Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-17

easier accomplishment; but had l worked
upon it all my life, none but stout hearts,
or those who had great stake at issue,
would have dared to venture it.
"The captain was not as good as his
word. It was nearly year before he re-
turned. and I did him the injustice of
thinking temptation too strong for him.
1t troubled him, too. he told me, when
after his long absence, we met once more.
".The brig is not my own, he said /
am under orders
"sI may ask you one day, | said. to
change employers. There are more I'M
likely things than that / may buy vessel
and offer you the command
"tTime enough, he replied, to speak
of that when it happens | think we could
get along together.
'sThen he asked me to accompany him
to the brig, and he would show me the
purchases he had made. He unlocked a
strong trunk which stood in his cabin, and
drew out old laces and new silks and a
necklace OF pearls and diamonds. | took
pleasure in their contemplation, and in my
fancy saw Evangeline dressed like lady in
the old world and as | thought of Evan
geline / thought also of Clarice, and Won
dered whether she lived. But my greatest
satisfaction was derived from the confirma-
ton Afforded by these purchases of the
value of my discovery. Truly there was
no bound Except the years which measure
lifs, to the prospect before me. Nothing
now was beyond my power; there was not
a wish l could not crafty, and for time |
was bewildered by the possibilities which
lay in the future. An observation of the
captains recalled me to myself.
sss Wealth is fine thing, he said, but
what can one have better than happiness !?
You talk like magician, but, if appearances
count for anything, | should say you have
not much enjoyment in life. Come, let us
square accounts
"He was scrupulous in them, paying
himself fairly, with the remark that some
times honesty paid almost as well as
roguery. l gave him other commissions
and more gold, and he is now absent at
tending to them.
:. Before close these pages for good Tor
i'll, as the case may be) must make men,
ton of circumstance not connected with
my discovery. 1t refers to Bertha. For a
long time did not visit the market-pla
and one night / saw Bertha at the foot of
the mountain.
s''I told you I should come and see
you, she said ; You have been away SO
long that / thought you were dead. Why
have you kept from me
g 1 replied that l had been busy and i'll,
and she said / ought to have sent for her.
g It is dreadful to be alone, she said,
when one is sick in body or soul. |
should have come to you had | known. /
should not have cared what they said of
me--they could not say anything worse
than they have already done. l am alone,
as you are. Do you heed peoples cruel
words 2
"No.,,
Nor shall 1. They have almost
broken my heart they shall not make me
suffer any longer. SeeI have brought
you some flowers from my baby's grave.
g took the flowers from her hand they
were crushed and withered. Nothing
would satisfy her but my promise to come
to the market-place the following night. l
kept my promise, and left her, as on the
previous occasions, whispering to her CHILD
through the cold earth. ! am animated by
the sincerest pity for her lonely life. We
meet now every week it has grown into
a habit; and Bertha sometimes calls me
brother.
$50 now l write my last words. My
last words If it were really so. and death
were to summon me this night, there are
those on the Silver Isle who would shed
tears over my grave"
(Io be continued.