Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-07
"oUR ooUNTRY-Aluyu Wrong; ourC County,"



q fire, that was gradually extinguishcd by her
gushing tears "YOu shall tell me on the
spot who you are"
"Who I amS"
"YcS who are your Your callingI your
| name ="
"I am a thief"
"A thicf!" she echoed, faltcrlngly, turning
as white as snow.
am thief by name, and q robber by
station" he said, with a smile, and looking
tcnderly into her blue eyes; but the smile on
his face rescmblcd the ghastly glimmering Of
The moon upon tho foul waters Of the mOrass.
This is the approved style in robbcr- tales, 40
you see there was no joke in the matter; after
such phrase all sorts Of horrors may be cx.
pcctcd. Duna was terrified mot at the phrase,
but at the smile), and 4 cold tremor ran through
her frame; but seeing that her visitor was
making sport Of uneasiness, she rnlied her.
self little, and cried out hurriedly, but with
a tremulous voice, "a robberg Pohl what
horrid liic"
Every man to his calling had another
once; but now, | say, my pretty lass, give
me something to eat. ] have not put a bit
in my mouth these three days. We will
breakfast together, and then"
With sudden gesture he threw his arms
round her neck to kiss her Sight ofhis briSt-
! " chin and formidable Inoustaches- charging
so IierccIy upon her, the sight Of his ugly red
nose that nearly touched her check. put her
in downright passion and with the strength
that makes heroes Ofus in moments ofextreme
peril, she pushed the andacious fellow back.
Hands off, if you please. Mr.. Robber Id
thank you not to frighten me for nothing
know what you come for"
"YOu know, do you? Well, what is it,
them"
ooh! know very well but allow me to
tell you it is very great shame. l will have
you up for it. Give me back the key this
moment, and be Off"
"Some breakfast" growled the stranger.
81 have no breakfast for you there is
nothing to cat in the whole house. Go break
fast in the pubichouse, il you have . mind.
BY the same token you smell of brandy enough
to knock one backwards; dare say you have
made very goo1 breakfast already"
"What! nothing to eaty" he muttered,
glance on the girl as he put his right hand
down towards his boot "Do you see this :"
said he, showing her broad-bladed knife
with small black sPecklcs, traces of recently
shed blood hc had somewhere hastily wiped
off on the grass. II have no time to Joke
with you"
Poor Dunn stared with open eyes and SEEM
ed pctriticd by his basiliSk glanccs.
a IIrcakfast!' he shouted.
Immediately"
BE quick ! have no time to lose."
Take whatever you please there is some
roast meat Of yesterday in the cupboard and
some brandy"
"ShOw me into the parl0r, put everything
you have got on the table, and stir yourself.
Pale and bcwildcTd, she tottcrcd to the
cupboard in the ante.chamber. lie stuck the
knife in his boot, and followed her step by
step. Bread. brandy, salt, butter, cheese and
cold roast veal, were placed on the same table
where the prOprictOrS Of The house had recent
ly brcakfaStcd, before setting off for the town.
lie seated himself, seized Dumas arm, and
forced her down beside him. "Well, say"
said hc, bolting the fat veal with ravcnous
voracity, and squirting sideways at his COM
paniOn, gave you a jolly start, didn't 7"
II believe you didl wonder who would
not he frightened 10 ?"
"YOu did wrong to stand out against me.
II you had done what wanted ut once
Your health. Drink little drop to keep me
company"
~ never touch brandy"
That's pity; itscapital brandy. What's
your namc:"
q" Catharina Nicola"
That's lic," he said, with his mouth full,
and scOwling on her; ~ know your name is
Avdotya Ycrcmeyevna."
"Then why do you ask, IL you know"
ITO try your candOr Capital brandy, to
be sure; is there any more of itl"
THERE'S another bottle In the cupboard"
lave the goodness to bring it here"
"There it is"
Thank you. By yOur leave I'll give you
kiss for it."
Duna no longer dared to resist she SUBJ
mittcd with the best grace she could to the
rude kiss, contenting herself with wiping the
place where his sharp beard had scratched
her soft skin till it almost bled.
To let you see that arm up to thing or
two, he went on, after he had gulped his
third glass of brandy, ~ will tell you that a
clerk brought your master ] 800 roublcs yes.
tcrday from lvanOvitch f., whose case was
Is not that truey"
May be So"
swell, where docs your master keep his
money ?"
"Really do not know"
"But do; We shall soon find it, Avdotra
Yeremryevna, my pet, my darlingl"
"What is your plcasurc?"
IL wish, my love, yoa would be sociable." :"
Poor Duna was forced to MIKE show of
being sociablc. The guest was in the happiest
humOur; he laughed and jOked with her
Duna gradually Gurgot her terrors, grew bold
erI, defended herself becomingly, nay, laughed,
aloud; and endeavOred to disguise her intense
nc&lety under show Of cheerlulness, while
in secret she prayed ferventIy to heaven that
the red-nosed guest might soon eat and drink
his lill, and take his leave, and the incompara-
ble Ivan might soon arrive to indemnify her
sensitive heart for this fearful torment
Alas! Ivan who had got leave from the gov
ernor left the town, and sped with hasty steps,
and with heart brimful of tenderness and
hope, to meet her. He walked not, he few.
Cupid had fastened his own wings to his boots.
| lie few like an arrow. But on his way lay
brandy shop there is no road without them.
He would have flown by L but in the brandy
shop were his acquaintances,- beloved friends.
| lie made . halt With them for moment, only
a moment, and got tipsy with them. Il hap.
pcncd quite against his will; be was even in
despair at it. Altogether, It was one Of the
most memorable victories ever achieved by
Friendship over Love.
Meanwhile the ugly vagabOnd had emptied
his sixth glass Of brandy. At the seventh he
grew pensiYc; pnrsed his bE0WR, and bit his
lips as IL pang shot through his vitals; a
dark shadow passed like . cloud over his
c0untenance suddenly he sprang from his
| seat and Wfthoutintending it pushed so strong