Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-18
{ DAILY REC0Rp.UNIeS sExsEs,
VOL. Xv.-N0. 81.
SWEET REVENGE.

glanced at the Dermody heir. a handsome
young man CT %, for the squire was very
angry at this moment, because of the dep.
Rotations OF some young miscreant among
the fruit which he valued so highly.
I've done my best, father" replied the
son, to catch them at it, but can never
md any one near the orchard It's mys-
terry to me where they come from, unless il
10 Jun himself who has done the stealing. -
jim was the hired man, living in tene-
ment house on the place; but the squire
old not think he would have the temerity
70 steal his fruit and damage his pet trees,
Tor he had more than once known to his
sorrow what 1t was to offend his employer
30 ne gave an impatient sniff, and babe his
son Keep his eyes open and catch the real
offender, adding that if he caught him he
was TO give him severe fogging.
It's some of those young miscreants
from town that are shooting my squirrels,
ana they deserve to be hanged" said he.
Late IN the afternoon of this same day,
as the heir was walking near the orchard,
apparently oblIvious of everything but the
beauty OF the distant landscape, his atten-
ton was suddenly arrested by a cracking
OF the limbs near the edge of the orchard,
and with single bound he was over the
fence, aud directly under the tree whence
the sound came.
Looking up into the branches he discoy
cred what caused him to hesitate with sur.
prise. and, perhaps, another sentiment. A
young girl of about l6, black haired, black
| eyes sparkling with the excitement OF mis-.
chief and fear combined, sat on a large
limb of the tree, grasping a smaller limb
above her head, and evidently ENJOYING the
| squIre's choice fruit to the best of her abiI.
| ity. She was barefooted and bareheaded.
and looked veritable little gypsy.
But Will had been told by his father that
the thief was to be summarily dealt with,
and such blind obedience had the father
exacted from his son that he never once
thought that there We're any extenuating
circumstances which could excuse him.
The squlre's word to his son was law, and
sooner than disobey him he would have
undergone any frightful ordeal. So, chok.
ing down the sentiment the bewitching
picture had momentarily aroused in his
heart, he ordered the offender to descend.
Still defiant, the picturesque orchard
robber slid deity down from her perch,
when her captor seized her firmly by the
arm.
My father said was to fog the thief"
said he.
"Pm not a thief, and you don't dare
fog me " And the pretty face flashed
with anger.
But | caught you in the act of steal
ing my fathers fruit, and l must punish
you. What's your name, and what made
you break the limbs of those pear trees ?"
A glance OF scorn was her only reply.
VIII you answer me OF not ?" he con-
tlnued, and then, angered by her persistent
silence and looks of defiance, aided by the
recollection of parental commands, he
struck her light blow on the shoulders.
The graceful form quivered as the switch
fell /; but it was with pride, not pain, since
the stroke could not have hurt fy. The
black eyes flashed lightning as she wrested
herself from his grasp.
l hate you, you mean coward !" she
gasped. "Pll make you repent that, as
sure as you live." And as she ran sobbinR
out on to the road, VIII felt that her
prophecy had been fulfilled with the utter.
ing.
a year passed. Our young avenger of
his fathers stolen fruit had joined party,
one bright October morning, for hunting
expedition. They had gone to Cat Island,
large swampy island situated near the
head OF Hemlock lake, which bordered the
Dermody estate.
Now the days sport was done, and they
were returning home. As they neared tho
center of the treacherous little BODY of
water sudden equal arose, and, striking
the sail with full force, before they had
time to shift it, their boat was upset.
Two OF the young men were fortunate
enough to grasp the euawale Of the boat,
where they clung, hut the remaining three,
ha,n - L a
fall, and excellent swimmers, struck out
boldly for the shore, distance of half a
mile.
One, two, forms emerged from the waters
OF the lake and stood in safety on it's shore,
watching the form of the third, who seemed
TO be suffering from some injury received
by the upsetting of the boat, and making
but slow progress, being still over a quar-
ter of mile away. Suddenly cry OF
horror broke from their lips as they saw
VIII throw up his hands and 60 down.
Stripping of part of their clothing, that
their actions might be less impeded, they
plunged again into the waters of the lake
and struck out in the direction of their
drowning companion.
At this moment young girl, a wild
faced, gypsy.like maiden, rushed from a
tisberman's hut near the beach, and with
out any ado plunged also into the water,
and commenced the race with her two
male rivals for the rescue of the drowning
man. Her life had been spent on the water
and in its bosom, and she soon proved her
self more than o match for her Compel
itors.
She reached the spot where the young
man went down, just in time TO sec a tuft
OF hair Heating OF the surface. Selling
this firmly in her left hand, she supported
the senseless body by almost supernatural
strength in one 80 young, until the arrival
of the two tardy swimmers, and together
they bore the drowning man ashore.
Will Dermody was lying in weak con-
dition on his bed, recovering from a severe
fever which had resulted from his recent
mishsp-for it was not without the greatest
exertion on the part of the physicians that
he was restored TO Consciousness ana life.
His mother stood by bis bedside, and
had just finished telling him the particu-
lars of his rescue.
at was Mabel Wheelock, a fisherman's
daughter, who rescued you at the risk Of
her life, and thinking you might wish to
thank her." said Mrs. Dermody, with a
smile, II have sent for her to come to
the house, and she is waiting in the sitting
room at this moment"
oh, mother, pray do not keep me a
moment from thanking this angel of the
wave for saving my worthless life, for
He stopped in surprise as the door
opened, and he beheld the bright, gypsy
face and graceful form of the girl who stole
the squire's fruit.
"Mabel Mabel Can you ever forgive
me :" he began, flushing with the recol.
lection and repentance of the episode in the
orchard. As his mother stole from the
room, the young girl came quickly to his
side, and with face from which all the
wildness and defiance had fed, placed a
soft, brown hand over his pale lips, and
asked him If she did not promise to make
him repent the blow he struck her.
Will kissed the little hand, and retain
ing it IN his own, he glanced again with
deep admiration at the pretty face Of Ma.
bel; but this tins ne had no command
from the squire which forbade the admira-
ton.
or course his recovery was very rapid
and few days thereafter he might have
been seen with beautiful gypsy-faced girl.
wandering through his fathers orchard !:
for he had gone to the hut for her. and de-
manded her assistance in despoilinp the
choleric old gentleman of his fruit.
The squire must have acquired more
forgiving disposition since we first met
him, as the look which he cast on them
was decidedly one of approval.
AS time went on, Will and Mabel, being
80 constantly together, despite their differ
ent social status, discovered that they were
in love, and go very naturally he asked
her to become his wife, to which she re-
sponded by a kiss and small word of three
letters /; and the Dermody mansion had for
Its mistress in after years beautiful young
woman who had first been caugh. in the
act OF plundsring its orchard.
The RED AND WHITE.