The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-03

perhaps you mean Condor Sudham,"
the girl said.
"Aye-t do mean him."
'tAnd do you mean to tell me that | must
be the wife of that mani" asked Bella,
speaking more with rank establishment than
with fear.
at is all settled, my child"
Bella gazed into her fathers face in
speeches. surprise-and no wonder. This
Condor Sudham was scion of an old fami-
ly that once had title. He was born on
the island, and was now over forty years OF
age. He was a member of the legislative
council, and merchant, and was one OF the
most wealthy men of the country. He was a
short, dumpy, coarse, dark featured man,
well enough as a member of government,
but never made for an affectionate friend.
He was married already to his money, and
wife and children would only find second
airy place in his heart.
And such was the man the baronet
would have his child marry. Sudham
had seen Bella often, and he thought she
would make fine addition to his estate.
He would take pride in showing her, and
having her preside at his table. But the
maiden herself had different opinions upon
the subject
''If thought you were in earnest, father,
l should know exactly what to say"
"Ah, and what would it be, my child'"
81 never can be that mans WIFE"
"Yery well. You will have fathers au-
thority to contend with, then. Be assured,
you shall marry with him, for 80 l have
promised
But the baronet found himself with more
work on his hands than he had counted on.
Bella grew sad and melancholy, and soon
the truth burst upon him that his child was
beginning to lose oil her love
for him. She looked upon him
as the tyrant who would crush her,
and she smiled no more in his presence.
He could not help noticing this and he wish
ed to overcome it; but yet he thought not OF
granting to his child the holy boon she
asked He looked upon the poor pearl
diver as the only obstacle to his plans. He
had no faculty of looking down into the
heart. He knew Of only two powers OF
nature-two moral and social executives;
one was power of station, and the other
power of money. One day he and Sudham
sat in council.
upon my SOUL" said Sudham, II must
have her for my wife, for have made all
my plans with an eye to that event."
"And so sho shall be-" the baronet re-
turned.
"She is crazy now with this pearl
diver"
"Why not send him OFF,"
because fear Bella would go with
him.
'sBut shut her up"
ayes, l know. But then she would moan
and grove he rself away"
"Then look" cried Sudham, ener
gotically, for very happy thought had
struck him. "Why not get him to dive for
the great pearl which is sunken close by
the Bangale Rocks'"
ssBut would he do it," returned the baro-
net, catching at the idea.
snake him do it," suggested the mer-
chant. "Promise him the hand Of Bella, if
he succeeds"
"And suppose he does succeed"'
"He cannot Among those rocks there
is a current running SO swift and furious
that no mortal man can Withstand it. Over
twenty of the best native divers have lost
their lives in pursuit of that pearl. have
seen logs of wood sunk near tho : rocks
with something attached to then to sink
tn EN-, and in few moments the surface Of
the water would be covered with spiinters
tell you if he dives there he comes not up
alive"
Every WE'LL" returned Lakin, after some
thought; ''if you say so, so be it,
81 do say so, and let it be done as soon as
you please"
And so it was settled.
This pearl, after which Allan was to h
requested to dive, was one which had beer
taken some years before on bank not fal
| from the rocks. Three divers were out
| and all three of them were under water to
| pether, when an oyster of extraordinary
size was seen. It was brought up anC
opened, and within was found a pearl as
large as q robia's egg. As the boat wal
nearing the shore, dispute arose among
the divers as to who should receive pay fol
the pearl. From words they passed II
blows, and in the struggle the oyster wa!
lost overheard. 1t sank near the rocks
and as the oyster was dead, it could no
have moved away by any volition OF it
| own.
mo, no, no! cried Bella, after Allal
had informed her of the ordeal her fathe
had given him to pass. "You shall not d
this. Oh, all who have tried it have died 7
''But it must be &C." returned the youth
calmly and firmly. "Your father has give
me his solemn words, in presence of tn
councillor, Sudham, that If bring him Vi
the pearl shall havs your hand If 1 die
so let it be; but feel that shall not Las
night had the most pleasant and promis
ing dreams, and havenot a single fear II
the prospect. Think! if succeed-you ar
mine forever. Oh, we will not look beyon
this! And listen; think l hold secre
which none of the divers have fairly con
sidered. They have always taken the tim'
of the whole ebb of the tide, thinking tina
the water would be more still then; but
am sure that the most quiet time at tn
bottom is after the tide has begun to conn
in At the ebb, there is surely might
current whirling around those rocks, In
duced by some subterranean channel; bu
when the tide has turned and been half
hour on the food, think the water is NOR
calm below, though it surges so furiously o
the surface. But do not dissuade me-
know the undertaking is perilous; but whh
is my love for you, if l would not risk DO
life to gain it."
y
A vast crowd was collected about th
shore opposite the Bangale Rock:
The story of the strange trial which was
come off had become known among tn
people, and they had assembled to witnes
it, The chief magistrate was there, an
other magistrates Of that section. Bella wa
there with her father, and she was pale ON
trembling.
The hour had come-the moment OF n
clear ebb-but the pearl diver was not "
present. Nearly half an hour passed away
and the people began to imagine that b
would not come. But just as tie murmu
was becoming general, boat appeared
coming around distant point, in whic
were three men. One Of them was ALA
Wilton. He stood in the bow OF the boa
and his bearing was firm and sure. q
was dressed in close fitting garb of ole
silk, with simple skirt of silk about h
loins which reached halfway to his kree
At length the boat stopped, and there wa
hushed stiffness upon the shore. I'll
water was in wild commotion, and the su!
ges dashed madly among the rocks.
sOh, he shall not dive" gasped Bell