Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-31

aliNng truthfuhy upon passing circum-
stances, and apt at the same time to ap-
plaud himself extravagantly for his criti-
cal insight, now naughty and now pleas
antly familiar, thoughtful by instinct when
his interest was served by it, generous in
money matters, ready to disregard ques-
tions of morality where his pleasure was
concerned, but most jealous in that re-
spect towards those who were allied to him
this was Mauvain, who had one law for
himself and another for his neighbor. Diff
ficult to foresee what the future Of such
man would be; but one thing was certain
he would float where many better man
would sink.
When, his toilet being completed, he
stepped from his house and presented him
self to the islanders, they saw a gentleman
of rank, attired in silk and lace, with
sword hanging at his side. 1t was almost
a metamorphosis. The man was there, but
scarcely the man with whom they had been
familiar. A dainty handkerchief was in
his hand, which he waived lightly in the
air; jeweled snuff box, too, although he
hated snuff Fortunate, therefore, that
the box was empty. The life he had led
on the isle had so greatly benefited him
that he looked younger than he had done
on the day, dozen years ago, he first ap
peared among them. The admiration that
his appearance excited pleased him, and he
inclined his head this way and that, as
though he were king receiving the con-
gratulations of his subjects; and as he bowed
with superb and affable air, he daintily
RECALLED his nose with pinches of nothing
from his jeweled snuff box. The islanders,
somewhat awed by his grand manner, pre-
sented him with small tokens of affection,
and expressed regret at his departure.
"Regret, said Father Sebastian gravely,
(which l am sure is mutual. Mauvain
knows how to appreciate the inner life
his sojourn here has done him no harm.
81 am younger at heart" responded
Mauvain, gaily, ''and older in wisdom.
You have taught me much worth learning,
and | fear you must sometimes have con-
sidered me ungrateful. Yes, feel that
have been happy. This isle contains the
true elixir of lite, and those qualities which
best sweeten it, gentleness and content,
grow like sweet roses in the summer air.
l see in your faces the question, why fly
from us, then?' 1t would ill become me were
| to say that man is not an OK, whose only
ambition it is to eat succulent grass and
breathe fresh air. More graceful to say that
there are also roses in my own native land
whose perfume | long to inhale, flowers
which seem, although they may not be, as
bright. leave you with pleasure and re.
greet. Do not think unkindly of me for
my eagerness our ambitions, our hopes,
our desires, are widely apart. That the
happier life is yours l do not dispute, but
no man can resist his destiny, and mine
lies yonder, across the sea, where already
see the lights and hear the music of IA
miliar voices. Adleu, my friends. What
property l have in this isle is in your
charge until l, or some other who bears my
name, appears to claim it. / go to take up
the broken thread of life, and it will be
pleasant to me to feel that l am still linked
to the land which has sheltered me for so
many years.
He spoke with emotion; the enforced re-
pose he had enjoyed filled him now with
gratitude, in which was curiously mingled |
a gentle glow of self satisfaction. Strange
inconsistency of human nature" he NUT
tered, that we can only enjoy the past in
the present p So, with good will on both
sides, he and his island friends babe fare
we'll
In papers that were found after his de-
parture the disposition of his property was
clearly set forth. He requestedthe island
ers to make what use they pleased of his
house, which was one of the largest and
prettiest in the isle, and asked whoever &C.
cupied it to keep the grounds and garden
around it in good order. As he had told |
them, all his property was to be considered
theirs, with but one reservation, which re-
ferred to the silver mine in the gulch. In
the event of its being worked, he desired |
that his propriety rights should be recog
nized by royalty of one-tenth portion of
the silver it produced, which was to be
stored until it was claimed by himself or
his heirs, The islanders accepted the
trust, and faithfully observed the condi-
tions attached to it.