than usual, on first getting up, at
the strange, startling sight, which made him trein-
BILE and grow faint. The lid of the oak chest was
lifted. The gold was gone. And in it's place lay
his bowie knife and revolver, which he always
placed under his pillow Oh going to bed, as secu-
rity against thieves.
Specifies and pale as death, Adam stood gax-
ing with a look of despair and rage ut the rifed
chest. 1t was evident that the robbers on enter
ing the room had first taken possession of his
weapons, and left them in place of the gold. At
all events the gold was gone; Adam was penniless!
The fruit of many months of painful toll had van
ished in a night time. The truth was too terri
bic TO be realized, the misfortune too great to
bear.
II Il itDdIEC VIC GAuStul CillCu lilo ltbuCly anu
communicated to him the fearful intelligence. 1t
is hard to say which was the most angry of the
two. They discovered how tho robber might have
entered and left the house, and they raised the
alarm at once. In an hour all MuddybroOk rang
with the report Of the robbery, and officers were
in pursuit Of the thieves. In vain! No gold was
to be recoyered-no thieves were caught.
The fever of excitement into which Adam was
thrown by his misfortune caused him a fit of i'll
ness. For a week he laid groaning on a bed of
pain and despair. All this time his afianced, the
false Matilda, never visited him. But Rose, the
faithful, devoted Rose, was always by his side to
soothe and console him, and picture happier times.
Immediately on his recovery Adam betook him
self to Mr.. MoOre's house. Still unwilling to be-
lieye Matilda falthless, he went to pour out his
sorrow in her sympathizing ear and to assure her
of his unchauging affection. Matllda's forbid
ding aspect chilled his heart; she regarded him as
if he had been some unfortunate person whom she
had seen somewhere, and Of whom she retained
remarkably disagreeable recollections. Adams
eyes were open to his folly, and he reproacbed her
bitterly.
Not another word, sir" cried Matilda,
haughtly, interrupting his complaint. "If you
have been deceived in me- have been deceived
in yoU. 1t is best foc us never to meet again.
Good byei"
Adam staggered home. He threw himself
grooming upon a seat. Poor Rose-scarcely less
afflicted than himself-knelt down by his side,
aud begged him TO tell his ~"sister" what had
happened. Adam pressed her hand to his bosom,
and his tears fell on her glossy tresses, while to
that one sympathizing heart he offered his own,
and laid bare all his grief. Meantime, poor Rose
wept, but she could not speak. and withdrawing
herself from his embrace, she FASTENED to her
chamber.
That night Adam slept soundly, and awoke in
the morning, more nearly reconciled to his lot
than he had been before. He rubbed his eyes; he
smiled, as, recalling q dream he bad had, he made
a resolution to regret his gold no more, to forget
the false Matilda, and, moreover, to be a man
again. He rubbed his eyes, we say; but as soon
rs ne got them fairly open, the smile vanished
from his lips, and he stared in establishment at
some object on the lid Of his chest. Eager, trem-
hlipy ba mo- Foyrr,rI. Loeo,zoI;S Lo--oe-oJ