Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-27

w was quite wealthy then,
VIZ and in this he had an adj
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 a fortune, vet he
was still in the business. Money was
his god, and he worshiped it most de-
voutly. The baronet's wife was dead,
and the only member of his 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
ayaricious. She did not possess that
classic beauty, which serves scuiptors as
ideals of goddesses, but il was beauty
peculiarly her own. 1t was beauty of
goodness beauty that could not have
had any life withouta warm, noble heart
to enliVen and soften it. 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 n warm smile was always
playing 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
d y, and the air was filed with the per
fume 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 Allan Wilton. He
was an Englishman, born in Calcutta,
OF poor parents, his father having been
Lieutenant in the army.
Allan came to Ceylon when only four
teen years of age, and had been engaged
as common pearl diver ever since
being now four-and-twenty. From his
father he had inherited a noble soul,
quickness of intelligence and a fine
sense of honor. He loved knowledge.
and with Bella's assistance, he 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 en-
ployer than any other two men, if we ex-
cept one native who had been dead now
ever year. He was a noble-looking
youth, carrying national pride in his
heart, 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 talipot tree, Il hardly think I
1 shall spe another season in Cey- I
Ion.
WHAT {" uttered the maiden, gazing
up INTO her companions face as the I
smile faded away from her own. s'Not
hive In Cevlon Yen 10 no. mean to
leave us =
Yes must go.
"No, !, 81 an-you DO not mean so.
You viii not leave us.
II fear / must, Bella.
"But wherefore! Oh, if You go what
shall | dos
"You will find plenty to do"
"Aye-to sit and cry because am so 4
lonesome. You viii not go, Allan
you will not. Tell me you will not
gol"
"Ah, Bella, you know not what you
say. | must not stay"
''But why not Z"
"Nhy-the reas n should be plain"
-eplied the youth, with some hesitation.
"But l can speak rs plainly as YOU
wish. | surely viii not hide ANYTHING
from you, though l wonld rather YOU
should gain the knowledge from your
own understanding"
''But, Allan, how can T. What is it
Tell me-tell me all. F"
Allan Wilton gazed some moments in
the fair girls face, and then he said,
with some tremulousness in his tone:
pardon me, then, for the speech /
now make. You know how long have
known YOU. You know I came here a
poor hoy, when you were a Laughing, joy
Gus girl"
"And am I not the same nowl"
''You may be in that single respect,
but alas, no longer a mate Tor me. Oh,
/ 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 I am boy no longer. nor even a
youth, rs we use the term distinct from
manhood. | am man now, and you
have grown a woman. Even now shall
never effaee your image from my