Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-17

"Mrs. Ross, of whom we have heard"

ana rcpilcd, careleSSly:
"A somewhat unusual vision in this place"
and soon uftcrward stroilcd away to his bust
ness.
From that day | observed that he sought
the acquaintance Of Ross, whom, hitherto, he
had avoided, and when, n few weeks after,
Ross announced his intention Of residing per-
mancntlv in our midst, and carried it into cx-
Ccution 10y taking little house not far re-
moved from the business part of the village,
and fitting it up in such II rude wny as the
stores aud his apparently limited purse would
permit. Percival commenced accompanying
him home, and soon became his constant Wis.
itor.
As n matter Of course, knew there would
he no congcniality between the two men, and
Just as naturally the thought arose that it was
the society Of Mrs Ross Pcrcival sought.
If any such desire prompted his course, he
was too circumSpcct to attract general 0bscr
vation. and it was only Mt rare intervals that
she was seen with her hand resting in his arm,
taking an evening stroll through some of the
sylvan groves that cncruachcd upon the b0r-
dcrS OF the village, or else driving with him in
his elegant buggy, then aud there an article
Of luxury but seldom found.
Chance threw no opportunity in my way OF
becamiug acquainted with Mrs. Ross, though.
unconScinuslv almost, | felt growing interest
in her, and often puzzled myself To interpret
expressions Of fierce defiance and wiStiul long
ing, that Srrtnrtl it,tertttinglrd on her face
tried to solve the feelings that animated Per
civa toward Ross; aud Notwithstanding thai
each day saw them meet as boon companions
-notw outstanding that in the then universal
habit of play, | knew Percival repeatedly, III
the face of his well known skill, most unskill
fully to lose large sums to him, and yet invite
him again to game. thought ! could see
through all the apparent friendship, as through
u tlmSy disguise, deep contempt and u bitter
hatred.
Several months passed IwTy without ury
incident in their intercourse coming to my
knowledge worth narrating, until one day
Pcr,ival called in at my office, and, after som'
dcSultory conversation. said, somewhat hcsi
tatingly, al wish you had power to minister
to a mind diseased. "
Thinking that perhaps he jtsted, repliet
jocularly:
"Perhaps, in your case, treatment would b.
required for chronic affection Of the heart"
lie rose and walked the floor ncrvously
once or twice, and then said slowly:
e !" II was not of myself that spoke. wa'
thinking of Mrs. Ross"
"She is changed of late" answered. al
is perceptihc even in the transient glimpseS
have had Of her. She looks palc, aud su
perbly sorrowlul, if | may so express it,"
"Shc seems ut times torn by contcndin;
emotions, which, eXhausting their fury. natu
rally leave her to fall into profound deprcsS
ion, unacknowlcdScd, perhaps unseen, by al
cxccpt-cXccpt, well except one who feels al
absorbing interest in her welfare, and from
that she passes physically wrecked of strength
and at times lies almost in state Of insenSi
bity for many subsequent hours ! hav
found her thus repeatedly. She gives me NJ
clue TO her sorrow. denies my sympathy, ant
refuses my aid. She is alone in the world,
he said, with trcmor almost like tears in hi
voice.
"Alonc!" calculated. Her husband
"A brutc!" speaking more unguardcdly
than had ever known him. AZ brute, VIII,
holds n jewel which majesty itself NIGH
claim, and proudly hoast-the rarest Of it
treasures"
"An ill.assortcd match, apparently" said
in n matter.ofiact manner.
"Sold to him in the days of his prosperity
by n bankrupt, mcrccnary father" he an
Swercd, bitterly, through his clcnchcd teeth
"Surely, he has fitting punishment heapcd OF
his unnatural head, by seeing her descend, t
the last round, the ladder OF this mans dis
grace and blasted fortune. But it is not 70
that would speak. What would ask q
you is to accompany me to the house. Sh
is shy OF forming new acquaintanccs, and dill
ticult to approach; but possibly, aS my friend
YOU may he able to establish sufficient dc
gree of intimacy to discover, unconscionsly t.
herself whether there is any medical treat
mcnt that might benefit her. If earth hold
n remedy it shall be hers"
hcsilatcd how to act. It was Somewha
strange state of affairs; and after few mo
ments' reflection, said, quite gravcly:
"Mr. Percival, do you know you are play
ing dangerous gamc?"
lie looked ut me with mixture of angc
and reproach, and said quickly and with cm
phaSs:
~ am PLAYING no game. am more honest
probably, than ever before i'll my life. wi
not hesitate to confess to YOU that love Mrs
Ross, hut love without hope of return, or G
ever possessing her. The law would, doubt
less, free her from this man, if her numcrou
wrongs were urged but she will never max
the appeal She SAYS the power to do so right
fully has passed away, that she must bear al
suffer all, that he may choose to cast upon hen
What it means do not know; but wha:cvc
lies Shrouded in this mystery is what is KILN
her by inches. Once heard her darkly mui
mur that the act and time would come whe
she would take vengeance in her own hands
but God knows to what point her thought
were tending. have now repoScd murr cor
fdcnce in you than ever in man before. Wi
you comc!"
"Yes."