Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-01
THE PEARL DIVERS.

About northwest from Putlam, and
distant only few miles, upon the west
coast o. Ceylon, was the residence of
Sir John Lakin. lie had come out from
England many years before the time at
which we open our story, and engaged
in the pearl fishery. lie was quite
wealthy then, and in this he had an ad-
vantage over many of those who were
engaged in the same business. He could
command the services of the best divers,
and he could buy up pearls of those who
needed the money. And though he had
now amassed fortune, yet he was still
in the business Money was his god,
and he worshiped it devoutly. The
baronet's wife was dead, and the only
member of the family who was of his
own blood was his daughter, an only
child. Her name was Bella.
Bella Lakin was nineteen years of age,
and was as handsome as her father was
avaricious She did not possess that
classic beauty which serves sculptors as
ideals of goddesses-but it was beauty
peculiarly her own. 1t was beauty of
goodness beauty that could not have
had any life without warm, noble heart
to enllven and soften 1T. She was short
in stature. round and full in frame, with
ruddy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes.
When she spoke she seemed ready to
laugh, for warm smile was always play
ing about her lips, and winking in her
yes when her soul was at ease.
One calm, moonlight night, when the
4 L Al
had been so burdensome all the day, and
the air was filled with the perfume of
oriental spices, Bella walked in her
fathers garden. But she was not alone
BY her side walked a youth who had
known her long. His name was Allen
Wilton. He was an Englishman, born
in Calcutta, of poor parents, his father
having been a lieutenant in the army
Allan came to Ceylon when only fourteen
years of age, and had been engaged as
common pearl-diver ever since-being
now four-and twenty. From his father
he had inherited noble soul, quickness
of intelligence and fine sense of honor.
He loved knowledge, and, with Bella's
assistance, he had had as many books as
he wished to read and study. He had
.,
during that time he had brought up
more pearls for his employer than any
other two men, if we except one native
who had been dead now over a year. He
was noble looking youth carrying ma
tional pride in his soul, and modesty
and goodness in his soul and face both.
bella, he said. as they reached the
extremity of the garden and sat down
beneath a TALBOT tree, II hardly think L
shall spend another season in Ceylon.'
WHAT" uttered the maiden, gazing
up into her companions face as the
smile faded away from her own stNot
live in Ceylon? Do you mean to leave
us?'
',Yes-I must CO."
"No, no, Allan-you do not mean So
You will not leave us"
Il fear / must, Bella
''But wherefore9 Oh, if you go, what
shall I do2n
"You will find plenty to do"
''Ay-to sit and cry because | am so
lonesome. You will not 90, AL an you
will not. Tell ne you viii not 90.
''Ah, Bella, you know not what you
say. / must not stay"
but why notE
..Why-the reason should be plain, =
replied the youth, with some hesitation.
''But can speak as plainly as you wish.
surely will not hide anything from you,
though would rather you should gain
the knowledge from your own under
standing"
! but, Allan. how can II What is it9
Tell me-tell me all.
Allan Wilton gazcd some moments
into the fair girls face, and then said,
with some tremulousness in his tone:
,sPardon me. then, for the speech ]
now make You know how long have
known YOU You know | came here a
poor boy. when you were laughing.
joyous girl
= And am not the same now2N
s.You may be in that single respect
put. alas ! no longer mate for me. O,
must speak plainly now! Bella, these
years have passed near you have been
hapny ones. for amid all my toll the
light of your smiles has chcered me on.
| But am boy no longer, nor even a
youth. as we use the term distinct from
manhood / am man now, and you
have grown woman. Even now / shall
never efface yonr image from my heart,
nor would if could. Buf il | remain
longer shall only become more firmly
bound by those tics which must break
the heart in rending. O, Bella good
noble girl-you must see it now. Il
would be wicked for me to stay. Plain