Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-24
CHAP TER III.

The sun rose bright and clear the morning OF
December 25, 1870 and as he sends his rays through
an elegant farm mansion near the town of -,
in the Sacramento valley, man in one OF the upper
rooms thereof walks across the floor of the room
absorbed in some mental struggle. After tue he
goes to the window and looks upon the outer world.
His eyes rest first upon orchard anG vineyard,
a short distance from the house, now entirely di-
vested Of both fruit and foliage. little beyond he
sees field of wheat, which, few weeks after the
heavy rain has covered the ground with rich
earpeting of green. Then he lets his eyes
fall upon the scene Immediately beneath his win
dow, and gazes upon grounds covered with blue
grass and ornamented with trees, shrubs and fow-
er, Nearer stil he observes I conservatory in
which can be seen tropical and semitropical flowers
and plants in great profuson. He stands there
leaning against the window facing, enjoying the
scenery before him yet his mind IS not at ease. As
he stands there lost in contemplation, with his
mind sometimes upon the things before him and
sometimes upon thipgs away back in the misty
past a servant enters the room, spreads a cloth
upon the table and brings in an elegant breakfast
This being done the servant touches him on the
elbow and calls attention the fact that his meal is
ready Mechanically he partakes, and when it is
cleared away and he is once alone, he resumes
his walk AROUND the room. Firally he exclaims
"This Is too much Too muchr p Then throws
himself into seat at table before grate in which
burns cheerful fire, rests his elbows upon the
table, and covers his face with his hands, and his
thoughts become audible:
81 am more and more mystifed by my surround
ings here Sometimes it seems that am only
dreaming, and that will yet wake up at the old
camp in the brush and, at other times, question
il what purports to have been long period Of my
existence is not has not in reality, been all dream.
and may wake up young man by the side Of the
truest wife man ever had. Who ami : Do
really exist Let me see. How does the mystery
stand at present wormed out OF Miles Chat is, il
there is Miles and am myself the other day, that
was shot, that he squealed murder, and that just
then the 'widda,' as he calls her, came along in
carriage, took me in and brought me here, where
have been ever since. delirious, he tells me,
for a week or so during which time this widow
waited on me with her own hands, but / have not
gotten glimpse Of her yet. 1t seems to me that
when first came to myself, that frightened
young girl almost ou. Of her by throwing
my arms around her and calling her my own sweet
wife She vanished into thin air, and have not
set my eyes on her SINCE Miles and one OF the best
old ladies ever knew have been my nurses Miles
says the is not the widow, but that she is
young and handsome; but Miles has been SO mys-
terious lately that can get nothing out of him.
When ask him why am not allowed to leave
this room, ne says the doctor ordered it ; but
am now as strong I ever was. | have
just drifted along the current of eye7ts.
Oh, this mystery This mystery No king could
fare better, he could have no more attention paid
to all his wants than has been paid to this poor
miserable hulk Of man. Paintings that admired
most in my youth have been brought in and hung
up in my room fresh bouquets Of costly flowers
have been daily brought TO me- have only TO wish
for anything and IL is here The clothes brought
me to wear w-re evidently cut TO my measure, and
have been barbered and fixed up until when Hook
into the glass extending from ceiling to foor, caa