The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-03
THE PEARL DIVERS.
BY AUSTIN C. BURDECK.

BY AUSTIN hDECh.
About northwest from Putlam, and dis
tant only few miles from the west coast
of Ceylon, was the residence of Sir John
Lakin. He 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 advantage over many of
those wno were engaged in the same bust
ness. 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 worshipped it most devout-
ly. 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
avaricious. She did not possess tn at
classic beauty, which serves sculptors as
ideals OF goddesses, but it was beauty
peculiarly her own. 1t was a beauty OF
goodness-a beauty that could not have had
any life without warm, noble heart 10
stature, round and full in frame, with
rudy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes.
When she spoke, she seemed ready to
laugh for warm smile was always play
ing about hor lips and winking in her eyes,
Wnen her soll was at ease In shGrt, she
had one of those faces which would tempt
a kiss from the lips of an anchorite.
One calm, moonlight night, when The
fresh sea breeze drove away the heat that
had been 80 burdensome all the day, and
the air was filed 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 Allan Wilton. He was an
Englishman, born in Cal cutta, of poor
pareAts, his father having been alieutenant
in the army.
Allan came to Ceylon 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 a noble soul, a quickness of in
telligence and a fine sense of honor He
loved knowledge, and with Bella's assist
ance, he had as many books as he wished
to read and study. He had been w it'll 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 a noble-looking
youth, carrying national pride in his soul,
and modesty and goodness in his soul and
face both
Bella" he said, as they reached the ex :
tremity of the garden and sat down be-
/ meath TALBOT tree, 81 hardly think shall
spend another season in Ceylon."
"What," uttered the maiden, gazing up
| into her companions face as the smile fad
ed away from her own. mot live in Cey-
Iona You do not mean to leave u.s."
"Yes-I must go.'
will not leave u.s.
II fear must, Bella
'But wherefore! Oh, if you go, what
shall do?n
''You will find plenty to do.''
"Aye-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.
l must not stay"
"But why not'"
"Why-The reason should be plain" re-
J piled 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 understanding. u
| "But, Allan, how can 1! Tell me-tell
I mo all"
Allan Wilton gazed some moments into
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 came here a poor boy,
whsn you were laughing, joyous girl
] "And am not the same now"
| "Yuu may be in that single respect, bu
alas, no longer mate for me. Oh, | must
speak plainly now! Bella, these years
have passed near you have been un
happy ones, for amid all my toll the light o.
your smiles has cheered me on. But an
boy no longer, nor even youth, as we
use the term distinct from manhood. l an
man now, and you have grown woman
Even now l shall never efface your image
from my heart, nor would l If l could
But if l remain longer, l shall only become
more firmly bound by those ties which mus
break the heart in rending. o Bella-good
! noble girl-you must see it now! 1t would
be wicked for me to stay. Plainly, now,
tell you-it can do no harm-I love you to,
well to stay longer. Now you have tn,
truth"
The fair girl withdrew her hand from tn,
youths loosened grasp, and bowed hel
head. She remained thus some moments
Finally she looked up, and the moonbeam!
were reflected from the pearly tears tina
had collected in her eyes, and now stoot
trembling upon the lashes.
'Allan," she said, in low, agitated tone
II do understand you, and If have neve
before thought of this as you now presen
it 1t is because have been so happy in
your company that have not looked mucl
to the future. For joy, have only looked
to your coming, from hour to hour, AM
from day to day. But do not leave me nov
oh, do not 1 should die if you wer
goner'
With these words spoken at the close il
quick, spasmodic tones, she placed he
hand upon Allan's arm, and pillowed he
head upon his bosom.
But" said Allan, trying to be calm
"why should stay, when it could only EN-
in misery to Us bothl Oh, you shoul
know that to live thus, we should be ur
happy, unless we could be united forever
and that cannot bep'
"Why may it not be!" murmured tn
maiden, without looking, up.
"How, Bella! Would you consentw
"Oh, with all my heart, and all my soul !!
And as the fair girl thus spoke, sh
chung more closely to the noble youth.
For a moment Allan forgot all else bu
the words he had just heard, but he wcul
not deceive himself.
'Alas he uttered, 81 could almost wish
had never known the thing you have toll
me, for your father will never consent I
this-neverw
ale maybe may" cried Bella, earnest
ly. "He loves me, and do not think
would see me miserable. He has none
enough, and"
'Hold, Bella. I can have as muc
money as we should ever want. / posses
secret that is worth more than l shoul
dare estimate. l know of a new pea
bank, which no man save myself has We
seen. But your father is too proud to mat