Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-09
It was undeniable; Mr.. Burrows said, "Or

1t was undeniable; Mr.. Burrows said, "OI
COURSE"
"And I hope" said the kindhCarted old
gentleman, after few little inquiries as Ia
the probable amount ofthcir new fortune, and
other circumstances, which the lady was al
most as glad TO communicate az he was TO
learn" hope this will smooth matters a
little for my young friends, you knOw-eh,
my dear Mrs. Simpson.
Mrs Simpson looked embarrassed. II was
not because she did not know to what young
friends Mr.. Burrows alluded, or that there
was any mystery in the matter, IN spite of
that gcntlcmen'S attempt nj wink But it
was the very last subject she wished to con-
verse upon just at this time.
"AuguSta, my love" said she, "iust put
on your bonnct-that'sa dCar-and go and
ask how old Mrs. Manson is; we never sent
there all day yesterday my head was so full
OF other things, and it's really quite unncigh-
boIly."
Miss Augusta having been easily disposed
Of by this mcans-thc more easily MS the sub
jcct had long lost its novelty for her, and she
did not therefore think it worth her while tu
make ercSstancc--Mrs Simpson, having gained
also little time to think, proceeded to reply To
her visitors last question; or rather TO lead
him oil from it SO as to avoid il possible, Civ
ing any reply to it at all.
Her daughter Mary--to whom Mr.. Burrows
little speech allndcd-had lately become pos
scsscd Of that delightful but dangerous play.
thing-a lover. There was nothing very r0.
mantle about the attachment, which might in
part account for the fact that the course of
their love, which was very true and honest,
had hitherto run perfectly smooth, though
there seemed good many windingS in pros.
pect before it could hope to reach the ocean Of
lnatrimony. A very iinc young fellow was
George Harrison; looking, and walking, and
speaking as much like gentleman as if he had
spent his early years at EtOn and Oxford, in.
stead Of passing at once from Highgatc school
into his unclc's counting house. Ills uncle
and Mr.. Simpson were old friends; and he was
also di>tanty related to Mr.. Burrows, with
whom hc--an1 consequently Mary-waS an
especial favoritc. Not that Mary required
anything beyond her own sweet, thoughtful
face and winning manners to make her fl.
voritc with most Of her acQuaintancCS, old and
young.
There had been no talk Of marriage at pres.
ent; both were young enough to wait, and, as
yet, found the waiting very pleasant. Friends
on both sides were propitiouS; or, at any rate,
though perfectly aware Of tine state Of affairs,
had interpoSed no sort Of objection; and it
seemed tacitly understood that in two or three
years time or SO, when some opening offered
to enable George TO do something for himself,
he would come forward mnnfully and claim
Mary for himself "for better or WORSE" with
out any very formidable discussion about
settlements. Nothing had been seen Of him
in Portland Terrace for the last fortnight,
which was naturally accounted for by the fact
Of Marv's being ut Drixton. Aunt Martha
was the kinddeSt creature in the worl1-nune
the less kind in such cases, because her own
youth had been diSappointcd-.andi ir she
could not fairly attribute George llarriSons s
frequent visits and thoughtful little presents
TO her own attractions, she was we'll content
to play the part of wall between the young
PyramuS and ThiSbc.
but their Lion" too, poor souls, was al
ready roaring in the distance, and from very
unexpected quarter. A very gentle beast,
too, it might have been thought But uncle
Sans property, which had brought the tlut.
terings Of so much pleasure in anticipation to
the rest Of the Simpson household, had root
Of bitterness in store for poor Mary aud her
lover. And they were persons at all events
who were likely to bc sincere mournerS, tho
like many other mournerS, they had but sci.
fish reasons. for "poor Cousin john"
When Augusta had closed the door, her
mother resumed the interrupted converse.
| tion.
"Oh! you mean that Irritation between
George Harrison and Mary, suppose. Well,
! haven't heard much about it lately; do you
know"
"Flirtation! My dear ma'am, why, arnt
they engaged to be marriedl"
"Thry never told me SO, assure you Mr..
Burrows"
II was true to the very letter.
mo: nor they never told me so either,
Mrs. Simpson (; but suspect they told each
other SO over and over again. You don't
mean to say anything has gone wrong between
them after allt"
"Nothing whatever that ! know of, Mr..
Burrows" rcloincd the lady in her coldrSt
and driest tones; "Mary's far too young to
think about marrying yet, and me and Mr..
Simpson object to long engagements"
There was something SO unusually digni-
fled in Mrs. Simpsons tone, that poor Mr..
Burrows who was no match for any woman
in conversation Of this nature, for some mo-
ments could only look at her with aStoniSh.
ment; but he concluded at last that her pros
pective riches had refined her philosophy,
though without improving her grammcr-he
was much too honest and simple minded him
sell to suspect the change which such pros
pect could effect in two days in her maternal
feelings.
"Thc fact is my dear Mr.. Burrows" con.
tinucd the lady. Struggling her shoulders and
putting on confidential air, "thCrc has been.
Us We all know, a little--a little nonsense go,
ing on between them, Us there always will he
amongst young people, but nothing really
serious on either side fancy"
\ little nonsense! nothing serious why,
Mr.. Burrows himself had iokrd and pokcti
them many time at certain snug little sup
perS which were wont to take place both at
No. and No 4. Mrs. Simpson herself being
present, and laughing heartily; and there she
sat before him now looking the very picture Of
cool and unembaVrasSed innocence, while poor
Mr. Burrows felt himself colOring with modest
shame and indignation. It was Interesting to
SEE the progress Mrs. Simpson was making in
the duties Of her new position. II was an
awkward interview, but she was going through
it wonderfully, as she thought herself
"IOu know, Mr. Burrows, in this world
young people can't marry without money"
They can't marry in the other world even
with it suppose paam; but I Thought now
the money was come" lie Was beginning to
suspect the real workings Of the mothers
mind, and was more abrupt and less. polite
than usual
"Oh, Mary mustn't look to her father for
anything at present; there's no ready money,
and great deal to bs done on the property ;