Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-10

was curious to see 1t. May sleep
in that shed.'
"'Surely not there Come into the
house l will give you bed
| 'And an honest welcome?'
"' And an honest welcome. My hus-
band is absent, but he will approve.
You are one in thousand, he said,
in voice more gentle than he had hitherto
used, and thank you. l cannot accept
your offer. Give me leave to sleep in the
she'd
"s You are welcome to the best have !;
that is the worst
=" The worst is good enough for me. l
shall not disturb you. Do not be fright
ened if you hear me move about. l am
going to see whether the ship that brought
me here is out of sight
"While he was gone l brought from the
house mattress and bed coverings. These
l made up into bed, and placed by it's
side food and water. The dwarf returned
just at the finish of my task.
SIS You have given yourself needless
trouble, was his remark can sleep on
the earth
"'There is no need l said carelessly,
in tone of assumed Indifference one
may as well accept the comforts of life
when they are within reach. Time enough
for hardships when we cannot avoid them.
His piercing gaze searched my face
for the true meaning to my words. What
he gathered from the mute inquiry it is
difficult to say, but l entertained for him
no feeling but one of pity.
go You are unlike the women of the isle
have seen, he remarked.
There is not one who would do less
for you than l have DONE Good night.
"' Stay, or shall think you begrudge
what you offer. You are unlike them in
appearance, mean.'
"' was not born on the isle.
"'H How long have you lived here?'
"'Seven years and more.
"' You are almost as much stranger
here as l am, then. Step little into the
light; l want to see you more clearly.
81 humored him, and moved to some
ground where the full light of the moon
was free from shadow.
Gas stood there, with his eyes upon
me, became suddenly conscious that my
senses were leaving me ; landscape and sky
appeared to be fading from my sight. l
aroused myself by determined effort
the blurred figure of the dwarf became
clear again, and he was speaking.
"'There is perfume in the air to which
1 am not accustomed it beguiles my
senses. As if I have not had enough of
dreams Stay but for another moment !;
l will not harm you. The mountain of
snow yonder, with its white mists moving
like monster clouds. Is it inhabited?'
''' Yes, Ireplied, and the answer seemed
to be forced from me, by the spirits of the
dead
"' "A proper place for the dead. There
is yet one thing more before say good
night. l brought child with me to the
isle
"'I know-Evangeline.
"' No fairer child lives on earth. She
needs home, and she must have one with
woman 1 can trust. Go to Father Sc
bastian's house tomorrow, and, if you are
drawn to the child, adopt her as one of
your own. 1t will be a good thing done,
but do not undertake it if you feel you
cannot love Evangeline. Promise me.
81 promise you
"'I accept your hospitality. Good
night
Good night.
HE went into the shed, and into my
house, with no thought in my mind but of
him and Evangeline. When 1 slept l
dreamt of him and of the child l had not
yet seen.
Early in the morning my husband and
Matthew returned home from their fishing
expedition, and at my request accompanied
me to the house of Father Sebastian. On
our way told them my purpose, and they
expressed their aequiescence in my pur-
pose with regard to Evangeline. Before
we started we looked into the shed for the
dwarf. He was gone, and we saw nothing
of him on the road
TO Father Sebastian l explained the
object of our visit, and he sent for the
child, saying that my proposal required
less consideration than if it had proceeded
from any other inhabitant of the isle
1t is fitting said Father Sebastian,
that she should find home with you, in
the house. belonging to Mauvain. She is a
charge from Mauvain himself. This letter
will explain how it has come about. Upon
its receipt yesterday L, without knowing
to what it referred, accepted the trust in
the name of the islanders. My surprise
was great when l saw the child and her
strange companion but had no intention
of going from my word.
Matthew read Mauvain's letter aloud.
1t was to the effect that he sent by friend
named Harold-the gentleman, l supposed,
of whom my little Joseph gave me rep
resentation the previous night-a trust
which he confded to the islanders, and
that he might come one day to the isle to
thank his friends for their kindness. The
letter was courteous, and the language that
of gentleman and a scholar.
"' 1t is a singular trust, said Matthew.
1T has occupied my thoughts during
the night, said Father Sebastian, and l
can come to but one conclusion. l have
tba olaarast ra,,,.,,o 1,r,,,ca ~ Mauva;n and