Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-23

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This watch passed into every ones hand,
and then the conversation took another turn,
and seventy other subjects had been broached
before they all rose to leave the dining room.
When they had been q short time in the draw
ing-rOom, the general recOlected the watch,
and ringing for his valet, sent him to fetch il
from the table where he had left It, and take
1t back to his room. After some moments,
the servant came In quite thunder-struck, he
could not find the watchl The general, in
much surprise, and fearing some inattention
on the part Of Batistc (his valeO returned with
him to the room, with as little success.
"SOme one, or perhaps the general himself,
has by mistake taken it up" said Batiste, aux
iouSly, to his master.
IL don't think So" was his reply; "but it
will be easy to ascertain"
A new search was instituted with the same
result.
"AAA All fear said the general, ais that
some trick has been played, and the watch
may be broken"
1--WE will not leave the house until it is
found, interrupted one Of the guests with
very bad taste, and an air OF great sOlemnity.
THAT decision" rcjoinCd q young man,
smiling, who probably had to dispose Of his
evening elsewhere, "seems to me very men.
acing for the general, and an attempt upon
the liberty Of ALL propose measure, far
more effectual and expeditions, and that is to
have us all searched"
"AdOptedi adoptcd!" was heard on every
side, and the young man who had proposed
it, was the first to yield himself up to the
generals valet, who had been unanimously
appointed for the purpose by all but one who
was perfectly silent.
At first, the general warmly opposed the
business, but he, too, ended by laughing at
the fun, as pocket after pocket was emptied
Of its contents, to the no small amusement Of
all except the captain, who did not join in it,
but looked constrained and sOnIber, keeping
apart from all as much as possible without
exciting notice. As the searching progress.
ed, he became more III at case, and seemed
anxious to avoid his turn, aud perhaps, he
thought it might be possible amidst the con-
! fusion around, but it was not to BE- so-quite
the contrary-for when his joyous compan.
ions had each one submitted in his turn, they
turned towards him with rcdOubCd noise and
delight, and declared he must be the guilty
ono, aS he was the last. Pale and trembling,
the captain muttergd some words, which were
lost in the hubbub around. They all urged
on Baptiste for this final expedition into vari-
GUS pockets.
"Batistc, this is the decisive moment" cried
one. Batis:e, don't be careless" said anoth-
er. "YOu have all our eyes upon you-show
up the guilty" Courage, Batstc-the last
is always the bcstw And under this fire, Ba.
tiSte advanced ; but Gcrbault crossed his hands
over his chest, and declared no one should
touch him without violence, and he trcmbled
as he spoke.
Aprofound silence succeeded instantaneous
ly to the joyous cries, and the geneaal spoke
1.-THE captain is right" he said. "This
child's play has lasted too long already. l
claim exemption for him and for myself"
Gerbault could scarcely stand; but he thank.
cd the general by look Of the deepest graft.
tudc, and left the room to conceal the suffering
and shame which overwhelmed him. After
his departure the general made no comment,
and his guests were forced to model themselves
by his reserve but every ono seemed by looks
tO demand an explanation Of his neighbor, and
even the general was thoughtful and pre.oc-
cupicd.
Gerbault walked about long time before
returning home. lie felt how much he re-
Quired to be left alone to calm his thoughts,
and subduc the half:maddcning feeling which
oppressed him by physical fatigue. Chaos
was in his brain, and with much difficulty did
he succeed in setting his ideas somewhat in
order, and in coming to resolution.
1t was late when he returned home, and his
wife, who was waiting impaticntly for him,
uttered a cry when she bchcld his ngitated
manner.
"What has happened?" she exclaimed
"NOthing," answered Gcrbault, dropping
into scat. broken down by fatigue and agita.
ton, and, at the same time, laying down q
small parcel on the table; "you cost inc very
dear" he added.
In vain she cndcavorcd, while trying to
calm him, to find out what he meant
Tomorrow he answered, "to.morrow
We shall see. shall go out early. Leave me
don't alarm yourself Tomorrow, Ill tell
you ALL"
Early next morning the unhappy man took
the road towards the generals house, and
though he walked resOlutely, an irrcprcssiblc
suffering was depicted Oh his countenancc,
aud troubled his mind. Il
How should he present himself! How
would he bc received? Would he be at all !?
Were it better to write and acknowledge what
he had TO confess? Nevertheless, he could
not exist beneath the weight which oppressed
him. a hundred different ways he turned
and returned the terrible avowal he had to
make. With what words should he meet the
1 general, to avoid q woid, perhaps or q look
from him, which he could never forget, If ut.
tered or giveny And then the valct-hc was
worse to meet than his maSter-for with him
there could be no explanation. Grrbault was
mad when he arrived.
1t was not Babtiste he met, but another do.
mcstic, who FASTENED forward to announce
him. ----
This one knows nothing, probably" he
said. What aNgUishl Would the gcWcral
receive himG Yes. He is asked in, hut he
dared not raise lis eyes. BY glance he as
sures himself that the door is closed, aud then,
without hesitAting, in sOn6cr, scarcely aud.
iblC voice, he rapidly ptters bis words like 4
man who has painfGl duty to accomplish
an incxOVablc sacrifice. sesfi.
~ cannot blind myself, general" he said
Ito tho fact Of all that was strange and incom.
prchcnsible in my conduct last night, neither
to the doubts and suspicious it must have
given rise to. l cannot support the idea, and
much rs It costs me, come now to acknowl
edge the extent Of my fault, and bear as may
the humiliation Of that avowal"
} The general, who had made an effort t
; stop him, let him continue. Gerbault became
} by degrees, more animated.
"My misery is at its height-that is my
! only excuse. am burden to those whom
: ought 10 support. A woman-ah indeEati
gable mother; with ell her toll, can scarcely
earn bread for our poor children. cannot
: except with trembling fingers, touch Ihi
bread Of sOrrow."
"Captain," said Tho general, with deel