Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-20

L can adopC any neans 70 D4liS hei anu
Margaret together
He eyed me narrowly, and said, 4 will
tell what l know.
s'. You have some information to give,
them
"'I have.
81 took from my pocket gold piece,
and offered it to him, but the wretch was
greedy and haggled however, by diplo-
matte conduct, l convinced him that [
would give no more, and he agreed to
accept it.
"sHow know what / know he said,
SIS my secret. which no man can buy.
Only in one way can Margaret and Clarice
ever be brought together again.
ssTell it me-
"'Death's way. Clarice is dead
"'You are not lyingy l asked, shocked
and startled by the news and by the cal
lous tone in which it was conveyed.
"'I have no purpose to serve. The girl
is dead
"'When did this occur?'
"'Shortly after Clarice's disappearance.
1 learnt it by accident
"Why did you not tell Margaret?
"'I should have lost my hold upon her !;
there would have been no bearing with
her. She has troubled me enough
81 could get no further information
from him, and we parted never to meet
again.
81 determined to keep the news from
Margaret, at least for time. All that
told her upon my return to the inn was
that she was free, and that her master had
no further claim upon her. l was glad to
see that she and Paul had already become
friends.
"' You are now your own mistress Mar
garet, said, and are at liberty to decide
for yourself VIII you join US? We
shall soon discover whether we suit each
other
"She replied that she was happy in the
prospect held out to her, and SO the CON-
pact was made.
"The companionship was in every re-
spect agreeable, and we continued our
wandering life, living from hand to mouth,
seldom grumblng at the bad fortune which
pursued us and kept our pockets empty.
There were others worse off than we were.
1t is hard world out there, friends !;
harder for the weak than the strong
harder, 1 believe, for the pure at heart
than for the cunning ones who avoid the
straight path upon which the full sunlight
shines.
"Then happened a natural thing. In
the springtime of life love- buds prepare to
blossom. Margaret and Paul were drawn
to each other, and sometimes, unconscious
to themselves, walked hand-in-hand 1t
gladdened me to watch the growth of love
between two beings who were dear to me !;
for the more l learned of Margaret's ma
ture the better l appreciated her, and the
stronger grew my respect and admira-
tion for her character. Never for an hour
did she forget Clarice; the dear name was
constantly on her lips. In the midst of her
enjoyment of the passing time she would
pause and sigh: 'Ah, if Clarice were
here ! and would reproach herself for
feeling ight-hearte1 in the absence of
her beloved sister. Often did 1 ask my
self whether it would not be more merci-
full to acquaint her with the truth, and
as often did 1 shrink from the sad task.
She had one intense desire-to visit once
more the town in which Clarice had
been torn from her; but her description
of the place was so vague that it was long
before we were enabled to decide in what
direction it lay. The moment we ascer-
tanned with some degree of certainty we
directed our steps thitherwards. At
the same time l resolved that when
we reached that abode of sad mem.
cries I would inform Margaret of her
sisters death. We arrived in the town,
and at Margaret's request made inquiries
after Clarice. l might as well have spoken
in an unknown tongue. Not a soul re-
membered her, or could give the slightest
information with respect to her. The town
was fashionable one, frequented by
tourists, chiefly of the better. class, who
flowed in and out like constant tide. We
stayed there for three days, and when we
had left it behind us, gently broke the
melancholy news to Margaret. cannot
describe her grief it was so sharp and de-
spairing as to cause me for time to fear
for her reason. Had she not been with us
l believe she would have sought relief in
death. But love and sympathy ightened
her sorrow, and in the course of time she
grew calmer. She will never forget Clar-
ice. Old as she may live to be, the MEM
Dry of that dearly beloved child will never
fade from her mind.
I" Friends, have but little more to say.
Margaret returned PauPs love, and they
were married. Fortune, as | have told
you, has not been kind to US, and Mar
garet, who will soon become a mother,
yearned for more peaceful life. Many
and many time did / describe to her the
sweet repose l enjoyed here in my youth
iui 0dJo, dnu dI lcHStu, preSdlieu upoi py
Margaret, | consented to come and ask you
to receive us. 1t may be that the restless
career we have led may have unsettled us
for the quiet life of this lovely isle. But
let us try. Briefly let me say-not in
praise of ourselves, but as simple matters
of iustice-that Margaret is woman who
deserves to be loved, and that since last
babe you farewell l have done no act which
should make me ashamed to grasp the
hands of old comrades in friendship"
The islanders had listened to Matthew
Sylvester's story in silence and with earnest
attention, and now that his recital was
finished, they arose and said:
Resume your old life place among us.
We welcome you and yours, Matthew Syl-
vester."
ITO be eontmued.)