Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-15

can pay you
"' Yes, yes, muttered the woman we
are poor.
:" knew that my object was gained,
! and gave the child into her arms. She
looked at our faces, comparing them.
mot yours 2 she asked.
"'Mine, l replied, boldly.
"'I have seen some of Natures tricks
she said, but never such a trick as this
mature owed me reparation, | said,
and she makes it in the form of this child.
1t is trick on the right side, dame Bet
ter the little one should be comedy and fair
than in my likeness.
as 1t is better; yes, it is better but l
am thinking of the mother.
''' The child has no mother.
"'Deadg
GO Dead, l repeated, mechanically.
"Then,- the woman's poverty being on
my side, l made terms with her, paying
her in advance, and saying | should come
every day to see my child. So l tenderly
kissed the little one and left.
" 1t was night before got back to my
hut. Everything was as l had left it /;
nothing had been disturbed. l was care
full in my observation of things, deeming it
possible that some person connected with
the child would visit the hut. There was,
however, no sign. Another duty was to
be performed before | retired to rest; my
mothers grave was not yet dug. 1t was
soon done, and in the solemn stiffness of
the night laid the inanimate clay in its
forest bed. l covered it with sweet herbs
and piled the earth above it. Good might,
mother, l said your death has brought
sunlight to my SOUL Then 1 threw my
self upon the bed of leaves | had made for
Evangeline, and enjoyed such repose as
had not visited me for years.
81 was up early in the morning, and off
to the forest farm. The child had been
well cared for, and to my delight seemed
to recognize me. She came to me will
ingly, and l took her into the open, and
talked and sang to her, making her laugh,
and laughing with her. was enjoying
my own childhood, of which l had been
robbed. Everything in earth and air wore
new robe, the robe of spring. The
clouds were brighter, the earth more fra
grant, the woodland voices sweeter than
they mad ever been. Such happiness,
Evangeline, did you bring to man driven
almost to despair by misfortune and in
justice.
{ Months passed without the occurrence
of any event to disturb my new and better
life. No person came near the hut to in
quire for Evangeline; the mystery which
surrounded her was not touched by time.
Needless to say here that it occupied my
thoughts. From whom had my mother
obtained the child, and for what reason
| had so sweet flower been doomed to Sc
clusion and to companionship utterly I'M
suitable to childhood? 1 could supply no
answer to these questions, and fearful that
my happiness should be disturbed, kept
myself secluded, and sought no society but
that of Evangeline and the woman who had
charge of her.
81 renewed my woodland studies. I had
no longer any books to assist me, but
found sufficient to interest me in the forest
around my hut Who is it who said, plac-
ing his hand rpon messy glade, Beneath
this palm is more than enough for the
study of a lifetime?' 1t is true. We need
not 90 abroad to learn.
cat length new direction was given
to the calm current of my life. The hunt
ing season commenced, and as in the days
of Mauvain' prosperity the forestresounded
with the music of the horn, the barking of
dogs, and the voices of men. recognized
at once the Importance of this change, and
out of the possibilities which might spring
from it | could extract no good sign for
me or Evangeline. My thoughts naturally
reverted to Mauvain. Had he returned
from exile, and renewed his old life of self
ish pleasures, Curiosity conquered pru-
dence, and one morning found myself on
the road leading to the fine house in which
l had left my mother when | went forth
into the world. Yes, it was tenanted, and
by gay company. What did this fore
bode to me! Discovery, How avoid it ?
To fly from the forest was not to be
thought of. There was no place in the
world for me, and l dared not subject
Evangeline to a renewal of the sufferings
l had undergone.
81 retraced my steps to the hut, SO
wrapt in thought that did not observe
the approach of storm. Night came ON
quickly with the darkening of the clouds.
The wind howled around my hut; the rain
poured down in deluge.
cit was only the day before that 1 had
discovered the dream flower; l had
searched for it for weeks, the spot in which
it originally grew having undergone change
from tempest, perhaps from such tempest
as that now raging through the forest. 1t
was well to be indoors on such night.
Heaven help those poor creatures who, in
such weather, have no roof to cover their
heads. That is phrase, Heaven help,
a phrase with hard meaning, brought
into common use by mans inhumanity.
&c 1 was busy with the flowers, distilling
the liquid from the slender stems, when,
in the midst of the storm, heard beat.
ing at the door. Haddiscovery come Had
l been seen and tracked? waited in 81
lence. The knocking was renewed.
"' Do the dead live here !? cried voice.
No" l answered.
"sOpen the door, cried the man with