The Wahpeton times., 1889-08-01

"Perhaps you mean Condor Sudham,"
the girl said.
"Aye-I do mean him."
"And do you mean to tell me that must
be the wife of that man!" asked Bella
speaking more with rank astonishmcnt than
with fear
ut is all settled, my child"
Bella gazed into her fathers face in
speechless surprisc-and no wonder. This
Condor Sudham was scion Of an old fami-
ly that once had a title. He was born on
the island, and was now over forty years of
age. He was member of the legislative
council, and merchant, and was ono of the
most wealthy men of the country. He was
short, dumpy, coarse, dark featured man,
we'll enough as 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
ary place in his heart.
And such was tho man tho baronet
would have his child marry. Sudham
had seen Bella often, and ne 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
should know exactly what to say"
'Ah, and what would it be, my childa"
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 so 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 all 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
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 Sudha,n, II must
have her for my wife. for have made all
my plans with an eye to that event."
"And so she shall be-" the baronet re-
turned.
"She is crazy now with this pearl
diver"
"Why not send him off.''
"Bccause fear Bella would go with
him."
''But shut her up"
eyes, know. But then she would moan
and gricve he rself away"
"Thcn look" cried Sudham, ener-
getically, for q very happy thought had
struck him. "Why not get him to dive for
the great pearl which is sunken close by
the Bangalo Rocks!"
"But would he do it1" returned the baro-
net, catching at the idea.
''Make him do it," suggested the mer-
chant. "Promise him the hand of Bella, il
he succeeds"
"And suppose he does succced:"
"He cannot. Among those rocks there
is 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 those rocks,
with something attached to them to sink
tn en-, and in few moments the surface of
the water would be covered with splinters
tell you If he dives there he comes not up
alive"
"Vcry we'll" returned Lakin. after some
thought: "if you say so, so be it."
II 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 be
requested to dive was one which had been
taken some years before on a bank not far
from the rocks. Three divers were out,
and all three of them were under water to-
gether, when an oyster Of extraordinary
size was seen. 1t was brought up and
opened, and within was found pearl as
large as robins egg. AS the boat was
nearing the shore. dispute arose among
the pearl From words they passed to
blows and in the struggle the oyster was
lost overheard. It sank near the rocks,
and as the oyster was dead, it could not
have moved away by any volition of its
own.
mo, no, no' cried Bella. after Allan
had informed her of tho ordeal her father
had given him to pass. "You shall not do
'sBut it must be so," returned the youth,
calmly and firmly. "Your father has given
mo his solemn words, in presence of the
councillor, Sudham, that IL bring him up
the pearl I shall have your hand. II I die,
SO let it be; but feel that shall not. Last
night had the most pleasant and promis-
ing dreams. and have not single fear in
the prospect Think! If I succeed-you are
wi, a..
this! And listen; think | hold secret
which none Of the divers have fairly con-
sidered. They have always taken the time
of the whole ebb of the tide thinking that
the water would be more still then; but l
am sure that the most quiet time at tho
bottom is after the tide has begun to come
in. At the ebb, there is surely a mighty
current whirling around those rocks, In
duced by some subterranean channel; but
when the tide has turned and been half an
hour on the food, think the water is more
calm below, though 1t surges so furiously at
the surface. But do not dissuade me.
know the undertaking is pcrilous; but what
is my love for you, il l would not risk my
life to gain it,"
A vast crowd was collected about the
shore opposite the Bangale Rocks.
The story of the strange trial which was to
come OF had become known among the
people, and they had assembled to witness
it. The chief magistrate was there. and
other magistrates Of that section. Bella was
there with her father, and she was pale and
trembling.
Tho hour had come-the moment OF the
clear ebb-but the pearl diver was not yet
present. Nearly half an hour passed away,