Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-16

MaryH conspiracy against her angry with
tho dress maker for having come at that par
ticnlar criSis-an hour behind her appoint
mcnt--Shc must have done Il on purpose; and
angry beyond measure with George Harrison
Tor having out. generated her cherished plans
by little straightforward dealing. She had
trusted moro Co the hope Of disgusting him In
time by careful system Of cold receptions,
ana change Of manner, than to any positive
e'tect which abe expected TO produce upon
hcr daughter by any hints Of her improved
value In the matrimonial market, or direct
oxhoFtAtions to mako the most Of her new pO-
siti0n. George, sh0 knew, had an honest and
independent spirit; once let him feel that he
was suspected depressing his suit now because
there was money IN tho case, and, however
unreasonable The accusation, his pride might
take offence. Then Mary might 90 into tho
country, out of his way and 80, IN time, this
nnlucky love might go the way ofmany othcs,
become ono more Of those littlc silent sacrih-
ccS laid upon tho Hltars Of wealth and pride
mites IN the estimation Of q prudent public,
but somI times 20 the Offenders more costly
than "H'l their living and he gradually re-
uuccd, with hymns and libations from Mrs
Simpson, az hiRh.pricstcss, to ashes
SD at iirst, even now, instead Of attacking
Mary, she began, by opening fire upon George.
u was mistake, Mrs. Simpson, and as wo-
man you ought to have known it. In calm
or mood, you would not have made final
move SO utterly destructive Of your game
Mary might have taken good amount Of scold-
ing for herself quietly; however cruel and
unwarrNntablc she might have felt her moth
er's conduct to bc, few gentle cxpostula.
tions and \ bitter flood Of tears would have
been her only reply that evening. Mary and
her mother might have fewer interests aud
feelings IN common than was good for either !;
but there had never yet been injustice on one
side, or any lack Of dntinNl affection on the
other. But when Mrs. Simpson paused for
breath after an alienation Of violent abuse
aud attempted sOrcnsm against George liar
IlSon az "a low mcrccnnrv creature" having
declared her own firm belief that this oppor-
tune incrCasc Of his salary was nothing but
"MovO" got up between himself and his un.
Gle In order tO nail tho Simpsons to the point
at once, she saw that Mary, though she trcn.
blcd very much, had risen from her scat, and
was looking at her with very calm and com.
posed countcnnncc, OH which there were no
symptoms Of n tear.
I" Mother" said the girl, "yOu don't mean
that Of GcorgcS"
Mrs Simpson did not mean It, in her heart;
but sho had meant 10 say II, and had said It !;
and sho said it again, moro violently than cv-
or, because she felt It's untruths.
Mother I" and she laid her hand quietly
upon her arm "dont ray any morr Il you
never meant me 10 marry him, you should
have spoken before. q that this miserable
money had mover come between us!" For
Mary saw L all now.
"iou have been taken IN, Mary took in
by a swindlcr, as may say. II were you,
Id have moro spirit, that would"
Spirit! Il was not spirit which poor Mary
wanted just then. She wanted patience, which
Is harder to find. lf the mother had never
understood her daughter before, she had un.
locked some startling secrets now. In the
usually calm sweet face, now flashed crimson,
aud then changing to dead white, there was
neither maiden shame nor grlish fear Of her
G'othcrs anger, but burning indignation, and
fixed defiance. Mrs. Simpson was not wise
woman, even In worldly sense she under.
stood the symptoms, sho was frightened, but
she was not 60 be mastered by her own daugh-
ter, In her own house. She was undeniably
right; and like many other persons when un.
tirniaOly right, Shc was wrong.
"SNy what you will Of the, mother and I'll
bear L, if I can; but don't dare TO slandcr
himw
"DArci hcy.dny! III dare him to come
inside my doors again, that's what I willY"
There shall be no need, mother; can 60
to him."
Both had said great deal moro now than
they had meant TO say. Mary's was ono Of
these quiet answers which rather increase
wrath than turn Il away. Her mothers indig.
nation Stitlcd her words She could only
gasp out something like, Very we'll, ma am
very wrll!" when Mary rushed up stairs to
her room, and vat down In en- agony orwound.
cd feeling. to which even Hood Of tears
brought no relief Il was an 70 sudden, 10
little dcscrvcdl and all because Of little
money! But though shc never slept that
night, she lay very still and never disturbed
her sister. She had no one there who under.
stood her none to whom to open her grief
But her resolution was taken, and long before
tho family brcaktAst.hour she had dressed
hastily, packed up quietly few absolute me-
cessNriCs out Of her wardrobe, and taking
them 10 her own hand, leaving betsy in wide
aStoNishmcnt as she glilcd by her in the pas.
Sagr, she had reached the nearest cab-Stand,
and asked to be driven to her aunts at Brix-
ton.
Aunt Martha, she thought, would give her
sympathy at all events, and a little counsel for
present For the future, she meant to ask no
ones counsel but Georges. Ifhe would take
her TO him, there she was; never SO wrctchcd
aud miserable Ns now, to be sure, but never 80
much needing tho love and care which no had
NO otlcN promised. She was not ashamed oI
her love for him now he had been wronged,
insWllcd. ShU did not consider Il was only
the SenselrsS violence Of an angry woman she
would scarcely have minded rushing In to him
In his unclcs presence, and crying out
"GeorgN here am; pity mo and love me
no ono else will, because love YOU"
She hardly knew how she got Into her aunt'l
pretty Stting.room. She did not understand
the servant, till ShC had told her twice thai
her aunt was gone from homo.
"YCa Miss gone 10 nurse old Mrs. Mansor
for two or three days, whflc her neicc is away
Old Mrs, Manson very bad, do suppose, Miss.
Well, abe must sit down at least and calm her
Nole ShO would write TO George ct once
Hut what ee sayp when could sorrow, shame
and outraged feeling ever shape themselves
Into the letters Of any discovered alphabet
She wrote and tried. 10 read what she hat
written, and torO It into fragments She ben
her aching head upon her hands, and waite,
Cor the troubled thoughts to still themselves
DUt they would not. Then she rose, and wen
to The window that looked out into the road
hut what a MervilIl ordering Il is, that th
most trlIiing outward object e catches the ey
al such moments and delivers us for few In
stAntS from ourselves! A coach was passing
towards tho great city. Il was . gentle as
cent, and at the moment boy with yer,
small bundle let himself gently down ftOr
a ~