The record-union., 1894-07-04
ONE FOURTH.
ror the RrnoRp-un1or by LEM

Ii the hECORD-ON1ON OJ GENsl
The sun peered through the fog as if he
was endeavoring to recognize some land
marks through the gray veil. The north
east wind, with impatient little puffs,
tried to aid him, as it partially succeeded
in blowing it one side to give a glimpse
of the land stretched out as if resting in
slothful ease after fruitful harvest,
The tangle of sea-grasses, brown and
green. swayed slightly on the blue bosom
of the bay. the moist air stealing stealing
its sea odors and waiting them landwsrd.
High cliffs and rugged frayed edges of
the land were dark with moisture, as
were the reef-like rocks where the tide
had slipped away, leaving mossy she'll
covered sides bare.
Deschler Farrant. bright young Eng
lshman. is rather anthematizing Cali
fornia climate, forgetting the fact that the
winter had been summer-Lke. Deschler
was guest at Del Monte, and had been
enjoying all Its loveliness Tor months
Now, on the Sd of July, he had hired
sailboat at Monterey and was drifting
along with the wind and tide when the
fog came down on land and sea, hiding
worn rocks ''torn and fringed by nnger-
tips of waves" shutting of all view OF
point and headland.
Deschler was not a coward, but the
idea OF being on a strange coast In sail
boat, and the fog so thick that land was
invisible, was not at all pleasant. He
called loudly, but only the strident voices
of the seagulls answered. He knew it
was not steamer day, SO no hope in that
quarter of being picked up. He could
hear the thunderous noise of the surf on
the distant beaches. The sail tapped idly
now, for the wind had died away. This
recalled him to a sense of what he could
best do. and taking up the oars and fitting
the rowlocks tightly, he rowed steadily
toward where he thought the shore might
be.
Alter an hours hard work the fog veil
lifted again, giving him glimpse of a
point not far distant He rowed hastily
now, fearing he might lose the direction.
lie could see dimly a stretch of smooth
beach, and beyond gray cliffs. He ran
the boat up on the sand, and found him
self facing a small cave above high water
mark. He could see steps cut in the side
of the rocks, and well worn, as If travelled
by many feet. He thought he would
wait and rest till the fog lifted, or, if it
still promised to be thick, he could climb
the stone stairway to the upper level.
''Quite like Jack the Giant Killers
path to the unknown country" he said,
as he gazed upward. but, really, l feel
=
is still ahead of me-" And as he spoke
he took OUT his watch, to find that it was
near noon.
No voice replied TO his except sea-
birds chirp. He noticed some DRIFT
wood on the beach, and he collected it and
soon had a small fire kindled by which
to warm his chilled fingers. After the
warm exercise of rowing he felt re-
action and chill from the fog and damp.
He drew a cigar from his pocket, lit it,
and leaned back against the cave to think;
but evidently some more pleasant
thoughts crowded his mind than that OF
the present situation, for he said audibly:
''Bless her" And at this moment there
was no her handy.
Deschler was not one of those who
believe in trinity of troubles-"All they
have had, all they have now, and all they
expect to have" He was a hope-lover
and had faith that whatever is, is right,'
and so he never collected wrinkles by
worrying.
A sudden scrambling noise startled
him, followed by the appearance of an
old woman in the cave where he sat. A
shrill, ear-piercing shrek startled Desch
Ter out OF his calm.
Jesus Marie !' she shreked; 1--WE
caught thee" And she drew sharp
knife from the folds of her gown, and
looked at him In menacing way.
Deschler arose as he saw her, but he
said calmly: my good woman, the fog /
caught me, not you. Am l trespassing on |
your land?"
''Villain! Smugglerp' she shrieked /
again. Pedro, Sancho, helpi" Another
scram bling noise, and two dark browed t
young men stood alongside of the old
woman, and before Deschler could make |
any resistance he was seized and bound |
with long thongs Of tough seaweed and |
carried bodily, but protesting, up The /
steep declivity.
Up there the fog still held sway, and |
half hid small, battered-looking house |
with Struggling garden OF many-hued /
flowers in the front, and in the rear a |
barren, anhydrous patch of land. Here |
and there stood rickety-looking shed /
structures for drying fish. And odors of /
half-dried abaIone and other shell-hsh |
tainted the air.
Deschler was carried into the house and |
laid on the floor of small room, after |
which the trio retreated, first fastening /
the door on the outside.
Puzzled and thoroughly alarmed now,
Deschler's British calme was fast for |
sskiug him. What did they think he |
was? What did they take him prisoner
for? He heard their voices talking ex-
citedly, and as he listened he realized the /
truth of the old adage, Listeners never
hear any good of themselves" And he
was losing fast the good opinion he had
He heard the old woman say, ''It will
be a reward, tell yer, OF $50, and more if
we lind the opium he's after" Then the
mans voice replied:
Where's your proof, man? You'd be
IN fix if yer cotched the wrong man and
drug him clear up here for nothin'"
Il heard 'em," repeated the old woman
angrily; heard 'em in the cave saying
they'd come to-day for the opium. IL
was two nights ago, and dark as the stack
OF black cats. More men was with him, |
bat dassent go down and tackle 'em."
'Wot you goin' do with him?" said a
second voice.
''Give him to the Custom man in Mon
terey town." she said, "but go and tell
him first; you come too. give you drink
for helping" And Deschler heard the
house door close, and the three tramp
noisely away leaving him unable TO
move, and faint from fasting, for it was
now past noon and he had had an early
breakfast. Tempted by the lovliness of
the morning he had hurriedly eaten that
meal. of which now he had only recol-
lection.
'If these beastly cords would only
give" he said, II might get away" but
he saw union was strength and gave
up trying.
At the hotel Deschler had made many
pleasant friends, and from the number
less pretty giils he had selected a Miss
Elworth, a bright Boston girl, as the
most companionable. Jolly, pretty, well
educated, she was the life OF any party. The
had been mutual from the
first, much to the amusement of her
Yankee friends. "An international
tangle," as they were pleased to call it.
AN Englisrnan of all things" said her
ehum, Marion Stirling, give him music,
mutton, coffee. fruit and beer, and he sees
joke in Eastern time four hours after it
is made. Oh. deliver me from that COM