Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-26

four people forming this family lived together
in tolcrable harmony. Doctor Brown was
more than satisfied with his house, his SER
wants, his professional prospects, and most of
all with his little bright energetic wife. Mar
garet from time to time was taken by surprise
by certain moods Of her husbands; but the
tendency Of these moods was not TO weaken
her affection, rather 20 call out feeling Of
pity for what appeared to be his morbid suf-
fcrings and suspiciOns-a pity ready to be
turned into sympathy IS soon as she could
discover any definite cause for his occasional
depression Of spirits. Christie did not pretend
tO like Crawford but, as Margaret quietly
declined TO listen to her grumblings and dis
content on this head, and as Crawford himself
was almost painfully sOlcitOus to gain the
good opinion of the old Scotch woman, there
was no open rupture between them. On the
whole, the popular, successful Doctor Brown,
was apparently the most anxious person in his
family. There could be no great cause for
this as regarded his money affairs. By one Of
those lucky accidents which sometimes lift
man up out Of bis struggles, and carry him on
to smooth unencumbered ground, he had made
great step in his professional progress. and
their income froIu this source was likely to be
fully as much as Margaret and he had ever
anticipated in their most sanguine moments,
with the likelihood too, Of q steady increase
as the years went on.
must explain myself more fully on this
head.
Margaret herself had rather more than a
hundred year; sometimes, indeed, her divi-
dcnds had amounted to one hundred and thir-
ty or forty pounds but on that she dared not
haA h.,n w.A
remaining Of the three thousand left him by
his mother; and, out Of this money, he had
to pay for some Of the furniture, the bills OF
which had not been sent in at the time, in
spite of all Margarct's entreatics that such
might be the case. They came in about n
week before the time when the events am
going TO narratc took place. OF course they
amounted to more than even the prudent
Margaret had expected, and she was little
dispiritcd to find how much money it would
take to liquidate them. But, curiously and
contradictOrily enough-as she had often no.
ticed beiorc-any real cause for anxiety or
disappointment did not seem to affect her hus-
bands cheerfuIness. He laughed at her dis
may over her accounts, jingled the proceeds
Of that days work in his pockets, counted it
out to her, and calculated the years probable
income from that days gains. Margaret took
the guinras, and carried then, up-stuirs to her
own secretare in silence, having learnt the
| difficult art of trying TO swallow down her
household cares in the presence Of her hus.
band. When she came back she was cheer
ful, il grave. He had taken up the bills in her
absence, and had been adding them up.
1.-TWO hundred and thirty six pounds" he
said, putting the accounts away to clear the
table for tea as Crawford brought in the things.
"Why don't call that much. believe
reckOned on their coming to great deal more.
Ill 60 into the city tomorrow and sell out
some shares, and set your little heart at ease.
Now don't go and put q spoonful less tea in
to night to help to pay these bills. Earning
is better than saving, and arm earning at a
famous rate Give me good tea, Maggie, for
| have done good days work."
They were sitting in the Doctors consulting
room for the better economy Of fire. To add
to Margaret's discomfort the chimney smoked
this evening. She had held her tongue from
any rcpining words; for she remembered the
old proverb about Q smoky chimney and q
ScOlding wife; but she was more irTitated by
the puffs Of smoke coming over her pretty
white work than she cared to show and II
was sharper tone than usual that she spoke
in bidding Crawford take care and have the
chimney swept The next morning all had
cleared brightly off. Her husband had con.
vinced her that all their money matters were
going on well; the fire burned brightly al
breakfast time, and the unwOnted sun shOne
in ut the window. Margaret was surprised
when CrawfIrd told her that he had not been
able to meet with . chimney sweeper that
morning, but that he had tried to arrrngc the
Goals in the crate so that for this one morning
at least his mistress should not be annoyed
and, by the next, he would take care to So
cure a sweep. Margaret thanked him, and
acquicsccd in all his plans about giving gen
cra cleaning to the room, the more readily
because she felt that she had spoken sharply
the night before She decided to 60 and pay
all her bills, and make some distant calls or
the next morning; and her husband promised
to 60 into the city and provide her with thu
money.
This he did. lie showed her the notes tina
evening. locked them up for the night in hi
bureau; and, 10, in the morning they were
gone! They had breakfasted in the bacl
parlOr, or half furnished dining A
charwOman was in the front room cleaning
after the sweeps. Doctor Brown went to hi
bureau, singing an old Scotch tune as he lcf
the dining room. It was SO long before h
SAhC OaNh thOI 4uHt SaIVb NVUt " iOOh W. uttu
lie was sitting in the chair nearest to the bu
reau, leaning his head upon it, in an attitM!
Of the deepest dependency. Lie did not seer
to hear Margaret's step, as she m:,i,e hcr wa,
among rolled.up carpets ard chairs piled il
each other, She had to touch him on tn
shoulder before she could rouse him.
Il "James, James!" she said in alarm.
He looked up at her almost as if he did no
know her.
90 Margaret" he said, and took hold q
her hands. and hid his face in her neck.
dearest love, what is II" she asked, think
ing he was suddenly taken III.
} "SOme one has been to my bureau sine
last night, " he groaned, without looking up O
moving.
And taken the money" said Margaret, i
an instant understanding how it stood. 1t wa
a great blow a great loss; far greater thar
the few extra pounds by which the bills ha'
exceeded her calculations: yet it seemed q
II she could bear it better. "Oh deari" sh
} said, "that il bad i; but after aldo yOl
know" she said trying to raise his face, s
that she might look into It, and give him tn
encouragement Of her honest. loving eye,
at first thought you were deadly III, an
all sorts of dreadful possibilities rushed throug
my mind, it is such relief to find that, it
, only money"
"Only money" he echoed, sadly, Avoidin
her look, 81 IL he could not bear to show he
how much he felt 1t.
"And after ALL" she said, with spirit, "i
! can't be gone far. Only last night here