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


A vast crowd were collected about the
shore opposite the Bangle rocks. The
story of the strange trial which was to
come off had become known among the
people, and they had assembled to wit
ness it. The chief magistrate was there,
and other magistrates Of that section.
Bella was there with her father, and she
was pale and trembling.
The hour had come-the moment of
the clear ebb--but the pearl diver was
not yet present. Nearly half an hour
passed away, and the people began to
imagine that he would not come. But
just as the murmur was becoming gen
eral, boat appeared, coming around a
distant point, in which were three men.
One of them was Allan Wilton. He
stood in the bow of the boat, and his
bearing was firm and sure. He was
dressed in a close-ftting garb of oiled
silk, with simple skirt of silk about
his loins which reached half way to his
knees.
AT length the boat stopped and there
was hushed stiffness upon the shore
The water was in wild commotion, and
the surgcs dashed madly among the rocks.
ooh, he shall not diver" gasped Bella
clasping her hands in agony. But her
father babe her be still.
Four stout oarsmen rowed the boat to
the spot where the youth wished to stop,
and there they held it. He did not reach
the place where the water Kissed and
boiled, but stopped at some distance
- A 60 ~, Il, al
trembled close by the mighty caldron
and then the youth stood upon the
bow. He cast one glance upon the fair
form that now leaned upon the baronet
for support, and then he closed his hands
above his head and prepared to dive
There was low murmur upon the shore,
like the rumbling of distant storm
and every eye was eagerly fixed upon
the noble form. In moment more, the
diver left the bow of the boat, his body
vibrated an instant in the air, and on
the next the troubled waters had closed
over it.
Bella Lakin stood with hands firmly
elias Jed, her eyes fixed with wild, va
cant stare upon the spot where the youth
had gone down, while every muscle and
marble.
The minutes passed-one-two-three
and there was culver in Bella's frame
and her hands worked nervously upon
her bosom. The color now left her Ii ps,
and more deadly hue overspread her
countenance.
But look There comes q shadow upon
the surface of the water--the element
breaks, and a human form arises. 1t is
the pearl diver! He shakes his head
smartly, and then strikes quickly out,
with one hand firmly closed But he
goes not toward the boat. He turns his
head to the shore, and his strokes are
long and stout.
Bella started eagerly forward, and
then sank back again. Her lips moved,
and an earnest prayer of thanksgiving
went up to God
The pearl diver landed, and walked
proudly up to where the baronct stood.
"Sir John,' he said, "your long
sought prize is gained, and so is mine.
Here is the PEARL"
lie extended his hand as he spoke, and
in it was one shell of the huge oyster A
filmy, musuclar substance still adhered to
the shell, and in the midst of it was the
massive pearl!
1T is not the onem uttered Condor
Sudham.
Mott cannot be" responded the
baronet
"Let me see" shouted an old diver,
working his way through the crowd,
81 am the one who first found it, and l
know it well, for | not only opened the
shell and thus killed the oyster, but |
measured the pearl. Hal It's the one
the very one and here is where notched
the shell in opening it. Gentlemen, this