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

high-strung, refined, and sensitive tempera-
mcnt.
Oftentimes, though, when the dIgniRed cold.
ness of her manner failed as q check upon
him, ! saw the rough oath vanish unuttered
from his lips, the malicious ferocity disappear
from his actions, and his eye absolutely quail
before the stcadfast look of naughty warning
she would fix upon him. Involuhtarily the
thought would rise: -
God help you, man, should you ever trans
grcss the verge Of her endurance. Despcra.
tion could give that slender hand a grasp of
steel upon dagger's haft, if conviction come
that one blow might avenge the torture for
years"
AS the time progressed, Ross became more
and more addicted to habits Of intcmpcrancc,
and with each Bacchanalian orgic he grew
more and more feiocious, until he became the
terror Of the entire community.
Even public curiosity which, from her per-
scvcrinG retirement had almost forgotten her
existence, commenced to wonder how Mrs.
Ross endured his conduct, and silent sympa.
thy seemed to rise in her behalf.
Percival aud gradually became conscious
that She secluded herself from u.s. and under
an exterior of Ca!mnesS | knew he chafcd to
madness at his lack of power to rescue her
! thought, but for the restraining influence Of
Solemn promise She had cxactrd from him,
have sought with Ross deadly quarrel.
Finally, upon the occasion Of public meet
ing nue memorable night, Ross drank Us usual
to iutoxication, and raved and ragged about the
streets with more thnu his usual frenzy Of con.
duet; insulting all, threatening all, brandiSh.
ing his Bowie knife, and 0Stcntatiously dis
playing the pistols belted around his waist. -
In those times such sights were not unusual,
and in the absence Of public regulations, none
esteemed it their duty to interfere with the
despcrudo so that he was left 10 wundcr in un.
restrained freedom. At last, tired out with
whOoping and bowling, he sought the still
rkt,vss of homo wtiict1; hunbir us it wax
he could only dcfle by his presence, and as
nothing more was heard Of him, it was pre-
sumcd he sunk into the deep sleep Of drunk
cnnCsS. ...........
Next morning, which dawncd bright and
sunny day OF spring, while the majority of tht
villagers were paresking of their-early break
fast, there rang out, sharp and quick on the
still air. two shots in rapid succession Itwas
not an uncommon sound, but in less than
moment, how, none could have told, the ru
NOR spread that they had let out human life
and in an equally incomprchcnsiblc manner
numerous footsteps turned towards Ross houst
where every one knew he lay dead.
Among the first to arrive, found Ross fall
en- in II heap at the bedside, as though he hat
staggered to it after being shot, and at tn,
same instant saw some one pick up pist0
lying in the middle Of the floor, and hearC
them exclaim In surprise, "Percival's pistol
by the powersl"
A glance showed me it was one of O very
fine pair had often handled at his room, ant
which bore his name on silver plate on th,
handle
felt overcome by agitation, for, knowing
what did, l did not doubt the truth of thI
thought which seemed to rise to all, that Per
cival was the murderer. Fearful Of commit
ting myself or compromising him, I walked
into the next room to endcavor to regain my
compoSure.
The shutters were still closed, and the room
in comparative shadow.
Walking n hasty turn or two, my ca
caught sobbing moan, and with quickenc,
attention my eye became conscious of tn
movement of white object crouchcd In tn
darkest corner
To spring to it required but nm instant, ant
then raised in my arms raving, gibberiny
maniac, the dreadful wreck of all that hat
once constituted n woman of the finest type
"Dcad at last" she said with horribl
laugh that froze my blood. "Dcad at last
killed, killed." wreathng her slender finger
fantastically through the heavy locks of he
black hair.
"Did you know that he struck his owl
death signal =" shc asked, quickly, with tn
sharp, penetrating look which is SO often secl
in insanity. Ibid you know he was warned y
" Poor thing, you rave" half murmurcd
as gently attempted to lay her on rud
couch standing ds2nc side Of the room.
"'Who said IFIoved Pcrcivalr she ques
toned, showing mo roughly aside and strug
Cling to rise. Let me sce-let me see,
sinking her brow in the palm of her han,
mcditativey. ""rwns not my own heart. 70
trnmplcd it in the dust, il it dared but whs
per as much. Some one-some onc-but he
dcAd-killcd, killed" And that was the bur
den Of every thought "Do you know wher
he struck his death knell? Here -hcre!"-
And tearing the white wrapper from the swa
like neck and breast which rivalctl it white
ness, she disclosed dark, purplish red spot
evidently the result of blow.
There was the cause, but who did the deed
\ CHAPTER III.
Tho crNuI Al.