Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-01-08

yet upon each one of these, and upon her
whole heart aud life seemed written, 81 the
glory has Departed"
1t is time to go back to the days Of N. Val
entin, and see what has become Of the fond
husband, the courageous adventurer. At first
he was almost distracted at the thought Of
parting with llOrtensc; but once the rubicon
passed, hc became more and more calm. a
lew years. he thought, would find them to-
gcthcr never to part; and perhaps they would
be ali the happier for the separation.
Full Of hope he went to the mines Of Aus
tlaIia. Day by day he wrought there, cndu-
ring hardships unhcard Of before, but bearing
them with the courage and iOrtitnde Of hero
Ever before lin was the word llortense. 1t
ncrvcd his arm in the rough mines when he
struck his iron into gold giving soil; it sOOth
cd him when hc lay burning with fever in a
rude slIanty III the mountains; his thought
by day aud hi, dream by night was still his
own l!ortcnSe. Not a word, however, ever
reached him from her; and often he shud-
t!ere. ~ the t4artul probabilities that arose 10
his mind. lIortenSc might be sick, suffering !;
might deem him dead OF uEiaithiul; no, thnt
could never be-she would have faith in him
as in the sun. Come what would, she would
not be shaken in her trust But as he lay in
the miserable shed, on his sick bed, he would
have given worlds for one glance Of her eye,
one pressure Of her hand, to show that he was
not forgotten; and as lie watched the stars
overhead, shining through the creyiccs of the
low roof hc thought il llortenSc were dead
she wo'titl appear to him then in need.
The rude miners were too intent on gain to
watch beside his bed, and many were the long
days and nights in which he lay unattended.
Aid came at last in the shape of u child-a
young boy, whose father was at work in the
mines, and whose mother supported herself
and child by washing. Hours did little Ben
Cole sit beside him, watchingcve movement,
and trying to give him case or, bringing wa
ter from the spring, hc would bathe his fcvcrcd
forehead with his little hands. A tender nurse,
indeed, was lit;lc Ben. and on his recovery,
NJ. Nalcntin made the laundress happy by
providing for the boy.
NJ. Nalcntin had been richly rewarded for
his enterprise. Gold had sIlowercd in upon
him in almost fabulous prOfusion; and now
he seriously thought Of returning home
Somewhat cnfccblcd by his late illness, he
was struck with di>may at being FRUSTRATED,
and to find that his disorder was the dreadful
SMALLPOX. That nc lived through this was
because his constitution was 40 excellent that
even this enemy could not vanquish it. lie
did live, but his own mother could not have
known him, so deeply Scared and disfigurcd
had he become. With his first returning
strength he Sc; out for home. Ilortcnsc!-
Montreal were now the beginning and end of
his ASPIRATIONS One thing only married his
joy on the homcward route. Would IIortensc
love the SCARED and distgurcd face that looked
at him from the little glass in his cabing-
Wuriii she endure the long, shaggy beard by
which he Was enabled to cover q part Of the
deep scars.
lie had taken passage in an American YES
sci bouId for New York. lie arrived safely,
and the next hour saw him Oh his way to
Montreal. lie bent his course to the neigh
b"rhnod where Ilmtcnsc had proposed going
after his departure lie inquired everywhere
for Malamc Nalcutn. No one knew her. lie
himself was not recognised, even when he
haunted tic Old places Of business. Another
narir, Of corT,c wa. upon the familiar door
and htivr he turned his steps, to see If hap
iy some old friend Of former days might not
have heard Of her. Even the name was I'M
remembered, or pretended to be- and vet the
person he asked WAS one whom he remcbcrcd
as plotting zeaousy to be invited to his din
ncr parties.
"They viii remember me when they find
that am rich again. said Naemtin, to HIM
self, bitterly.
lie turned into by-strcet md saw beg
gar sitting in the sunshine. 1t was the most
cordial and happy face that had met his gaze
since he came back. The man did not ask for
anything either, or show him the withcred
arm that hung loosely under his coat and,
hopeless as the question seemed he thought
he would ask him.
AS he dropped money into the ragged hat
that lay on the ground beside the beggar, he
said, carclessly, Can you tell me where Mad
anne Nalentin lives now, my nan?"
81 used to know her when she lived in
Queen street. Was that the One?"
1t was tic street where NJ. Valcntn's grand
house stood.
"She is gone from that house; but she did
not forget old Jack, and maDy's the penny
she has given me since. Glad enough was
when heard she was married again."
married! exclaimed NJ. Valentin.
" Bless you, sir, yes; married to Mr.. STAN
bury; but, poor man, he died year ago"
" 10 you know where she lives now?"
Somewhere out of town. don't 60 so
far now am so old think it is in Blooms
bury Place, West Terrace"
To paint N. Valentin's feelings would be a
hopeless task. Lortcnse married, but still
free \ painful revolution took place in his
mind, and he resolved, as all seemed to forget
him, that he would not discover himself That
night he visited the neighborhOOd of IIor-
tense read "Stahbury" on the door, and man
aged to secure the next house, which happen
cd to he quite empty, and having its garden
adjoining hers. The next day he furnished it
richly, brought n number of servants, bought
fine carriage and horses, and under the name
of Ritchic he settled down at his leisure to
watch the movements of his neighbor. He
chose all the private rooms on that side of the
house that overlooked hers.
The first time that he saw her was in the
garden. She looked still handsome, but very
sad and pensivc lie wondered if it was for
his loss or her late husbands.
Tle Soon became satisfied that she lived q
very retired and quiet life, that she had little
company. and kept early hours. It was early
Spring but he had plenty of flowers and fruit
in the greenhouse, and he sent some for her
acceptance, with Mr.. Ritchie's compliments.
Again and again he repeated the gifts, and
each time with selection that marked deli
cate taste.
Hortcnse was charmed with her new neigh
Dor, whom she had not seen.
Tho flowers had been sent several times