Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19


Gus district Of Cwm-y-dyllyud, expectant on
the decease Of an old Welch aunt, who was
just entering into her eighty fifth year, and Of
whose family no member had ever died under
the age Of ninCty-nine.
We had just finished the sardines, and
were smoking pensive cigar, when the small
but tenacious brass knocker Of Mr.. Duval's
outer chamber door was violently set in mo
ton by some unknown visitor. Finding that
his petit t0QuGis neglected to attend the sum.
mons, Duval rang his hand-bell and shouted
with angry impatience the kingly name Of
Rufus the summons was repeated and made
peremptOry.
"COnfound that boy !" cried Duval, start.
ing up" wonder if he is in a cOmatOse state
Sgain.
So saying, Duval stepped into a narrow
apartment like the stewards cabin of a Mar
gate steamer, and which was neatly furnished
with plate-rack and q wine cooler.
"NOw who has been and Inesmel lied this
unhappy mlnOrr" dtmandcd Duval, address
ing the doctor, who was smiling through his
SpectacleS. "YOu have, Sydcnhamy
Pom my litc, quite TO-. got it replied the
student Of Guys.
"Why he must have been in this state for
nearly twenty minutes" replied the convey
aIIcer. For gOUdncSs sake deIIIesInerize him.
anu let him 30 and open the door.
During these remarks, the unconscious sub
ject Ut thenI-awan and vacant-IoOking youth,
with fuzzy red haii --sat OH the wing.cOUlvr,
Ills right arm Outstreached, and finger point
Ell, like young Norval denouncing tile tremb-
ing coward who iOrsook his master.
Sydcnhan, having adopted the usual means
pructlced by electro biologists for restoring
suspended animation, kuius, after sundry
pungcnt sliivcrS, woke up and waited for Or.
ders.
There's somebody knocking" said Du.
val. Sec WHO 1t Is. Ii it's Inc0me-tax, tell
him to call again Tomorrow
" Perhaps it s little Ridley" observed the
doctor, as the knocking continued with re-
neweu vivacity. 1T sounds very much like
POpes liliad, all lamb, cs-tive feet in 70 line
ra tat, rA.tat, ra-tat, ra-tat. "
The doctor was right. 1t was that noble
though small individual. lie had just return
ed Il OH his seaside trip, and looked remark
ably well. A shepherds plaid was skilliully
wrapped round his plump little body, Glen
garry bonnet surmOuntcd his bald head, and
large Sandy-coIOred imperial decorated his
benevolent chin.
We were all delighted to see our learned
was SO premature DuvaIs first question was
respecting Laura had he seen her was she
as charming, bright, and sparkling as ever
were all the ante-nuptial arrangements COM
pIetedy and was Ridley to become in short
time the happiest man alvcr
Alas, he had MOt seen Laura; his arrange
ments were completed, and he should never
see her again.
He told US this with q badly-acted air ol
indifference, splitting his glove all to pieces,
and breathing heavily through his set teeth.
So singular and abrupt . termination Ol
Ridley's love-suit could not but pique our Gu
riOsity, and we entreated him-Speaking his
own language as a special pleader-tO furnish
uS with further and better particulars. At
irSt he dcmurred; it was an unpleasant SUBJ
ject, and would only give US pain; but this
being OverruIed, he briefly stated his case,
heaving one or two intcrlOcutory signs, and
rejOining, gratis, "You will call me a simple
ton, but cant help that.
From the issue, it appeared that our little
special pleadcr had been pleading to some
purpose, having already delivered his declara-
ti0n to young widow with twins not quite
three years old.
1t appeared that Laura and her guardian,
Colonel Gauntlet, were residing ut st. Hel.
ier'S; and Just before the lOug vacation COM
mcNced, Ridley received curiOusly crossed
aud puzzlIg letter, but beautiful nevertheless,
lrOln Laura, pressing MIN to spend the recess
with them ut their marine ViiIa in the island
Of tranquil Delights a bnvt with fee Of
fifty guiucaS, cOu.d not have yielded Ridley
more ccstatic deIigtit than did this letter,
which contained sweet little seaside sketch,
in " ater cOlorN painted by Laura, with fine
feeling for shIlmlS. 1t WAS misty evening
OH which Ridley arrived. at Southampton
whittier, in haste to reach his destination, he
had travelled express. At her accustomed
hour for starting, the Jersey boat, apprehen:
sivc Of danger from the density Of the fog,
could not venture out to sea; and Ridley,
who would have willingly embarked in q
Wherry, had one been then and there aHaila-
BILE, had HO alternative but stopping till tine
next day ut mcrcenary ianIily hOtel. Dis
gustcd with the waX-ghtS, for which he
knew he shou.d be charged extraordinarily,
Ridley retired early to his chamber, and wUaild
tain have slept but was prevented by circum-
stances, and mice, over which he had no COIL
troll. After iiingng his boots without success
ut the wainscOt--Uchind which they had laid
out their race-course-lt!dlcy struck light,
and, much ~ the anIaz, ment OF the enemy,
who, sitting upright on their respective tails,
rtgaI ded his mlghtcap with silent reverence,
proceeded 10 entertain himself by reading n
popular novel which he had wisely put under
his pillow in case Ui distress. Unhappy man |!
the more he read the more he doubted the
prUpriety Of his own conduct, and long be-
tore ue reached the ninCt, cnth chapter, he
discovered with shame nud cnagrin that he
WAS All imp"slcr " hat ciaiM had he upon
Lau'a'S legardr he had stopped a pair Of 20
"ies, which any post boy could have done,
and Thought himself mu"iticently rewarded
with na,i u sovereign. There was wide gulf
between gratitude and love. The first Laura
might entertain; the latter impossible. She,
GlI nelreSs and the pride Ut the country he,
small plcader, with a reversiUMary interest
ia tnr tquivUCul silvcr-lcad mine Of Cwm.y-
dyIiyud. expCclant OH the deccase Of an old
Welch aunt Was it not cruel of him to take
advantage Of his position, and press % suit
which, however repugnant to her feelings,
poor Laura could not gracefully ignOre.l ~
1t may seem SOmeW hat chimerical, but l
have no reason to doubt what Ridley assured
Us was the fact that his sudden conversion
Was brought about by-readiRg the fiction
aforementioned, which, written by lady,
(name umknoY",) 80 strongly inculcated the
duty Of Selt-S&criicr, and presented such q