The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-04
THE PEARL DIVERS.

COdSJ VI NeIlOn, was inc TeSlucuCe Oh
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. He 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 enliven and soften it. She was short
in stature, round and full in frame, with
ruddy cheeks aud sparkling blue eyes.
When she spoke she seemed ready to
laugh, for a warm smile was always play
ing about her lips, and winking in her
eyes when her soul was at ease.
One calm, moonlight night, when the
fresh sea breeze drove away the heat that
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 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 Ccylon when only fourteen
years of age, and had been engaged as a
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 Bellas
assistance, he had had as many books as
he wished to read and study. He had
been with the baronet now six years, and
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 year. He
was noblelo 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 TALBOT tree II hardly think
shall spend another season in Ceylon."
What" uttered the maiden, gazing
up into her companions face as the
smile faded away from her own. "Not
live in Ceylon9 Do you mean to leave
us?"
"Yes-I must 60"
"No, no, Allan-you do not mean so.
You will not leave us"
II fear | must, Bella"
"But wherefore9 Oh, if you go, what
shall do2"
''You will find plenty to do"
"Ay-to sit and cry because l am SO
lonesome. You will not go, Allan you
will not Tell me you will not go"
"Ah, Bella, you know not what YOU
say. must not stay
"But why not2'
"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 til
Tell me-tell me all"
Allan Wilton gazed some moments
into the fair girls face, and then said,
with some tremulousness in his tone:
"Pardou me, them for the speech ]
now make. You know how long have
L., 7 l.
poor boy, when you were a laughing,
joyous girl"
"And am not the same nowan
"You may be in that single respect
but, alas no longer mate for me. O.
must speak plainly now! Bella, these
years / have passed near you have been
happy ones, for amid all my toll the
light of your smiles has cheered me on
But am a boy no longer, nor even 6
youth, as we use the term distinct from
manhood. | am man now, and you
have grown woman. Even now l shall
never efface your image from my heart
nor would if could. Buff if | remain
longer | shall only become more firmly
bound by those ties which must break
the heart in rending. o, Bella-good
noble girl-you must see it now. II
would be wicked for me to stay. Plain
ly, now, tell you-it can do no harm -
love you too well to stay longer. Now
you have the truth"
The fair girl withdrew her hand from
the youths looscned grasp, and bowed
her head. She remained thus som,
moments. Finally she looked up, and
the moonbeoms were reflected from tn,
pearly tears that had collected in he
eyes, and now stood trembling upon tn,
lashes.
"Allan, she said, in low, agitateG
tone, 81 do understand you, and if
have cever before thought of this as yo,
now present it, is because have been 81
happy in your company that have no