The San Francisco call., 1897-08-27

had dreamed of aud how often I wished
could enjoy the liberty that the wor sees fl t
TO allow II boy l was left in the entire charge
of the good sisters who did much 10 make me
happy under The circumstances, and sad, too,
l can tell yol.
My brother visited me every vacation, and
l ar glad 10 say he loved me so that he often
made vacations in order TO see me. What
would | not give for one of our o'd-time
romps! | dressed in his Clothes (for punish
ment, mind yOu) and he in mine. With wry
! faces we were inwardly tickled to death.
Nothing ever pleased me better than to get
this sort OF punishment Poor boy! With a
| tender. generous and loving dis position re
was easily led and with growing manhood he
| commenced to evince eXtrayagsnt tastes, to-
gether with desire, like myself, to roam. 1
mention him rs it has much 10 do with my
| life.
HIS visits to the convent grew less frequent
! which can>ed me mucn rain, until he came
! only occasionally, and then always accom-
panied by one of his schoolmotes, q rather
quiei, unass uming sort OF chap. The day
came when the latter would call alone, not
withs landing the objections raised by the
| sisters. 1t was about the Christmas vacation
and was given permission t. spend the holi-
days with friends. What joy to again BE-
away from all study and work and no play.
What plans | had mapped out for seeing my
brother and his friend. The day came when
saw the false friend without the brother.
He-the friend-was about to go abroad. The
dream of my life ain awakened with a vim
worthy of better cause. Was l doomed to
]
about the world? Was | never TO have my
great wish gratitied? ? NO" came the answer
! always, chow can you? Remember circum-
stances will not permit it, Well, then, how
could our friend } So he had no more than
We? Oh, yes; he was 10 work part of the time.
Well, could not see what should prevent me
from doing the same.
Well, sir from that moment j. was my sole
thought l told no one of the good people
with whom was stopping, but went and con-
fided 10 my brothers chum. He thought it
3 Wnnl6 a m - n n cn n
| foolish thing; ana II blush to say it) he sue
ceeded very well. In two weeks we were
married.
suffice it to say that i: was the cause OF sep.
arating me from my family and friends. We
travelled some six or eight months, and then
separated. What l have suffered for that act
no can ever know. Shortly afterward my
brother was taken i'll and he, too. died. 1 had
seen him but once. With this last blow
mother retired, TO lead as quiet life as could
be offered, in place awsy from former scenes
of both bright and dark days. She made some
! provision for me, and was then quite alone
From that moment l have been like driftwood
tossed upon the OF life. But in no other
wav could have been contentcd
Ny greatest misfortune then befe!l me, and
when a bic 10 go about again a.ways did So
when / could in the gulse OF boy. I had
always loved horses and rode frequently, al
ways astride, as found il the most convenient
and comfortable by far. | observed that l was
always taken for boy while in my rather
boyish riding habit" though 10 make up as
one had never struck ME any more than 20 go
about on my horse at whatever hour | wished
without attracting much attention. l COM
menced then TO go about in search of adven-
ture, always assuming my natural dress when
in cities or when l made any long stays at
places.
My first was of so strange a nature that
think it worth the while to relate. had gone
from San Jose to Alma-a place consisting of
handful of houses-and thence footed it,
camping all the way, twenty miles into the
Santa Cruz Mountains. The scenery / can
hardly describe, but 1t seemed TO me like some
grand painting. The night before l reached
my destination, Bights Way, l remained III a
deserted woodchopper's cabin over night.
With my inseparable companion revolver, 1
laid down to rest, with the only thought of
being abe TO reach some brook or streamlet
in some sheltered spot that might Ind ulge in
the luxury OF a bath. To these thoughts at
tribute dream that seemed like prophecy
l thought / was standing on the brink of
some dark abyss, when l beLeld on the other
side the most inviting and pretty miniature
waterfalls with stream some seven ten
teet below, hut how was | to reach this?
certainly could not cross this awful black
space. While musing thus l seemed by some
unknown power to be taken to the spot oppo-
site. For moment | was almost blinded by
the sudden change from darkness into light,
but soon recovered sufficiently to notice that
had yet anot her stream to cross On looking
closer saw it was the same one had noticed
Jew feet below the falls. Now my dilemma
was, how could reach the falls?
What was that noticed II looked like a
gold braeelet-such as we see encircling the
wrists of women in pictures belonging to the
middle ages. Well, this must have been the
favor1te spot of some fair bather. l will try
to reach IL, and perchance l might meet with
the one VINO lost the band; and how glad she
must be, thought to myself, upon having it
restored to her. could not get it though, as
| could not cross to where the water seemed
shallow, and l could have waded in With