The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-10
BENITA'S FATHER.

hiouHlains looking o er the summer sea,
scarce ruttled by a breeze, SO calm. so
clear that every varying cloud that fits
across September's skies is Swallowed
here.
In this home of beauty we find many
homes Of the fisherman, "who 90 down
70 the sea IN ships" or, nearer home, OBJ
tam the finny denizens of the deep to load
thelr boats for the home market.
Where the frowning cliffs shade an ex-
panse Of wet sand, deserted by the tickle
tide, sits girl holding in her hand a
starhsh. AT her side are two large creels
MED with different kinds of fish lately
caught. At her bare feet is large fish net
with silvery scales still clinging to the
meshes. Tied by the painter to large
stone is boat wet and dirty, with an
door OF old flsh perceptible even in the
Drown, turled lateen sail. Seagulls are
whlrllng and screaming in strident tones
as II provoked with the girl for being
there, and preventing them from feasting
on the fragments OF past catches that are
scattered over the sand and In the crew
Ices of the old boat.
The sands are full of life. From little
piles OF seaweeds hop the sandfleas, and
across the stonss, scattered here and there,
small green crabs scuttle as if eager and
anxious TO avoid pursuit.
The girl, scarcely IL, is marvelously
pretty. a mass of tawny hair falls in
loose braid to her slim waist. Her eyes
are large, black and soft, and her skin
the warm brown of the Spanish race.
Her dress, dark worsted, ill-fitting and
badly made, falls away from her neck,
and the smooth, creamy shoulders are
seen through the rents. Her hands are
small but rough with work, and her
bare feet are half buried in the sand.
Bonita, Benita," a shrill, harsh voice
breaks the silence. The girl starts, and,
dropping the startish, she takes the
heavy basket OF fish up by the strong
leather straps, and tiinging these over
her shoulders she balances the basket at
her side.
''Heseus Maria" continued the voice.
where art thou, idle one?" a volume
OF coarse abuse follows as she comes ia
sight, but the torrent is checked at the
sight OF the heavy load OF fish. A dirty,
sinister, ill-tlavored old fellow greets her,
and without a word she follows him into
the dull, little cabin back of the cliffs:
dull, yet withal a picturesque beauty
derived from the blossoms of every hue
that cover in riotous profusion the walls
OF it.
Flowers garland all the year with
plenteous blooms" and Bonita is fond of
them, although Ter father, coarse, brutal,
brings not money to his purse, has no
objection to flowers, for no time is wasted
on them. Bonita turns to her task Of
sorting and cleaning the FISH, and Felipe
helps her, and the beauty Of land and sea
and sunset pass unODserved.
The mainland lies to eastward, an en-
erald bar across the gold OF sunset that
tinges the whole sky; from the north
floats Wreathing masses of fog, but the
breeZes that have their homes in the
mountains push back the clasping fog
arms that threaten to EN- brace the isle and
sea. Near by is the cabin home of a
scion Of noble African family, although
the title OF Nero Washington gives hint
OF one who tiddIed when Rome was burn
ing, and the man who, in youth. tradition
said, never told lie. Neither OF these
teats are doubted by the faithfully Nero
aud his numerous progeny were very
black, Jolly and idle. They let each dav
take care of itself, and with a fruitful soil
around their cabin contributing to their
support, and sea full of fish, they
"waXed fat, land unlike the Bible charac-
tiers who did this, did not kick.
Felipe did not like Nero, and on this
day when he saw him coming towards
his home, glad Of an excuse to quit
work, Felipe took his pipe and retreated,
leaving Bonita at her task.
Evening, Nita," said Nero, sis Mistah
Feeleep IL his cabin?"
He is occupied" said Bonita, not rails
ing her black eyes from her task
Nero rested on one foot while he
scratched his ankle in a meditative way;
tEen he said, when will Mistah FeeIeep
be vacant?''
"Quien sabe," said Bonita, briefly.
Nero looked around cautiously before
he spoke again, then he said:
''I'se jees got back from Son Dago. l
see the priest thar ana l toF him about YOU
have n ba,
say he come TO taxi you to school, sartln
sure"
Al this Bonita raised her eyes. and
looking squarely into Nero's black eyes,
said breathlessly:
''Oh! Nero, sure? But Felipe will
never let me go. He wants me to take
the boat and draw nets and clean fish,
Il top you he will" returned Nero.
1.-The priest will maxi him, sartin sure
and will buy the old boat and the hull
kit. ! TOP you de dark days would shine
agin fer you, when you so good to my
children, when DER mudder gone and left
me-"
Bonita took old Nero's work-worn
hand in hers and SAID, slowly:
Nero, if l ever, ever leave here and 90
to some place where l can learn to be
something l shall not forget you"
And y ero said:
Dress de Lord fer dat; but don't look
so dubious, cos it is true. 1t am lubly
home down dere; de boats wild bans a
playin', de people all hurrain, and de
surf looks like soapsuds frowed outside
to spangle in de sun. Honey, I'll miss
yer, but Nero amt one to fergit," and he
arose to leave.
Felipe saw Nero depart and came
back.
what he want?" he inquired gruffly.
mot anything" replied Bonita, as she
resumed her work.
The very next week a small tugboat
with party Of tourists on board, came
to the island, and Father Gonna came
with them. lie came at once to Felippe's
cabin, and, after much talk, succeeded in
gaining his consent for Bonita to 90 to the
Sisters school in San Diego, telling Fe-
lippe that reading and writing would
be taught her, and she could be
more useful than if she remained to grow
up in ignorance and the good priest
thought privately and vice, and meet
with a worse fate in the future years.
So the little tug bore Bonita away to a
new life, and Nero and his family mourned
and missed her.
The years passed, and one day Felipe
did not return, neither was his boat
seen, and the island home passed into
other hands.
With the Sisters of st. Mary Bonita
learned quickly. The refined lie she was
now leading had been adopted as if she
had always been accustomed to it. Her
beauty had ripened, and her lovable dis
position brought her many friends, and
The old life was well-nigh forgotten.
Bonita had a lovely voice for singing,
and its music won her the heart OF Robert
Carter, a wealthy Englishman of artistic
taste. He sought her hand in marriage.
and as he was a member of the same
church Benita's benefactor, the good priest
saw no objection. Her affections had not
on n n n sinh