The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-09

y
all the sorceres of Zombi Ga negro fctish),
which you told us yesterday evening under
the cocoa trccs2"
"Scc!" said the Carib, pointing with his
| finger to the fragment of shells hcapcd up
around his hut, ''scc what remains of Sas-
saggari, my father, who was the first in
these lands to walk securely beneath the
deep"
We observed that the shells were of the
same kind as ours.
''Ihc white strangers chased our fathers
from their home. We are not negroes. TO
escape from slavery the old Sassaggali en-
barkcd his family in his canoe; but he
would not leave behind him the shells
which bring luck to the fisherman and keep
afar the witchcrafts of the water. The
whites suspected some mystery. They
broke the shells against the rocks. Furious
at finding nothing but the white CLEAN of
the shells, they pcrsucd us-wc rowcd in
vain. They shot all except me, who saved
myself by swimming under the water. l
have caught since then far more than they
have snapped mp, the blood-suckcrs. The
rock only, besides Sassaggari, knows the
nest where they slumbcr. But keep the
shell OF yesterday, little whites; when it
speaks, Sassaggari will reply. He who
| sings III the shells the plants Of the sea,
and who paints the sunrise on their faces,
will make the stars Of heaven sink into
their heart" So the Carib spoke. lie was
motionlcss, his glance sweep ing afar to the
verge Of the horizon.
We silently left HIM and gained our
cool hall before the burning noon made it
intolcrablc without.
But these carly happy days were coming
n nlNr,, f5> la.
pleasant paradise for new scenes.
We grew up. Our parents spoke of
sending Francis and me to France. When
Julie heard this she sighcd-was agitated.
One evening my father came home from
the town and said that passage had been
taken for us on board vessel which would
sail in two weeks.
My poor sister, the ncws was terrible to
her. think can see her now during these
days. She would sit for hours under II
palm tree, looking at the deep blue sea.
Once when Francis stole up to her, tax
ing her hand, he said in the tcndercst tones
"My lily, what is it you see there at the
bottom of the sea2"
81 sce," she replied, 'thc white sail Of a
ship whicl, bears you far away-away!
The Count consoIcd them both, und
passing his hands over the golden curls Of
his boy, said:
'lou love Julia very much, them
'lcs, papa; and were ] never to see her
again, would drown myself"
The day of departure came. We hadc
adicu. Julia, pale rs a sheet, came to us
with her shells.
She gave the finest to Francis, and, talk
ing ne by the hand said:
'Jules, give you this horrible old shell;
don't forget that found It that evening
when Francis saved my life. Keep it in
memory of your sister and Of her love for
Francis" "
Six years later, during tho winter of
1918, young man completed highly
successful course Of studies ut the Univcr-
sity Of Paris and entered aristocratic life.
1t was the Vicomptc dc st. Croix.
We made our preparations to return to
Martinique. Between our departure and
the wedding there came an obstacle This
obstacle was revolution.
The freedom of the blacks was pro-
claimed The Count dc St. Croix was
ruined. He hoped to save his crop by
borrowing. The money was obtained and
wasted in vain efforts.
Francis rose in dignity and energy dur
ing this trial. Il Will Q ycrcomc this dis
astcr, he said. 81 VIII not be crushed. /
will go to America; a few years of labor,
and we shall be reunited, and Julie shall
be mine"
Hc left soon for Havrc and for New
York. Not long after his departure his
father, the old Count, arrived in Paris. lie
hoped to obtain from the Government some
indemnity for his lost estate. Every effort
was in vain. One morning the poor old
Count tottcrcd into my room, and, casting
himself on the sofa, exclaimed:
"All is lostl"
In sudden alarm started up to relieve
him, and so suddenly as to overthrow
heavy tab c. Owing to its concussion, the
portraits of Julie, which hung on the wall,
fell to the ground, and with it the shell,
Which rested upon the portion Of the frame.
AS tho shell fell it separated into two por-
tions, from which rolled three white balls. ,
They were the three stars of night-thrcc
extremely large, immensely valuable pearls!
That very day the first jcwccr in Paris
gave us $50, 600 for the three pearls.
We met again in Martinique. The mar
riagc was solemnizcd. We sought the old
Indian, and cast ourselves, shedding tears
of gratitude, into his arms.
s'Fathcr Sassa," said Francis, "You told
us the truth. We found the stars of heaven
in the shells of tho sea-"
The eyes of the chief shonc with strange
| light. "Who were kind to the poor indiana
Who gave him wood for his canoe, knife
| for fshing2 Who were good to him2 for
all that children, follow mel"
He placed his hand OH great smooth
stone, or rather rock, which seemed cast,
where 1t was by the fury Of the waves.
'Sassaggari goes to the south. lie goes
to the hidden land to join his fathers.
There they live in the city, where all is
gold, where the race of the Incas of tho
south and tho Aztccs of the north talk the
old sacred language of the serpent and Of
the sun. There the voice of the white was
never heard. Children, adioul"
lie rolled away the stone 1t covered
the entrance of the cave, in which we saw
piled high hundreds of shells, containing
pearls. We stood bewildered at the sight
Of such enormous wealth, and then turned
| to embrace the CArib He Ind disanneared