Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-17

fairs began. Then Mrs.. Williams got her
cattle killed, and meat salted, and most Of
the servants were busy about that work in the
yard and buttery.
One close, cloudy day, Kiich rs comes SO
often at the Martinmas. time, | was sitting In
the best kitchen close by the window, doing
some needle work, and MrS. Williams was up
in hrr own room settling the accounts, for it
was Monday, and early In the aftevhOon.-
The sound Of horsss hooss on the FONd,
made me look out and there was gentleman,
handsomely mounted, with a servant alter
him, as gentlemen rode n those days They
looked rs if they had travelled Ear, and were
coming to rest 1t the inn When the geNuc-
man alighted, saw he was tall and handsome,
somewhere about thirty five, and had joviAl
good. .natured look. like one who was well
pleased with himself and every thing about
him. lie walked in not at all strange like,
and asked me in the most civil and courteous
manner, il Mrs. Williams lived here, and If
he and his servant could have dinner. The
first question was asked In q low tone, the
second in louder key; and before ] could
answer it, Mrs. Williams camo down. Judg-
ing from her look, he was quite new conner.
| thought the gentleman glanced curionsly at
her nt first, and then seeming satisfied that all
was right, repeated his question about the
dinner, saying he was stranger in that part
Of the country. but he had heard so much Of
the Golden Shcaf, that he wished to stop and
dine at the house.
never saw MrR Williams receive any gen.
tlcmNn with more respect and ceremony. She
curtcSied him into the best parlor, called the
hostlers 10 help his servant with the horses,
took his orders fur his dinner, and set about
cooking il herself, for the cook was hard at
work making black aud white pudtlingS in the
6uttcry. Ny first notion was that she had dis.
covered him to be some great person travelling
In disguise. and half expected to bc IOld Of
it, MrA Williams nasA 10 tAlk 10 the good
deal wisn ne we're alOAs IN VOIst afternoons /;
but now she went on cooking aud making
things ready without saying wold, and there
was queer iiMv,l hook 10 her face, which l
could not understand, but L kept me from talk
ing. ! laid down my work, and rose TO make
{ the eel soup; It was one Of the things for
which the house was famous-a Cornwall dish,
| believe; and | had been trusted with the
making of it Of late, to my great exultation.
But now she stopped me. mo, Mary; finish
your sewing; those linens will bc wanted
III make the soup myself"
: sewed away, wondering who the gentle
man could be, aRd what had coGIC over Mrs.
|
her out of the kitchen. She hsd gone up to
her own room, but come hack in y minute,
with paper in her hand, which she shook into
the soup, and then threw into the fire.
That's the red pepper; it will do now, VI
said she. taking up spoonful, and making be-
lieve to taste il, but she did not ] stitched
on for minute or two, though my blood was
running cold; and the boiling Of that soup In
the large, quiet kitchen, sounds Through my
head sometimes even now. Mrs Williams
was standing at the window, With her back TO
me. | never Will know what made me do Il
but Il was as if somebody had bidden me; and
without . word or thought but that it must
be done, ran to the fire, gave the SaOcCpan q
poke, aud sent the soup blazing up the Chin
ney. As Il tiRxed up, the thought Of her an
ger came over mo I knew now what did
but uttering . wild cry Of fear, Fushed 10 the
nearest dOor, and Il was the best parlor. The
next thing remember, t. crouching behind
the gentleman, who had started up aud Htood
in the door, AZ Mrs. Williams came forward
with two knives, which had been lying on the
window.Sill, in her hand.
."Pooh, never mind the epilllng Of the soup,
said he, understanding at once what had
done, which indeed was easily seen. "YOu
would not be angry with. the child iOr that ;
she could not lelp Z. dare say. ] can dine
very we'll without L. YOa don't know me.
Mrs Williams" he coNelNNed. coming step
nearer where sAe saooA. sllll lsshiag q me With
a deadly glitter b ~ eysA
"DOnt l." ~ - 81 ! IL thiWk she
was trying wAlsA SfT -'vss was The sharp
est.
"wen," ~ - :. .Rman, "you may
know me b DO BAwasa Wlnsaaalsyi bat you
,l0n'k knnw, AkaA 4 49, wamu4-A Smsaa AaSak.
ter. and 6FOeghe A@ hssAs q ldy. never
meant to act IL ViIlula By Axr. We were
privately married; bot while the Old man
lived, it had % be kePs aecSUG md We kMew
you would keep Il. That b Why have como
to-day to surprise you but you will come to
WinStAnlcy Park, and give US your blessing,
BY Jove, dear madam, you arc not going to
iaintw
She had staggered back against the wall, her
white lips set, and her eyes growing CLASSY.
lie aud I, aud . halfa.doIcn Of the servants,
whom my SCREAM had brought in, ran to help
her hut she pushed us away with desperate
effort, darted up stairs, aud We heard her lock
herself in her own room. Tho whole hOuSV
was terribly frightened; the MAIDS all con
cludcl that Mrs. Williams had seen . ghost
What Mr.. WinStanlcy thought, do not know
but he asked me no questions, and never seem
ed to suspect anything about the spilled soup
He left note for Mrs. Williams, and went of
with the servant little before sunset We
all went about our business, for work nevel
Stacked in that house on any account, and the
evening coach was expected. Just before il
came, Mrs. Williams bell rang, and the house
maid said she wanted me. When came into
she was sitting at the desk. looking herself
again; bat her face was still white, aUd she had
her long, knitted purse iull Of gUineas in hel
hand.
Mary" said she, "you are . good girl
take this and go hOme-In take care that you
get no blame"
~ want no money, mAam," said 1: "bU
III SO home if yOUIl lct me. and never say {
word except to my father or mother"
She held out the purse once more, and theT
pointed TO the door, but could say nothing; I
must have been hard pill for her proud spirit
got out Of the room as quickly 81 ! could
threw On my hat and cloak, and got iUte III,
coach As soon as it came up, leaving trunk anC
all Aehiad me.
My father and mother W0FN nightly sar
prisod when it sek me down q their deer Il
Chatiord, Just as the clock stT0eh twelve--shay
were siill more astONishsa when I told thea
what had brought ne home. Ny Atker GFs
called ns ; AEaVs. good girl, and thsG advt5eS
me not 70 be proud about Il because e gal
the work Of Providence, and we were RonRs
on an hands to keep such story quiet k66S
Farmer DicksoA's relation TAe seeFy Wsl
kept between ~ AnA then eOt ~ Aeae