Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-14

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floor.
AS soon as my scattered senses could
be collected, | assayed her restoration and
brought her to consciousness then learned
from her that Hartress himself had invaded
the sanctity of her chamber, and that it was
only by miracle that she had escaped from
bis embraces.
No Imagination, however vivid, can picture
my horror at the recital My anger was such
that would have gone instantly to take the
life of the wretch, had it not been for my
partners who were cooler headed men,
AS it was / conducted Flora to neigh
boring family and there procured her lodg-
ing till she could be permanently cared for.
In the morning a meeting of the citizens
was called and the subject laid before them
but no persuasion could induce Flora then to
say aught in regard to the transactions of the
past night; and as Hartress stubbornly de-
MED the charges, he was permitted to go un-
punished Yet such was the feeling Of gene
raj distrust that he was notified openly that
any further attempt on Flora would not be
permitted to pass with impunity. Flora was
provided with home in worthy family, and
the affair, like all others in California life,
soon passed from the public mind.
1t is not to be supposed that with all my
interest manifested for the unfortunate girl |
was permitted to go unheeded by the lovers
of scandal, but regardless of slander con-
tinued to watch over the one whom | consid-
ed my guardian angel, and to whom was
so largely indebted in gratitude.
This pleasant duty was relieved from, the
fall after Flora was sixteen, by young mer-
chant of Rocktown, who had the good sense
not to condemn the girl for the sins Of her
relations. That they loved each other truly
have no reason to doubt, and | considered
that an auspicious day, on which Flora was
Joined in wedlock to Wallace Holbert
After the marriage / obtained the consent
of the young couple to make public my con-
victions in regard to Flora's not being the
daughter of Hartress, in order to remove
her as far as possible, in the estimation Of
the public, from all connection with that des
picable man and his degraded wife.
From that time became one of the fam
lily at Holbert's, and felt that had now a
fixed home for the few remaining years of my
already heightened life.
The spring of $50 had decked the hills
around Rocktown with the variegated hues of
her richest flowers. The labors of day were
ended and | was seated with Flora and her
husband at the front of their cottage, enjoy
ing the beauties of the lingering twilight A
closed carriage drove up to the hotel, short
distance from where we were sitting, and
man alighted and spoke with the landlord at
the door who pointed to where we we're
Immediately reentering the carriage, it
was driven up and halted in front of u.s.
From it gentleman and lady emerged and
advanced toward u.s. | at once recog-
nized in the man a young Englishman who
had left Rocktown the year before for bis
native land, and extending my hand | greeted
him cordially, as did Holbert. The lady
seemed to be greatly agitated, and raising
her veil she falteringly uttered, "show me my
daughter.p
"That is her, l hope" replied the English
man, pointing to Flora.
With fervent OIL God, my daughter p
she fell upon Floras shoulder, overcome by
the intensity of her feelings.
An explanation was forthwith had, by
which it appeared that the Englishman on
his return to his home, had related the story
of Flora in the hearing of his sister, who
was ladys maid to the Countess of c., a
widowed lady Of wealth and distinction, who
had lost an only daughter some fifteen years
before. The tale revived a faint hope in the
breast of the Countess who at once, with
this clue, employed an expert officer to trace
out the affair He, in the hope of large
reward, labored so assiduously that ere long
he had accumulated certain evidence that
Flora was beyond doubt, the lost child of
the Countess, stolen from her in order that
her deceased husbands relatives might be-
come possessed of her immense estate.