Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-17

VIRGIN Sold NC cilea % an 9
living man 7
"' buy you, Old Honesty, said, and
YOU must keep my secret. Listen. When
L first came to this isle the islanders did
not know whether / was rich or poor; it
was a matter of small interest to them, and
as for the gold I brought with me-of
which you hold portion in your hand-it
was of no value to me here. Nor did l
ever think it would be -
'.The captain interrupted me.
.t Stop. Your story must be told I'M
derstandingly. You brought this gold
with you?'
"Aye.'
6" And more as well
AYE
"' Honestly come by, hope
So hope so, too.
"'That will not do for me, hunchback.
Straight question, straight answer.
g. Put your question straight
co Did you come honestly by this gold 2
"sDo you come honestly by your bread 2
"s Yes every mouthful of it,.
g. So did l come honestly by this gold !;
every grain of it. That 1t is mine never
made, nor ever will make, any man the
poorer But no man knows I have it, nor
would / have any man know it but you. Is
my answer straight enough 7
g. It sounds so. Go on with your story.
"'I did not think the gold would ever
be of value to me here. But | have my
fancies, and they have taken golden
turn. There IS maid upon this isle
Evangeline = growing to womanhood,
whom l love, and in whom l take a
pride
. He interrupted me again.
90 Stop once more. When l called
myself Old Honesty I was not quite in
jest, nor was it entirely out of vanity or
boastfuIness. l am Old Honesty. Do you
mark me, hunchback?'
"'Aye, 1 said coldly, and | shall be
able to prove you. If had not thought
you were honest 1 should not have been
fool enough to trust you.
"Well, then, | must be thoroughly
satisfied before 1 work with you or for you.
To profit by thief's gold is to take wages
from the devil.
g. How many thousands fatten upon
such wages?
g. am not good at arithmetic. Suff-
Gent that such wages are not for me ;
therefore, my conscience rare CON-
modify, Ell, hunchback my conscience,
| repeat, must be satisfied before we con-
clude bargain. You want me to keep
your secret, and / will, if it's proper one
to keep not otherwise. Swear by the life
of this little maid, Eyangeline- sweet a
damsel as ever. sailor set eyes on-that the
gold is honestly come by, and I'll say
nothing more
Truly, thought, this man of many
words must have his way, and took the
oath with clear conscience which for
the time appeared to satisfy him, for he
allowed me to continue without further
needless interruption.
As / was saying, my fancies have
taken golden turn with respect to my
maid. / would not instill useless vanities
into her head, but when she becomes a
woman | would have it in my power to
offer her what would like TO offer to one
SC dear to me were | in the old world in
stead of the new. My gold is useless to
me in its natural form, but it may be
changed for laces, silks, diamonds, and
such-like adornments, in which ladies de-
light. This is the commission propose
that you shall accept from me, leaving it
to your taste, or better still, to the taste Of
some lady Of your acquaintance, to make
such selection as will best answer my
within and purpose. The reasons for my
wishing to have this kept secret between
us Is, itiSJ, bidt L W nOt care W lCt ~ NC
known that | am rich, and next, that ]
desire to have it in my power to one day
surprise my little maid with box Of
treasures likely to afford her pleasure.
What say you now to my story?'
"' 1t winds up prettily, and ask your
pardon for my suspicious. will execute
your commission, and it shall be matter
only between ourselves. Do you know the
exact weight of this gold
".No.
He cried in astonishment And you
leave everything tc my honor.
To your honesty-better than honor,
which, as word, has but slippery mean
ing. The gold have given you, however,
will go but little way in the purchase of
what need. Delay your departure until
the morning, and at midnight meet me
here, and will give you more
He consented, and at midnight we met
again, when | gave him small bag Of gold.
He brought with him weights and scales
calling them armor of honesty, and star
ing at me when said that honesty needed
no armor), with which he weighed the
gold. Its weight altogether was twenty
four pounds and some odd ounces. The
Captain expected to return to the isle in
six months, and during his absence was
not idle. made hiding-places in the rocks
for the gold l collected, and took great
Mains in making the descent IN tho "a VOC ~