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

heFer seen IN more graceful conjunction
than in the Silver Isle. There were women
there as beautiful as Venus, and men as
graceful as Apollo. The strange part of it
was, that although the women knew they
were fair to look upon, not all their heads
were turned by the knowledge.
would not have you believe they were
all saints. There were sinners among
them, as you shall find.
The Captain took away the picture, and
upon his next visit brought with him as
beautiful statue in pure white marble as
genius in its first spiritual strength could
produce. The girl was represented in her
happiest mood. Her limbs were perfectly
nodded, her feet were bare, her head was
slightly inclined forward. A smile was on
her lips, her right hand was raised, and her
foretinger crooked towards her ear, as if in
the act of listening. The sculptor had
worked with the soul of an artist.
The satisfaction of the islanders was ex-
pressed in words and looks Of admiration,
and the Captain brought to bear the cum
ming of the worlds ways, not entirely dis
cardlng truth in his scheming words.
g The artist who fashioned this figure,
he said, sis young man who will one day
be famous in the world-one who loves his
art better than the money. That should
not be taken advantage Oft is a scurvy
trick to pay man half value for his labor
Had you seen this young sculptor with the
figure growing beneath his chisel, you
would have been amazed at his enthusi-
asm. He worked day and night, like a
man in a fever of love, as though he ex-
pected when it was finished to see it burst
into life, throw its arms round his neck,
and press its warm lips of flesh and blood
to his. 1t almost broke his heart to part
with it. 1 speak the truth when 1 say
that it occupied him more than double the
time he expected. 1t was bad bargain
for him when | fixed the price at thou
sand ounces" '
''It is a noble work." said the pur-
chassrs, "we will pay you what you con-
slider just"
By which piece of roguery the Captain
profted to the tune of three hundred
ounces of silver. During his absence the
islanders had taken care to produce from
their mine more than sufficient quantity
of silver The statue was set up in the
market place, the silver weighed out and
paid, and all parties were well content.
Thus matters went on for fully eight years,
at the end of which time schooner unex-
pectedly made its appearance, bringing
with it another kind of cargo than that the
islanders were accustomed to.
1t was early autumn, and the men and
women were in the fields, singing over
their work. The air was sweet with the
fragrance of new-mown hay. Some children
playing on the beach stopped in the midst
of their play, and drew nearer to the edge
of the waves, to watch the progress
of boat which was approaching the
shore. In it were two sailors, rowing,
and young man who leant back and
played with the water, letting it run
through his fingers in the LATEST of lazy
fashions. A spell of Incidence was upon
him, for he stepped languidly from the
boat, and coming upon the children, did
not speak for little while The children,
full of curiosity, and not afraid, took note
in their quiet way of the rings the young
man wore upon his fingers, of the gold
chain which hung across his waistcoat, of
the diamond pin in his scarf, of the jeweled
cane which he did not seem to have the
strength to twirl between his fingers.
Children" he said, presently, &C is this
Lotus Land ~
Not understanding the question, they
did not answer him, and he continued, in
his soft, melodious voice,
g 1 can imagine harder lot than to be
condemned to live within this prison of
sweetness. A wood. fairy might take pity
on mortal, and offer him the shelter of
her bower. Children, if you are not sea-
born, and know the language 1 speak,
tell me if l have lost my way
across the sea. This is the Silver ISLE
Bright eyes and intelligent mods are suf-
ficient answer. There are few grown-up
people here, suppose: The isle is not
peopled by children who never grow any
older. You, for instance, my pretty maid,
have father and MOTHER"
80, yes, replied the girl he addressed,
"and father is in the fields, working"
"Take me to him."
She slipped her hand in his, and he
looked down, amused, upon her pretty
face, and submitted to be led to the fields
where number of the islanders were
working The pleasant aspect of the scene
impressed him deeply. The people were
so different from the kinds who did such
work in his own country.
ARCADIA, he murmured.
~. neTe IL ldtHeT, saiu tHe SlIi, dfs d lai,
sunburnt man moved toward the stranger.
al have landed from the schooner" said
the newcomer, "and l have brought a
charge which am to deliver to Father
Sebastian, if he be alive.
Father Sebastian is alive, said the
islander "from whom come your
"From Mauvain"
''That is sufficient. Rest here awhile,
and we will send for Father Sebastian.
Our children shall bring you some fruit"
The newcomer threw himself upon the
tumbled hay, and took note dreamily of
the happy life by which he was sur
rounded.
ITO be continued.)
A LADY was heard to ask friend in a
street-car the other day: "Annie, is it |
proper to say this ere and that 'ere?'
O. WI. U.4a 81 oo,,rca not " tho