Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-09

arrive at its worth from the knowledge of
the mortal part of myself, would not be
reckoned fair exchange for meal. Har-
old, you are beginning to see something of
life; all that is past has been comedy.
This is grim tragedy. Well, it would nave
been pity if you had passed away with
what perceive now has been but limited
experience. Hsw weak | feel l shall
think myself fortunate if 1 reach the
hunchback's gay flag with an hours life in
me. You have trained badly, Harold. Is
it hunger that hurts you, my man? No, 1
swear it If could regain the esteem of
a woman, 1 should be content to yield my
life without pang."
Margaret and Joseph continued their
upward way, until they arrived at Rant 3
hut, where the hunohback awaited them.
Welcome to my mountain home" he
said. l." You look around in wonder; there
is no need to do so it supplies all that l
require, and that Is enough for man. See
in the roof are my birds, and here are
goats that feed out of my hand am con-
tent; l have been able to do that upon
which my heart was set. But it is not to
talk of myself that have asked you to
take this toilsome journey. Joseph, leave
US for awhile; l wish you to accompany
your mother for her guidance and protec-
ton. What she learns from me is her
secret, to be disclosed to others of her
will, not OF mine. Remain without until
we call for you"
When Margaret and he were alone, Rant
said. 81 have been setting my house in
order. For years [ have worked to a GER
tain end, and tonight that end is reached.
Margaret Sylvester, of all the inhabitants
of the Silver Isle you were the only one
who, on my arrival here, appeared to re-
gard me as a human creature, imbued with
human feeling. On the first night of our
meeting you offered me the hospitality of
your house, and with your own hands you
made me up bed. But it was not that
which won me it was your likeness to
lady whom met but once in the old world,
and that was under the strangest circum-
stances / have no intention to occupy
your time with narration of my life and
experiences have written them down in
this packet, which 1 place now in your
hands on this understanding You will
yourself read first what is herein written,
and then, at your discretion, you will per-
nit two other persons to read the record
Evangeline and another whom you will see
before you sleep"
"Another ?" said Margaret "Whom %
&c You will know by your own prompt
ing it is not in accordance with my pur-
pose to give you any other clue. place
the seal of secrecy upon the three persons
to whom have chosen to reveal much of
my outer and something of my inner life,
and / leave it to you to decide whether
you will keep or burn the record, after you
have made yourself and those l have indi-
Gated, acquainted with its contents. But
its fate and its revelations are of small con-
sequence in comparison with this book
which 1 now place in your hands,"
Margaret received the book with trem-
bling hands. A food of tears gushed
from her eyes, and with almost inarticulate
cries she pressed it to her lips and kissed
it again and again.
"My sisters Bible ]" she sobbed. "My
sisters Bible o, my sister ! nay wronged,
my darling sister 1t is as if you were
standing before me. as in the olden time,
and we were children again Clarice
Clarice forgive me for my desertion of
you If had known If 1 had
KNOWN
Margaret Sylvester" said the hunch-
back, in tone as gentle as the tenderest-
hearted woman could have used, "no
human being has less cause for reproach
than yourself. But your sufferings will
soon be over; and when in few hours
you reflect that, in the hands of a mighty
mysterious Power, have been the means
of restoring peace to your wounded heart,
understand that the only motive which has
urged me on, and which, when fortune
strangely favored me, helped me to success,
is the love, the infinite love, that bear for
Evangeline. When you read my record
xro,, mill haitian Iarofand Tho of
the words now utter. found the Bible
in my mothers hut, but it was by the
merest accident-if you please to call it so
that discovered the piteous Confession
it cunningly concealed. These sheets were
hidden between its pages. Do you recog-
nize the writing?"
"My sisters" cried Margaret, Selling
Rants hand and kissing it. ooh, blessed
chance that sent you to the Silver Isle !"
"There is more than chance in it, 1t is
destiny-which has led to the events of
this night. In this hut, upon this lonely
mountain, untrodden for generations, until
to-day, by any human foot but mine, your
sisters Confession was discovered by me.
/ said in my message to you yesternight
that l knew of your visit to Mauvain's
house. / knew more-I knew that both
Harold and Mauvain received you there.
l am in ignorance of what passed between
you, nor do / wish to be informed. 1t will
not help us. As | have already said, l
have worked to my end, and it is accom-
plished. But / said in the message con-
veyed by the white dove that, of the two,
Harold was the more subtle villain, and
that l would prove it to you by the words
of your beloved sister. The proof is in
your hand. 1t is my desire that you read
her Confession before you depart from this
hut to your happier home in the valley"
He sat little apart from her whilst she
read, and with q keen observant eve