Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-22

Ibut lie lett tnat Del screening Rance was
on his every action, and recklcs>ly exclaimed
"Y0u viii pledge the also, Lilly? Nay, do
not look so grave surely hasty promise is
better in the breach than in the observance"
But she had turned from him and glided
silently from the room, ere he cOul'l follow.
Sad and bittrr were her reflections, as she
sat tn her own luxurious chamber at home.--
The rcd glow Of the low, clear fire in the crate,
aud the moonlight radiance Of single per-
fumed taper. burning through the transparent
urn Of an alabaster lamp, fell on troubled
brow and fearful eyes. Poor Lilly the wreath
Of scarlet rose buds in her hair were not yet
withered; the diamonds were yet flashing on
were dead forever.
Her sorrOwful resolution vas soon taken.
She felt that she could never place all wiEe's
confidence in one whose resolves were so fee
ble-SO easily broken. She knew that wine
was her rival that when solemn promise
was thus unhcedcd, all the restraints of pru.
dcncc or discretion would be Of little avail.
And So. although it was like the tearing
asundcr of soul and body, she laid away her
dead and buried love in the sad mausoeum Of
the past, never more to rise again
, 1t was mournful night. The pcrfumcd
light waned low and fiickcred into darkness
the bright fire died out into ashy chillness and
gloom, and still she sat there, her fair young
head dropping on her hand, its bright curls
ripping around her snowy arm, ait uucon--
scious Of the progress of time. And when
the cold, gray lights of dawn began to peDe-
trate the silken curtain Of the easement, she
felt that the crisis Of her life was past
"Mr. Eftingham is below, lna'aM," said
servant, the next noon, as Lilly sat, pale and
exhausted, in her apartment; "Shall say you
are not well 7"
"Tell him." said Lilly-"nay, I will write
a message"
And She hastily inscribed on card the fol-
lowing words:
The broken promise of last night has placed
an impossible gulfbetwcen US. Hereafter, our
paths through life lie in different directions,
for cannot trust one who is false to himself
Farewell, .J0rerer! LILLY.
st. James read the fatal sentences with
stinging heart; yet, in spite Of an accusing
conscience, he strove to think himself agrieved.
WOman'S caPricet" he muttercd ticrcely
~ was n fool ever to trust my happiness in
her keeping However, this freak will not
last long, and for the present. If my presence
is 80 disagrccablc, she shall not be troubled
with it.
lie LEFT the house, and the estranged lovers
never met again.
Years pnssedby. Lilly's health, which had
begun ~ fail from excitement and distress Of
mind, was finally restored on the change Of
air and scene consequent on removal to anoth-
rr city. Gradually the deep scars Of her sor-
row healed up; gradually the memory Of
Etngham became like distant dream. She
welded one in every respect worthy Of her
gentle virtues, and in the happy occupations
Of wife and mother, forgot the troubled incl
dent Of her carly girIhoOd.
Meanwhile Eifngham had wasted his fine
fortune, by course Of reckless cxtravagancc
and di>SipatiOn-and, gradually sinking from
his position in society, had become q mere
wreck Of his former self lie also left his ma
tive city, and for years his name was never
mentioned among those who had been once
his friends and associates.
1t was late one bitter February night, that
Lilly Brooke, now Mrs. WoOdham, welcomed
her husband to his cheerful fireside, where
home comfort seemed to have assumed its
brightest guise. No marvel that DR.. Wood
ham experienced feeling Of relief and pleas
ure aS he threw of his snowy outer garments,
and looked upon his beautiful wife, and lovely
little one, gathered around the glowing hearth
stone.
But why nrc you so latcf" inquired Lilly.
" You usually keep much better hours than
this"
know" he said, moving the easy arm
chair yet nearer tO the blaze; "but tonight,
just as was starting for home, was sum-
moned to the hospital to attend poor wretch
Just brought thther. So, to the hospital |
went, although, after all, was unable to be OF
any use to the poor fellow, who was dying
when arrived"
"What was the matteri" inquired Mrs.
Woodham.
"Why, it was bad case ofdelirum tremens;
but think that long exposure to this bitter
weather was the immediate cause, acting upon
an undermined constitution. 1t was one Of
the saddcSt examples of intemperanco that
ever saw-thc unfortunate man ravcd wildly
and unconncctcdly, yet in language which led
me to suspect him to have been ordinarily far
above the common class Of drunkards But
he was delrious up to the very moment Of his
death. lie must have been splendid looking
fellow, once, for never saw q finer head or
nobler features, even though intemperance
had left its stamp everywhere"
"COuld you not ascertain who he was ?"
"We found his name on q few memoranda
on his person, after death-what was it nowP
Strange that should forget, for l remember
at the time being impressed with the idea that
it was an unnatural and romantic name Oh
have it now. 1t was Efiingham-St James
Etiingha:n!"
A sudden paDg shot through LHly's heart,
as her husband spoke these words; bat it was
no sorOwing affection for the dead man
merely n tribute Of memory to the beautiful
and noble being of other days, who to her had
long been corpse in the burial vaults Of the
past. Aud a. she drew ncayer to her has
bands manly form, silent thanksgiving went
up from the depths Of her soul that she had
been blessed with his deep love and tender
ness through life, instead Of being irrevocabIy
linked to the stormy existence and dark fate
Of him who had that night passed into eter.
nifty.
my darling wife," said WoodhaH, "I
have made you sad with this professional re-
cital"
NO." she said, tcnderly, laying her cheek
against his shoulder; ~ was only thanking
Heaven that our lives had been 80 bright while
80 many around arc wretched."
Meanwhile the wintry blast walled sadly
and wildly round thc lonely room where lay
the ice cold corpse Of St. James Bingham
another victim to the monster intempeEance.
A Grand Juror, having applied to the Judge
to he excused from serving, on accO1at oI
deafness, the judge said:
Gould you not hear my charge to the jury
sir ?"
"Yes, I heard your honOr's charge" said
the juror, but couldn't make any seHse o.
Ia