Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-19
"oUR coUNTRYAlways Wrong ourc Country"


down into an expression of womanly feeling
and earncstness which greatly heightened its
attraction.
Julia Gilmnn's small figure and sweet face
arc opposite her. The delicate Saxon features,
tho small mouth, the slightly tinted checks,
with the blue eyes, and rich, yellow hair, al
together, seem like an incarnation Of young,
beautiful girlhood.
"NOw, Rccny, darling, It is too bad" said
Julia, in the first pause Of the conversation
which had sct between them, an uninterrup-
ted current for the last two hours, " must
not stay here any longer, in this dusty travel
ing dress. II isn't treating you with proper
respect shall 60 and change 1t this mo-
mcnt."
mo you won't either" laughed Rowena,
ns she pushed back her friend into the chair,
and then seating herself on its arm she con-
tinued, "Now, have told you all about Char
lie and il is settled you nre to be bride s-maid.
want to hear about somebody elscs matri-
nonial affairs. You remember you wrote me
you'd a long story to tell, when you came,
about Matte English and Paul Stebbims.
Julia'S face frightened. ooh, yes, re-
member; but its q great secret. You'll
promise solcmnly, never to divulge it!"
"Snlcmnly, never"
"Wcll, you know that some two years ago,
Matte refused Squire Allen. All OF a sud
den she seemed to become very happy, and
went about the house singing like May bird,
and making preparations for her mother to go
down to Maryland and pass the winter. Ev-
Crybody wondered, but nobody Knew where
they obtained the money to do this but, at all
events, Mrs English went south, the old house
was closed up, and Mattie got q situation as
govcrncss in Mrs. Miles family for the winter.
She studded, too, very hard, nll her leisure,
and in the spring there was an opening in the
Academy for an Assistant teacher. Matte
accepted the situation, and last June her
mother returned from the South with greatly
improved health, az papa predicted. They
rented the old homestead, for it was theirs no
longer, aud Mattic's lips were always as full
Of smiles as her brown eyes were Of light.
"Dut the cream of my story is yet to come.
Last winter Paul StcbLins came home-you
remember Paul. Rowcnay lie was the hand.
soonest boy at the Academy when you and
went to the district school. lie soon became
daily visitor at Mrs. Englishs. His uncle
was terribly angry when it came to his ears,
and threatened to cut Paul off with shilling
But his spirited nephew Informed him he had
obtained situation at the South, in some
mcrchantilc business, which would supply all
his aud Mattie's wants"
$50 the crusty old bachelor had to swallow
his chngrin as best he might, and as Paul is
his lavorite, will doubtless make him his heir
They will be married next month, and this
was the reason Matte could not accept your
invitation to attend your wedding"
Ynu knOw old 'Snnirn Allen ha q m rri n1 a
Boston beauty. People say it's the one Paul's
uncle designed for him. Last week Matte
and rode past their new splendid stone dwell.
ling. laughed and whispered. Maggie, yOu
might bave been mistress Of all that magnif.
ccnce T."
"She answered with shuddcr, Yes, and ]
should have been but for one namclesS un.
known friend.'"
"What do you mean, Mattic!"
"She looked at ME earnestly, and her eyes
filled with tears. 1 never breathed it to any,
she sail, but mamma and Paul; but 'ciil
trust you, Julia 1t was just at sundown,
(hOw well remember it and was expect.
ing Squire Allen that evening, Qor it was the
one he had specified,) to hear my decision
whether would be his wife.
"'My mother was dying slowly starvation
was staring us in the face and had said, in
my desperation, will save my mother, | will
tell him will be his wife. Just then letter
came to me. IOpened it, and found .fre Aun.
dred dOliarS, with these words, Lisc this, and
10 not marry Squire Allen ;" The letter bore
no other date or name. That money was my
earthly salvation. You know, julia, oil that
it enabled me to do. And to that unknown
friend do owe it that am not this day the
wretchcd wife Of that ray-haircd old man, the
miserable mistress Of yOndcr great mansion.
oh how have prayed for the "givcr of that
gift" how have longed to see him OF her,
aud say what feel, and know to whom owe
all the bliss Of the present, all the ecstacy ol
thinking shall be Pdurs wife,"
And don't you expect ever to know this,
Matter"
"'IIardly, Julia, till learn it up there,
and her eyes-why, Reena you arc crying.
81 can't help it, julia" and Rowenas head
dropped on her friends shouldr, while tears Of
exquisite joy rolled down her checks.
Julia had a sympathetic little heart, and the
sObs came up to her throat so fast she could
not finish her story. At last the door-b
rang loudly. Rowena sprang up, with blush
cs rolling over her checks. "That is Charlie, VI
she said 81 always know his ring"
"And here's my travelling dreSSl l cant
be presented to him in this" cried Julia, and
with little shrick Mt the bare contemplation
of so terrible an occurrence, she bounded to.
wards her trunks in the next room.