Year: 1863

E
either 4 gambler or genteel pickpocket. l
was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that
Smith was right, and after that treated the
young man with uuusual coldness. He Oh
served the change and his look wore a reproach
4 50 sorrowful that half repented having har-
bored the suspicion Of ny venerable looking
friend, who was fearfully averse to all mys;e-
ries.


Occasion called me TO my room one evening
at an earlier hour than usual. I heard soft
rap at my door and opening it, found Janson
standing in the entry. Come in, Janson," l
exclaimed, throwing open the door.


Would you aot prefer taking walk be
inquired. The night is beautiful


i believe not tonight" I replied some
other time. I was little piqued that be
should persist remaining outside the door.


Il should be much pleased TO have you, he
rejoined 4 have few words to say to you,
in justice to myself, and"


Enough" | interrupted. will GO"
felt assured he desired to tell me something of
himself and was anxious to hear it. It was
unpleasant to think him q pick pocket or
sharper, and hoped he might prove to me
that he was neither.


We left the house and proceeded along
Stockton street toward Happy Valley, For
ten minutes not word was spoken. Several
times he seemed on the point of speaking, but
be as often checked himself.


Unless may call you one have not a
friend in California, he at length began, pac
ing his hand upon my shoulder. bowed, but
made no reply.


You do not speak," he continued, observ-
ing my silence. Il am TO understand, pre-
sumo, that you are not to be made an excep-
ton"


. TO be frank with you, Janson, replied,
" there is a certain mystery about your move
ments calculated to give rise to suspcions
anything but favorable"


"Of what nature ?? inquired my companion.


That you are a gambler, or even worse l
bluntly replied.


He smiled as he replied " Yes, yes, l see
yet the suspicion wrongs me-


MAKE it appear so" answered aud you
shall not want friend


Promise me that you will not divulge what
I may tell you, or attempt by word or act to
ihwart me in the accomplishment of purpose
to which I have pledged my soul" he said,
looking me earnestly in the face, and you shall
have the proof you require"


"If your purpose is not criminal, promise;
if otherwise, keep your secret, was my answer.


"''ris what you would do or any other man
worthy of the name"


Then promise here is my hand


Listen" he resumed taking my arm, and
walking slowly on. d" | have a twin sister,
We were born in Georgia, and our parents
were the possessors of thousand slaves and
plantation large enough to give all employment.
When We were fourteen our father died. At
the age of sixteen my sister became convert
during a religious revival, and six months after
in the face Of the determined opposition of my
mother, ran away with and married young
preacher, to whose eloquence the revival owed
its origin. My sister did not love the man.
Her feelings for him was religious enthusiasm
"a fancy wrought upon by au unnatural in-
fatuaton Learning they were married, my
good mother sent for them, and they returned
to receive her blessing. The plantation was
placed in charge of my sisters husband, aud be
relinquished the gospel. He frequently visited
New Orleans, and other of the large Southern
cities, daring the first year of his marriage,
but the circumstances excited no suspicion.


ITO be brief, before two years elapsed, the
large estate left by our father was swept from
Us, and we were almost bankrupt. He had
induced my mother to mortgage the plantation,
with the view, he said, of purchasing more
negroes to work it, but the money was squan
dered, and the slaves we had were secretly sold
by fves ard tens, until less than a dozen re-
NAMED When asked to explain, by my
mother, be had no excuse to give. In the
midst of this great grief, another wife Of May
hew-that was the villains name-suddenlv
made her appearance at the Plantation
Learning the residence of her husband, but
knowing nothing of his second marriage, she
had left South Carolina to meet him. My
poor sister was heart-broken. Mayhew, to
escape prosecution, fed from the State. His
FIRST wife was sent TO the mad-house, and in
three months my poor old mother was laid in
the church-yard. My griefbowed sister-but
viii not speak Of her. Turning the wreck of
our property into money, started in pursuit
of the scouudrel who had dealt such havoc
with our peace Through dozen States I
tracked him, and returned with my mission Of
vengeance unaccomplished. One year ago. by
accident l learned be was in California. As
soon as | recovered from serious illness under