Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-15
CHAPTER XVIII.

Il
upon this startling union OF life and death
of death in its most chilling aspect, OF
life in its fairest. And yet, although 1T
was apparent to me that the years that had
passed since last looked upon my mothers
face had not improved her, the manner OF
her death was such as she would have de-
served had she lived worthier life. Both
sleep and death were peaceful, and the
fresh pure breath of innocence flowed over
the form of one from whose lips / had
never heard the expression of gentle
thought.
Ny mother had not been long dead
her body still retained the warmth of life
but just departed. She must have hushed
the child to sleep, and lying by her side,
have yielded up her spirit to its Creator.
The fever of her life, expressed in coarse
desires and groveling aspirations, was
spent. She had lived the full span, but l
doubted if there existed human creature
who, hearing she had gone, would have
said, Rest in peace Like weed run to
waste lay my mother like a sweet and
lovely flower lay the child. By what
mysterious link were living sunrise and
dead night united l searched the hut for
clue, in the shape of a letter or memo
randum, and I made two discoveries, one
of few pieces of gold in wooden cup, the
other of Bible, on the fy-leaf of which
was written in struggling characters which
/ recognized as my mothers Ranf-Mau-
vain, and beneath these names, another,
Evangeline. There was nothing strange
In the circumstance of my mother thus
bringing into association the two beings
most closely connected with her life but
that their names should be written in a
Bible Here was matter for reflection.
Not only to my knowledge had my mother
never possessed Bible, but l had never
known her open the pages of one. The
book 1 held then in my hand was small
and was fastened with silver clasps /; some
of the leaves stuck together, probably
from damp, proof that it had been lately
but little used. 1 put it carefully away,
and 1t is now in the hut in which | am
making this record.
The discovery of the gold and the BIZ
BILE afforded no clue to the mystery of the
child's presence, for the third name, Evan
geline, which 1 supposed to be the child's,
was not of any value as testimony. The
only other unaccustomed object which re-
warded my search was baby's shoe.
cit hurt me that the sleeping child
should be so close to death, and l gathered
and made bed of dry leaves upon the
ground, and, softly raising the child, placed
her upon it. A spirit of hope and happi-
ness entered my heart as l held the beau
tiful flower in my arms. The child had
been sent to me from heaven faithfully
would / guard the sacred trust.
g 1 carried the body of my mother from
the hut and laid it in the forests shade, in
a spot suitable for grave, which l deter
mined to dig that night. Then returned
to the hut and sat by the side of the child,
waiting for her to awake. | felt that
terrible ordeal awaited me in the moment
of her awaking from her slumber. If she
shrank from me, terrified at my uncouth
appearance, ! vowed never to meet the
face of man again. would go and herd
with the beasts, as being fit only for the
society of the lower creatures of the EARTH
A Judgment was about to be pronounced
upon me.
The child opened her eyes, and looked
at me calmly and without fear. / held
out my arms to her, and she accepted the
shelter. Tears of gratitude rolled down
my beard. All my life I had been fighting
with demons; now, an angel was on my
side.
81 sat with her little hand in mine, and
her soft cheek nesting against my hairy
face. Only for few moments did allow
myself the enjoyment of this new and
wonderful happiness, being impressed with
the necessity of finding home for the
child, in which she could receive womanly
care and attention. knew of but one
such within easy distance, house almost
as lonely as my mothers hut, In which IN
former years had seen woman at work !;
it was called the forest farm. Throwing
an old shawl of my mothers round the
child, proceeded in the direction of the
farm, taking with me the gold had found
in the cup. The sun was setting when l
reached my destination. The rocks were
clustering for rest i; an old man was driv-
ing COW into shed; dog rushed at me,
and stood stock-still, arrested in his con-
templated attack by my disregard of him,
and another, savage beast secured by
stout chain, came from his kennel, and
growled at me furiously. l took no notice
of these creatures, but walked straight to
the door of the farmhouse, and pushing it
open, saw the woman who lived there
when l was lad. She had grown prema-
turely cid the healthy color in her face
had fed, and her hair was almost white.
She stared at me in terror, and made as
though she would fly from me.
There is no cause for fear 1 said /; I
am not ghost. My name is Rant.
"The announcement did not tend to
compose her.
Rant = she cried. The deformed
son of the evil woman in the hut yonder =
The same, 1 replied. carry my
credentials on my shoulders
"'The good Lord save us!' she ejacu-
lated.
as Amen, said.
"'We heard you were dead
eft is not true, you see. You knew