Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-21

Harburyl This was the end Of my agreeable
surprise this was what had flown on the
wings Of love to see | stood perfectly speech
less, transfixed. Walter and Mary remained
in exactly the same position, and neither ut.
tered word. l wanted to speak to reproach
her, but no voice came, and in silence Ief(
the room, walked down the little garden,
closed the gate gently after me, and returned
without word to London. .-
For three days fed from thought as from
. demon. or Mary, and Mary 6ithless, I
dared not think. The fourth day blamed
myself as fool for caring about one 90 false
and cOquettish. The fifth day fanced had
been too basty; ifI had spoken It might have
been explained-perhaps it was mistake,
there might be no love between them after all.
The sixth day brought letter from Mary her.
self Such letter never read before nor
since; ! fairly wept over it had been an
ass, an ignoramus, q scoundrel to suspect her
for q moment; II was clearly an optical delu.
sion. So took my place in the train that
very night, and went down to Walngton.
Mary met me at the gate, all smiles and
tears and looking more beautiful than ever
1t was such strange behavior she said, TO
come and look in upon her, and then 60 away
without one word. She would have thought
it was . ghost, IL Mr.. Harbury, who happen
cd to be in the room, bad NOT seen me too
She had not slept since for thinking and won.
deF:ngy and she was O, % glad to see inc
again.'
OF course was very sorry and pcnitent
and Mary behaved beautifully, and forgavc
me like an angel as she was. 'Shc never
thought she said, anything Of Walter, he was
just like . brother; they had known each
other from childhood. As for sitting beside
her, he should never do so again il | objected
to it So we were reconciled, and became
better friends and lovers than before ! was
very anxious to be married now, and resolved
to allow as little time as possible to eapse be.
fore l took my jewel out Of Mr. Walters
reach: All went on smoothly, and Mary
promised me one Sunday evening to talk the
matter over with her mother, and FIX the day
for our wedding the next time came.
was to have gone down on the Sunday,
but for some cause now forgot had the Sat.
urday at my disposal and resolved to apend II
with Mary. AL that day felt an unusual
opnresSion upon my mind could not shake
OF. AS l ncared the cottage, my present
Inent Of dread increased. The door was open;
as | crossed the vestibue I trembled 80 VIC.
lcntly that could hardly open the parlor door;
but did open it, and there on the sofa again
sat my Mary, not this time with one of Wal
tcr's arms round her, but both, and hers hung
round his neck with such an embrace as had
never been bestowed upon me. was resol.
we'd il should be no optical illusion this time,
SO l walked quietly up, and laid my hand upon
his arm. At my touch they started, cOlored
violently and separted. Mr.. Harburv,' said
|, you are welcome
49, Thank yOu,' said he.
go shall not interfere, and have nothing
further to say
Then, turning to Mary, I said, Miss Col.
lins, where is your mothery As she did not
move or attempt to call her, rang the bell,
and desired the servant girl to request her
mistress to come. Mrs. Collins entered.
Madame, said I, you and your daughter
have played a double game with me. II goes
no further. rcnOunce all my pretensions TO
her in favor Of this gentleman-her more ia.
vorcd lover. l will send you all the letters
written by your daughter to me, and request
that those she has Of mine may be returned.
Ladies', wish you, and you; Mr.. Harbury, q
very good evening turned, and left Rose
Cottage forever.
For years after that evening q terrible
load lay at my hearts load Of love despised,
hopes blighted and energies wasted--Ihat
seemed sometimes greater than could bear.
Wherever ! went thoughts Of Mary followed
shc seemed ever presCnt-so beautiful, SO
treacherOus-her very faithessness helped to
render her more dear. pitied her SO much
so young, SO false: with her wondrous
beauty, thousand dangers threatened her.
1t was five years after | had lost my Mary
five prosperous years for rme-that one night
. woman was brought into the hospital Of
which was chief physician. Hers was q
very bad case Of consumption, prostration and
weakness, arising from destituiion and starva.
ton. The poor creature was SO cmacated and
sunken that the moment saw her perceived
there was no hope Of recovery, and directed
ell tho attention Of the nurse to the tiny shiv-
ering infant in her arms The poor mother
lay all night quite unconscious of what was
passing around. In the morning, when came
to her bed in the course Of my rounds there
struck me as being In her face something "a.
m'lIar. must have seen it long ago, when
and wheEO J. could not Feeolleet.
/" As took her hand she opened her ewes,
and looked long and fixedly upon me then
she exclaimed, with fearful emphasis, Charles
BouIding, go away, go away! Are you come
awayr
"But could not 60.
| Aub " 10 ItI NAu IL POSSIBLY De MARY
Collins ?"
No. she shrieked, Il am Mr.. Harbury's
wife; how dare you come tU my bedside p
Away, awayI'
She would not be soothed, but talked
wildly and loudly until they brought her child.
Then, when she looked into itS little HELPLESS
face, and watched its feeble efforts to come to
her, she sOitened, and, with oil tine mother in
her eyes. held out her arms and pressed It to
her heart Perhaps the Huttering, irregular
PulsationS Of that heart warned her how soon
its beatings would cease forever, for she turned
to me, and with look so full Of humility, Of
grief and love, said, All, Charles, forgive me
] wronged you cruelty, but have been cruel.
ly punished. l married him, and my life has
been-O what liel But it is Over-T am
dying now-he knows not--cares not-desert.
ed-we might both die for him. But INV
child, my little girl; you will not let her stArve!
Promise me, CharleS'
prOmised-I swore would he q father
to the helpless infant lying by her side.
"She seemed easy and happy after that
and lay SO still and passive, that whom she
sank away from the calm earthly sleep into
tho sleep of death, the change was 50 peaceiGl
40 gentle, that We who stood watching round
her bed perceived It not
" / took the little girl home, and tried to do
my beSt TO supply her dear Lost mothers place.
Tell me Louisa, have done 90 :" 40, uncle I"
cried Louisa, starting up and throwing her
arms round the doctors neck, Fnever hncw--