Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-21

uouDt. Inc w mite Dove TOOK It's depart
ure, and after a reasonable interval re.
turned with another cargo, consigned also
to Rant, consisting of the choicest timber
for building and decorative purposes. Up
to this point Ranf had not been seen in the
negotiations respecting the transfer of the
freehold. He had been observed at nights
walking over his land, examining it and
measuring it, and apparently making him
self thoroughly familiar with its formation
and peculiarities but he came and went in
silence. He now made his appearance
among the islanders.
Age had not improved him. His hump
seemed to have grown larger, his body
smaller; his face was more morose, his
limbs more disproportioned, his manners
more uncouth. A rough shell, indeed,
giving no indication of hidden sweetness.
He came to make application for permits
sion to hire number of men to help him
build house upon his freehold. As this
intention appeared to convey desire
for companionship, permission was readily
given, and he at once made arrangements
with the best workmen on the isle, Sc
lecting them with shrewd judgment, and
engaging them by written bond for a
certain fixed time. He paid them literally
in such articles of ornament and utility as
they were anxious to possess. Some
bargained for cattle and wagons some
for tools and implements some for skins
and silks and seed; some for books and
scientific Instruments. Thus Rant became
the means of introducing into the isle
many curious and useful articles of which
the islanders had heard but had never
possessed. The White Dove brought in
abundance all that was desired, and more
Rants orders were given in the most
liberal spirit, and payment for labor was
made with lavish, almost reckless generos.
ity. In speaking of him afterwards the
men who worked for him said they be-
lieved their most extravaganza demands
would have been complied with, so long as
they obeyed the orders of their employer ;
they might have had tools of gold had they
asked for them; but nevertheless there
was scarcely one who did not regret that
had ever entered into service with the
hunchback, and with singular unanimity
they all declared that they would as soon
work for the Evil One as again for such a
man. Could they have quilted his service
with honor they would have done so with.
out hesitation but he held them by bond
aud the law was on his side. For this
discomfort Rant was responsible. Every
thing seemed to be so devised as to bewilder
the men they were unceremoniously taken
from ole piece of work which was
growing beneath their hands flor they were
faithful workers, and took delight in their
work., and put on another; orders were
given and as they were about to be exc
cuted were countermanded, out of sheer
righteousness it was eontended comrades
were parted, and kept at a distance from
one another; before a task was finished the
men engaged on it were taken away, and
others who were ignorant OF the first
design appointed to finish it not only
righteousness, but jealousy, reigned. In
all this confusion, in all these eccentricities,
the hunchback was the moving spirit
never for moment was he still she has
quicksilver, not blood, ia his veins, said
the men; he was restless and irresistible,
and seemed to possess the power of being
in dozen places at one time. Occasionally
he said. "Well done :" but those to whom
the praise was addressed did not receive it
with pleasure cit will be well done,
said they, "wben our time has expired"
The conformation of the grounds around
the building that was beng erected was
altered hillocks were leveled, water
courses formed, pretty stream was made to
meander through the land; they recognized
nosystem in the orders that were given. Here
their judgment was at fault, being warped
by prejudice, for in the midst of all this
apparent bewilderment fine design was
being surely and Systematically accom-
plished, and RANTS project, we'll considered
and matured, was being carried out ex-
actly and to the minute as he intended.
The workmen themselves, when it dawned
upon their minds, ascribed it to magic, m
idea which the more practical ones laughed
at, without being able to account for the
results accomplished. Gradually and surely
the work progressed until it was in some
part completed and then it was seen that
Rant owned the most perfect and beautiful
house in the Silver Isle. Its originality
added to its beauty. Ii it was Rants
desire to invest it with mystery which
rendered it impossible for any of the work.
men to give faithful description of it, he
achieved his wish, for none could correctly
describe its interior. One said it contained
so many rooms another said so many :;
not two accounts agreed. The grounds
around the house were laid out with ex-
quisite taste, and rare shrubs and flowers
were imported to beautify them; the mar
vel was that such being as Rant could
have conceived and executed plan so
strangely beautiful. From all parts of the
isle men, women and children came to ad-
miro, and many fingered in the hope Of
seeing some of the hidden wonders but
none were allowed to enter the building.
Over the portico, on slab of marble, was
affixed, in letters of gold, fashioned by an
artisan in the old world, the word "Chry-
santhos.
ct is the name OF the house, said the
islanders, and asked each other the mean
ing Of the strange word.
Immature suggested that the word had
an evil signincation, but one more learned
than the rest discovered that the word was
Greek.
"And its meaning" asked the lima
tured ones.
1.-THE gold flower"
This gave consistency to the device of
the letters over the portico, each one Of