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Volume 4 (1859-1860) (600 pages)
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Page: of 600
516 HUTCHINGS’ CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE.
for nothing; and, worse than all, Iam
quite discouraged.”
Sara now wept afresh.
‘What is the matter, sister,” said
Jesse, kissing her affectionately. “Don’t
feel so cast down.”
“Mr. Tresto has been here, brother,
and he has proposals for you.”
‘What, for me to murder some one, I
should think, by your looks !”
‘No, brother, but nearly as bad. He
wishes you to marry a girl against her
will, and keep little Philip. He says he
will give you three thousand dollars to
do it.”
“Well, I should think it’was a funny
way to get married.”
“You can have only until to-morrow to
make up your mind. Isn’t it awful,
brother ?”
“Yes, rather disagreeable business,
marrying in this manner. What does
Mr. Tresto expect to gain by this singular transaction? Te is a grand rascal,
Sara, I am certain of that.’
“Yes, brother, and he wishes us to be
made tools of, to carry out his villainy.
He will take little Philip away if we do
not accept his offer, and you know, Jesse, this is all our dependence at present
for a living. What shall we. do?”
“Go to bed, dear Sara, and in the
morning we will talk the matter over.
May-be Mr. Tresto will give me a better
bargain than I imagine.”
Sara retired with a sad heart. She
went to bed and wet her pillow with her
tears. Poor girl! She imagined her
brother on a precipice of destruction, unable to extricate himself.
Jesse did not retire, but sat in uneasy
and troubled thought. His sister’s privations and incessant care for a living
almost determined Jesse to run the risk
of accepting Mr. Tresto’s offer. “I would
almost do anything for my dear, unselfish
Sara. She has labored incessantly for
me, and shall I not do something for her
sake? Three thousand dollars will give
us quite a little start in the west, and as
for this girl, after we are married she can
do as she pleases—livye with me or live
alone.”
He was persuading himself that he was
justifiable in this questionable course,
when the cock crew for daylight. He
started to his feet, rubbed his eyes, and
then took a short walk. The early refreshing morning air revived his drowsy
spirits, and by the time he got back to
the house, he determined to accept Mr.
Tresto’s offer. He made Sara a fire in
her little kitchen. She was soon up,
and their frugal meal was soon eaten.
They had just returned to the parlor,
when the bell tingle announced a call.
Mr. Tresto was admitted, and Jesse involuntarily shrank from touching his extended hand. Mr. Tresto took a seat
near Sara.
“Well, have you consulted over my
proposals with your brother, Miss Sara ?”
demanded Mr. Tresto, impatiently.
“Yes,” replied Jesse, “I have concluded to accept your three thousand dollars and marry the girl; what is her
name ?”
“Amelia Oldenburgh; and she is a
beauty, I can tell you,” said Mr. Tresto.
“‘ And as for little Philip,” replied Sara, ‘I would rather keep him than not,
as I have become much attached to him,
and it would be hard to part with him.”
“You must also agree to go either back
to England or out west, You must
go secretly. Let no one know where you
are going,” added Mr, Tresto.
Jesse agreed to all, and Mr. Tresto
promised to be at Mr. Douglas’s in
three weeks with Amelia, Handing Jessee five hundred dollars to bind the bargain, Mr, Tresto took leave of the Douglas’ and returned home.
[To be continued.)