Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-15
NUMBER a..

ing against the locked dOoF, IN the qulsthszSok
sheer exhaustion, and large tears wsgs ANegg
slowly from ber eyes upon, the eooE sSHylk,
irrepressible eagerness she matched lhs k2fs.
from me- and ut once fitted the largest inlo
the lock but before she could turn M,=My
husbands restraining hand wss laid upcu her
arm. :
"'Mary. he said, Il advise you. As your.
friend not to open this closet, but whit aNd
ask Mr.. Gordon for IN explanation ofbiG MY.
mysterious conduct What there may b to
affect your future happiness we can none Of
us conjecture, but at present II is his secret
Let it remain 60
"'It is too late to wait now answered Mrs.
Wigley, impatiently, they have rOuscd our
curiosity, and It shall be satisfied at tany coz.
wish to know the worst
ITO own the truth, was heartily glad Of
the old lady's decision, though it was opposed
to my husbands judgment. I, too, was con-
sumed by an inextinguishable curiosity to
tathom our enigma. Behind that door lay
the mysteries that had been all day arranging
themselves into nnmberlcSs forms within our
busy brain, and now to wait for Mr.. GOrdOn's
return, aud then, perhaps to be denied an ex-
PLANTATION, was q moral impossibility. Mary
q s'owly, but resOlutely opened the door, and We
os'S S'Sh huoOuuus tOOhSo AusO sttS uHtt8WNS
ed closet, with an intense gaze; but there was
manifested no scene Of horror or mechanism
for future purposes. In the darkness therp
was shaped out only two small mahogany
boxes, something like viOlin-cases; here, then!
lay the very" core nnd kernel of 0uI- hunting
mystery-the solving Of the problem on which
Mary'S future fife depended.
Nothing could have stayed us now. Mary
rapidly detached one Of the keys for me, and
we knclt down to lit them into the minuts
locks Of the mahogany cases. We raised tha
lids simultaneously, and our eager, earnest
eyes fell upon two wooden legs.
IL scarcely know what We felt the fTst few
minutes. 1t was not reliei; for. though our
suspense was over, our AStoniShmont WaS not
lesscncd. We had not the dignity Of being
horror stricken, nor the Indignation Of being
hOaxed; VIC were passively astOnished. Mary
silently relOcked the cases and the closet, and
we adjourned quietly to the library. A spirit
of deep musing had fallen upon us oil. Out
Of the profound abyss Of contemplation, sug.
gcston after suggestion was summoned; but
none could satisfy US, or explain alb the cir.l
cumstances Of the case.
We felt great excitement when the return.
Of the head master of the house was heard
Mary threw herself back into her chair, and
my husband and Mira Migley rose to mesEl
him as he entered the room. CHANGING keen
ly round on our attitudes Of expectation, and;
on the Uttered room, he advanced and placed
himself behind Mary'H chair. ..ll-,
Permit me, he said, TO give you an in6es:i
ligible explanation Of my conduct beforp you.
reproach Inc for my secrecy. Ny father made
match for me when was very young, witlr
n relative who possessed much wealth, buV
Vx.h ha had aaaffnraA IA
about two years after our marriage, and be-
queathcd her property to me on condition n L
married again it should be woman similarly
afflicted. A few years after, met with lady
possessing the necessary qualifications, and
gifted with 10 much sweetneiS and amiabiitv
Of temper, that loved her truly. IL Saitsds
me to watch over and protecther, and We were
very happy, but for a few months only. ThpA
it happened that, while quite young man, /
was q widOwer for the second time. Ny last
wife, with caprice at variance with her usual
character, had made Q similar will to my first
wite's: and though would have given up their
united fortunes had ! found any one whom
could love, these circumstances tended to IA.
vest cripple with peculiar interest IN NV
eyes, and have made it rule to seek the ae.
quaintancc Of those met. As my position
and presumed object became known, I was
made the victim of several unworthy artiflces.a
SO that determined to make all future ad.,
vances under an assumed name,-as / did to-
you, Mary. At first l was pleased with ths
notion that you loved me for myself; but when
l came to know your excelIencies, your culti.
waited intellect, your deliCate sense Of honor.
and your modest reserve, did not dare to CON-
fess that had deceived you, until had called.
to my aid the adventtious influences Of posi.
tion and fortune, and by them won over your
friends to my side. Yet when you Werv fSaFees,
had not courage to tcli you personally, and
! suffered you to ti6d Il eatyodrselRsy TzN
s'Sir,' interrupted Mar; sFisines AZ ussAr
ashamed to say that have beengnilty Of cOu,
tenptib!c curiosity this day; but I have NOS
read your papers. Forgive me: this Is the last
time shall ever doubt you sf'!~i
"'But what caused your very belhgerent
aspect! said MI. Gordon to my husband, ak.
ter ne and Mary had quite settled the auesr,,
!ion of forgiveness Il thought you and Mrs.:
Wigley were both going to aftAek me !. atld n
you did not know had twice been widOsRsrc
what occasioned your solemn manner ;Of ~.
ccptionr'
"The two wooden legsi" replied.
d" In four months after their first meetiik:e
we had the grandest wedding that waa UvSPx
seen in our chapels which was Registered for
the celebration Of marriages. Mary and M.
Gordon left the town in great glory. .-.--,----
" believe the two wooden legs still remain
in the dark little closet; but there is no dppa.
rent probability o( third defunct Mmb Az
present" B y.
1--WE ought to be more patient under deer;;
vations," added our minister's wife :. /" fGkwhO'
knows the advantages Of disadvAntAges
-o%N q FrSy ~ 9Oss.s