Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-10

huge structure on this little isle should
be our home. 1t descended TO mo from
arace who, upfo 80 years ago, were bJlc-
caneers-wilat are nowadays termed pi-
rates. This was their stronghold. With
the death Of my father. the last one to
follow that life disappeared. There are
in the vaults Of Chanson wines and liq-
uora, placed there when he was yet a
boy. and jewels that would ransom
republic. To whom they once belonged
I know not. and not knowing | have
left them there. Ny mother was an
American, captured by my father in
merchant ship, which, after icing plum
dcred OF its vaiuables. was sent to the
bottom with all on board save her. lie
loved her, and IN time sho loved him
and wooed him from a pirates life. He
gave his interests TO his former Iieuten-
ants and their crews and died here N
peace. He only stipulated that they
should find another refuge, and I know
nothing Of them. But they are all dead
long since. One only, old Aartell,
Freedman, who was fathers body sory-
ant. remained with him from his for
merlife and he long since passed away,
and his remains lie III the vault be-
meath. tt was his last wish that he
MIGHT sleep forever by the jewels, tho
money and the merchandise that IN his
younger days, under the leadership OF
my father, had been plundered from
merchautmen Of every nationality. a
strange wish. was it uot:'
at was indeed, | replied, "but do
you intend 10 mako no use Of all this
wealth.
mo. It was my dying mothers last
wish that 7 should not touch it. | have
seen it but twice--onca when old Mar
toll showed me the place where he wish
cd his remains to repose after death
he was then lowed with age--again 40
years ago, when l placed his dead body
on tho caskot Of jewels IN tho vault.
MY father had never told me the
story Of his carly life. 1t was only aft
or his death that / learned il, and then
from old MartolL Even then mother
grioved greatly that he had told me Of
the hidden treasure and babe me never
touch it. She Gaid that in fathers lat
ter years he had considered it curse.
But come, there's the tea bell. have
told you more than any soul on earth.
1t must havo been my early friendship
for voar father thai impelled me. Co
reta knows nothing of all this, and in
her presence DO not refer to it. Poor
deari Her father, mother and my own
dear wife died when she was but a
child"
At the tea table Corata joined US. If
I had thought her bewitehing before,
when / saw her now in her evening
dress, astring OF pearls around her snow
white neck, Il golden bracelet clasped
round each ta3ering wrist, diamond
cluster Sparkling mid the golden ring
let's Of her hair, thought her beauti-
iul. Her maid, Arabia, attended us at
the table. and, Oh, what q pleasant hour
there passed to mo! And after tea.
when tho good don and I adjourned to
a nuigh5olirg room to test cigars that
came from he knew not where, neither
their age. with Good night, senior,
she vanished from my sight felt that
had seen lovely dream, and when
had followed Pedro to Il room above,
furnished with the elegance Of other
climos than Chilj--elegant mahogany,
rare lace curtains, carpets Of value
rarely seen at home, each article OF fur-
niulo Gcao.ing a bygone aSo-and laid
my head upon tho pillow &c was not to
sleep, bat to think of Coreta, Of the don,
Of the jewels beneath, CT dead llaT,all,
keeping his silent vigil on the casilct,
of piracic3. and then wonder from what
clilno came each and every article, and
when I slept il wG5 the Same.
Pedro awol12 mo III the morning, and
after breakfast Corcta and ( took
stroll on the island. There wcro sur
rounding the house perhaps 0 acres Of
ground that showed a luZurian5 growth
Of flowers, sllrullery and vegetables
Of all descriptions. Ar old EaTdcaerf
working there as we passed 10 our
Good morning he muttered some ma
tive words th.-5 ! could not understand,
and his face lit Up with pleasure as he
gazed ut CorCt2.
Poor oil Juan, said she. GAS old
as he IS, he goes to every dance in Co
quombo among his class" And she
gave him Il coin.
How many people have you en- the
isIanG;" asked.
Seven" she answered, besides
grandpa and I-our eeryantg.".
7 found the island for the greater
part barren and rocky, with hero and
there, all over it, an occasional huge
bowlder, such Is / have before men
toned.
It's greatest length could not have ex-
ceeded two miles, and its width not
more than half as much. Nor was it
much elevated above the ocean S level,
but yet Coreta said the angriest waves
never more than dashed their spray
half way to The house. But, senior, "
the added, sometimes the roar of the
waves and the shriel1ing of the wind
cause me to think that our island is
trembling"
We visited the stables, where two
sleek mules and Coreta's pony We're
quartered. Then you do ride heres"
said /.