Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-07

u,
come if not for his own sake, for mine,
send you a trust which l ask you to ac-
cept in kindly remembrance OF one who
owes you already debt of gratitude he
can never repay, By doing SO you will
confer on me an inestimable obligation. l
may one day come to thank you in person
for your kindness. Whatever expenses
may be attendant upon the charge | con-
fide to YOU can be betrayed out of the
property standing in my name in the Silver
Isle. Repay yourselves, | pray; but the
obligation will ever remain, and will ever
be gratefully remembered by
Your faithful friend,
MAUvAIN.
Father Sebastian read the letter aloud,
and said ''Mauvain's letter explains as
little as your words the nature of his
but what he sends us will be
received and welcomed, and will be faith
fully cared for until it is reclaimed. The
commission, so far as can make out, is in
the form of consignment. Is that 500"
"It is So"
Have you brought it ashore ?"
"No; it is in the schooner"
eff you will bring it, we will receive it
from your hands, and give you quittance
for it.
A smile crossed Harold's lips. &c need
no receipt. 1t can speak for itself"
AS he turned to go, his eyes fell upon
the statue of Evangeline, which stood in
the center of the market place. He re-
garded it with languid interest.
"Have you sculptors in the isle? ?" he
asked.
" We have men who employ their leis-
ure in the study of the art, replied Father
Sebastian, "but none able to produce such
figure as that"
cit is to be hoped not, said Harold,
with contemptuous sneer, " for never was
human form so travestied. The compost
ton of the figure is unutterably bad, the
expression most vile, the limbs and features
entirely out of proportion
" Your critical judgment" said Father
Sebastian, warmly, is sadly in error.
The figure is faultless, and full of grace
it is the work of young sculptor in Maui
vain's land"
"very young, should say, interrupted
Harold. M
''And is most exquisite" continued
Father Sebastian, in composition and de-
tail. 1t is not alone the work of mans
hand, it is the work of mans soul, and
were the artist here we should be proud to
do him honor"
SIN what way?" asked Harold, list
lessly. "Would you give him a wreath,
or fill his ears..with empty phrases? That
is how genius is rewarded ever the water.
Or they wait till the man dies in pow
erty, and then they erect a statue over his
grave. hope the sculptor who modelled
and cut this figure, vile as it is, was sub
stantially rewarded in his lifetime"
Thirteen hundred ounces of silver was
the price he was paid for his work"
"Little enough; l hope he got it.
There is so much roguery in the world one
is never sure. Now look at the figure
more closely, | discern some merit in it.
But if the sculptor ever thought he could
attain perfection, he was fool for his
pains. OF course you know the name of
the artist.
"We endeavored," said Father Sebas.
tian, GO to obtain it from the Captain who
took the commission from US, but he said
the young sculptor stipulated that his
name should not be mentioned. . 3
"'The modest foul" se
"Nay, eccentric, mayhap," said Father
Sebastian, in tone of reproof; "but he
did not desire entire obscurity. Here,
you see, is an H cut in the marble"
cit might stand tor Harold, said Maui
vain's friend, sin which case Harold might
stand for an idiot. But the day is waning.
1 must bring you Mauvain's charge before
shutdown. y - tef
He made his way at once to the schooner,
and in due time returned with the cargo
consigned by Mauvain to the inhabitants
of the Silver Isle: a human cargo, compris-
ing child scarcely years of age, and a
man, defo-med andungainly, not more than
four feet in hight The child gazed about in
delight, seeking what was beautiful, and
prepared to enjoy it. The dwarf gazed
about in distrust, seeking for what was
hidden beneath the surface, and prepared
to condemn it, unseen.
The islanders were but little prepared
for such consignment, and their looks ex-
pressed their astonishment. One-half of
the charge intrusted to them by Mauvain
was OF metal so attractive as from its own
grace and beauty to insure welcome of
the other half not so much could be said.
"What kind of being is this p
thought the islanders, as the dwarf stood
among them, peering this way and that.
"What kind of men and women are
these % thought the dwarf. Like their
fellows, doubt not. 0utsides fair, and
hearts rotten"
Thus at once was engendered between
them a feeling of repulsion.
&c told you, said Harold, who had OBJ
served with an amused smile the manner
in which Mauvain's trust was received,
" that the consignment could speak for
itself. 1t is veritably human, in shape. 1t
cries when it is hurt, and laughs when it
is tickled."
The misshapen dwarf took no apparent
heed of Harold's words he stood regard
ing the islanders with a frown upon his
face.
"Well!" he questioned, of Father Sc
bastian.
What would you have, friend ?" in
quired Father Sebastian.
"CJyilitv."