Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-17
CHAPTER XIV.
JOSEPH GIVES EvANGELINE PROOF Oh


no event of Importance disturbed the re-
pose of the Silver Isle. Evangeline, elected
by Joseph and Gabrielle as their queen,
wore her crown with the innocent au-
dacity of childhood, and ruled her little
kingdom with absolute authority. She
was capricious, but not tyrannical, impe-
amusements and woodland rambles her
moods and whims were anxiously con-
suited by her young subjects, who were
most happy when she was pleased and
satisfied. That she should be obeyed
appeared to be natural it was pleasant
servitude, aid Evangeline's close con-
nection with Rant enabled her to intro
duce color and variety into the lives of the
children.
RANTS position in the isle did not
improve as the years passed by. He lived
his lonely live upon the mountain of snow,
and did not even ask from the islanders the
service of occasional companionship. He
wasat times compelled to move among them,
needing certain articles and necessaries of
life which he had no independent means of
obtaining. These he bought and paid for
with scrupulous honesty, driving no hard
bargains, and using as few words as pos
sible in the negotiations. Shortly after
his arrival upon the Silver Isle he pre-
scented to Father Sebastian paper signed
by Mauvain, requesting that Rant should
be allowed to extract silver from the mine
for few days row and then, if it did not
interfere with the arrangements of the
islanders. The dwarf was informed that
he was free to work the mine when he
pleased, upon the condition that Mauvain's
royalty of one-tenth was respected. He
availed himself of the permission, and be-
ing man of enormous strength and en-
durauce, succeeded in obtaining such treas
ure as he desired by working few weeks
in every year. With this silver he pur
chased, through the agency of the captains
of the vessels which at rare intervals WIS.,
tied the isle, what he most needed and
desired He sent for rope, chains, goats
and birds, which, without help, he con-
veyed to his mountain huts. The goats
were of superior kind to those which
were indigenous to the isle, and were
much admired the birds were chiefly
pigeons which he reared with the
greatest pains and care. Dogs also
he bought, so that his huts were
surrounded with life subseryient to his
will. His amazing industry leading ap-
little curiosity, and the islanders asked
each other what this strange creature
wanted with ropes and chains, and why he
had built for himself three huts, one near
the valley, one in the center of the noun
tain, and one within a couple of hundred
yards of the topmost peak. None could
answer these nor other questions that
suggested themselves, and there was not
man on the isle who cared to inquire
further into the matter by venturing into
that lonely region defled by human crime
and cursed by God. Indeed, as time
went on, common usage established
right, and the mountain was looked upon
as RANTS lawful home, upon which none
had hight to intrude without just cause.
Rants restless presence added new hor-
ror to the spot, and numerous were the
stories which grew out of his goings to and
fro, not only in the day but in the night,
for it appeared as if this deformed being
could live without sleep. In all these
stories, and in all that surrounded Rants
life and movements, imagination played its
part to the dwarfs disadvantage, and even
those of the islanders most charitably
inclined were 10th to admit that the cir
cumstance of man surrounding himself
with that kind of animal life, which was
typical of faithful and gentleness,
spoke in his favor Rant had pronounced
Judgment upon himself. His open viola
ton of religious observance, and his sys-
tematic defiance of the laws of social life,
caused him to be regarded as an outlaw.
He did not murmur. One person loved
him, a child it was true, but more likely
on that account to be sincere in the ex-
preston of her feelings. With that love
he was content. He neither asked nor
expected to be received as guest by the
Sylvesters, but Margaret knew that he
kept close watch over Evangeline, and she
received more than one proof that the feel
ing the dwarf entertained for the child
was as deep as it was sincere. Evangeline
had been with them a year when she was
taken i'll, and for nearly a month was not
allowed to leave the house. Margaret,
nursing the child, heard Rants signal,
a faithful imitation of the song Of
the lark. She went out Immediately,
but the iwarf did not present himself. In
the rear of the house was a stretch Of
woodland, thickly clustered with trees, and
it was here that Rant and Evangeline were
in the habit of meeting. Rant from his
hiding place could see who it was that an
swered his signal, and when Evangeline
appeared he continued his clear notes.
walking slowly into the closer shelter o.
the trees, Evangeline following him, unit
they reached a spot where they could con
verse in private. Upon this occasion
seeing Margaret approach, he was silent
and kept himself from her sight. She
waited, however, and presently initiated
RANTS call. Judging from this that sh'
had news for him, and having reason tt
trust her, he replied to her, and guided
her to the spot on which he stood.
81 heard your signal, she said. "ant
came at once"
sit is not you want, he said
- Whara &c Evanralina u