Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-14
CHAPTER V.
TILE p rr.r,pu OF THE WANDERERS.

son Paul, Paul's wife, Margaret, and their
two children. Joseph and Gabrielle. Upon
Evangeline's introduction into the house
hold, Joseph was seven and Gabrielle four
years of age.
That Evangeline should find home in
the house which by right belonged to
Mauvain was natural aud just. But the
idea did not emanate from the islanders !;
the first suggestion of such an arrange
ment came from Margaret Sylvester. The
moment the woman saw Evangeline she
almost implored to be allowed to adopt
the child as her own, and as she was a
good wife and good mother, and was sup
ported in her wish by Paul and Matthew
Sylvester there could be no reasonable
opposition to the offer, especially as Evan
geline herself appeared to be drawn to
Margaret. Rant, also, had a voice IN the
matter. He made it known that, although
he intended to shift for himself and to live
apart from the islanders, he expected to be
satisfied with the home selected for Evan
geline. 81 shall not trouble whoever takes
charge OF her," he said, +'but l must see
that it is one who is not likely from caprice
to deny me the right of seeing the child
when l desire" He visited the Sylvester
family once only, using his eyes more than
his tongue, and after exchanging few
words with Margaret, he expressed himself
satisfied.
The history of the elder members of the
Sylvester family was strange and romantic,
and differed from that of most Of the resi-
dents of the Silver Isle Matthew Syl-
vester, born upon the isle, and marrying
when he was twenty-five years OF. age.
livedin apparent contentment until he lost
his wife. He had been married but a few
years when this misfortune fell upon him,
and it appeared to effect complete revo-
luton in his nature. He became restless,
and his eyes wandered Stewards with an
eager longing in them and opportunity
offering, he announced his intention of
leaving the isle for the purpose OF seeing
the world. There was no restraint upon
the movements of the inhabitants any
man was free to go and come as he
and returning after lapse of years he
seldom regained his place among his
fellows. 1t was expected that he should
give an account of the manner of his life
during his absence, and this expectation
was in every instance complied with. But
it generally happened that the story of
his broken life contained pages which
were either blank or written in language
the islanders did not understand, or that
in the narration of his adventures the
impression grew in the minds of his hear
ers that something was being concealed
from their knowledge which was not to the
wanderers credit and this to some extent
removed him from them. Under any cir
cumstances the experiences he was sup
posed to have acquired in the outer world
ulu HUI bCli III Ills ldNOI. ~ W DIS DIS IIOuSll
he had passed through the fire and had not
been purified. In their relations to the
land as a people, the islanders were thor
oughly conservative. 1t was not exactly
regarded as disloyal for man to leave the
country of his birth, but it most surely
weakened the tie by which he was bound
to his comrades.
Matthew Sylvester was left widower
with one child, Paul, and the islanders by
whom he was loved for his open, generous
ways, and for certain gay freedom of
manner which distinguished him from the
throng of men, endeavored to dissuade him
from his intention of leaving the isle. They
argued with him without avail /; he was re-
solved, and they had to console themselves
with the reflection that had it not been for
the death of his wife he would have been
content to pass the remainder of his days
upon the Silver Isle. In this belief they
were in error. In Matthew Sylvester there
were hidden depths not indicated on the
surface; he was vagrant by nature, and
at one time or another, wife or no wife, the
sleeping desire for other scenes and other
experiences than those supplied by the
Silver Isle would have awakened within
him, and have borne him away.
Upon its becoming known that no per-
suasion would induce him to remain, the
islanders discontinued their endeavors to
turn him from his purpose.
You may make your mind easy about
your son, they said; "he shall be prop
erly brought up. and shall be taught to
bear you in loving remembrance. The
thought of him may bring you back to
us"
Il intend to take my son with me, .
Matthew replied.
They expostulated with him. A child
needs woman's care, and our women are
ready to receive your boy"
Again they found Matthew stubborn; he
refused to part with Paul, saying:
CT must have something to love. A man
cannot live healthy life upon dreams"
The islanders were not word-wasters
what they said they meant. Yea was yea
and nay was nay. They babe Matthew
God-speed, and he wandered with his sor
into the unknown world.
He was absent for twenty years, during
i L
him. Suddenly. without announcement
or forewarning, he returned, and with hin
his son Paul, now grown to strong man
hood. They were accompanied by youn:
and attractive woman, Paul's wife, Mar
garet, in appearance like gypsy. 1t wa
not alone she, with her dark skin ant
flashing eyes, who bore the gypsy stamp
the two men were embrowned by the sun
i L.,