The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-27
1Sse ~ nSsssasa1 SSssHaI.
THE NAIDEN's WETRDt
~ MS. nITcnfa.

About tao hundred years ago, on level
trsck. where the uVer YthaH Hnitfs it-
waters with the German ocean. stOotl the
gray old castle Of PVTvie, surrounded by
FoOk Ok.trnsnted. anerstrsl trees. This oij,
quaint mansion. va the skO,ie Of q gen.
IIeBan named GOTdOn, Who lay dying, in
i0v .built rom In the rear II the buil,l.
ing. sad on Wh1As cOVch the blenhlns
ray u tt,~ sStuns snh feli with chilling
gIoW, thst hung To the feelings like winter
IF0.t.
The silver cord Wss Tapi1iy looscning,
III" golden bowl waa suspended by the
slightest thread. cad the hand II the ex.
IiFIng asB, which be Gesbly extended to
HI. weeping daughter, Wss already cold
and eIsamy With the dews Of death
The solemn voice NJ . reverend divine,
pouring forth . frrVrnt prayer, alone
beoks the dread stiffness Of the chamber,
sDd hardly had the sound huAhed, than,
With an snOFt, the invalid beck"ned tO
his Side Q kinSman who StOod near the
door.
"5ir Evan," he aaid, With difficulty,
my days on earth ere closing Temem.
Der The precious charge leave 70 yOu, nee
that you faithfully perform the trust"
"neaF me whilst ] swear" replied the
knight" pressing towards the bed, and
raising . copy Of the Scriptures to his
his lips, he FegiStered the vow upon the
sacred volume.
"Thon knowest the punishment Of
traitOrs," mUrmured the sick man, and
turning Q look Of tenderness On the pale
and shrinking maiden, he added FsaF
not our kinsman will do his Office faith.
fully"
"Have ! not always proved myself de.
ted 70 your interests 7" replied Sir Evan,
whilst ~ expression Of SCOrn be could
not FspresH cuSIed bis lip, uOOoted by the
laird, on whose ghSSty features the hand
Of death pressed heavily.
"Kaise me up" he faltcFed; and o.
bis friend complied with his request, pIac.
Ing pillows EoT his support, he went on
"Heaven bless them-feaT nothing ~
and suddenly fixing bic dim eyes upon
SiS Evan, Remember" he exclaimed
and fell back on the pallet
The almost isiIting girls gszed on the
corpse with spcechlcss agony; then,
throwing tbe@seIVes on the body, twined
their arms around the neck Of their dead
father, and fEAnticalIy kisSed his blOodIes'
lips
"Wsep on In peace ! will not bid yoC
stint one tear that love pFOvokes u flow
but, bark yS, young damsela, leave "
nov, 70 executS necessary duties lei
your grief be bTief, and hencefOrth yOuI
prompt action testify Obedisncs, :" said 81.
Evan, e. he stood With folded arms, calmly
surveying the scene.
The distracted m0uFneFs, surprised BY
his words, could not ct first realize their
meaning, and - be quilted the room with
= mocking smile, they sprsng TO theii
feet, gazing into each others faces then
pressing each Others hands In cOnvulsivC
agony, they poured out their sorrow IL
tbe widest notes Of despair.
Those were unhappy times when th'
unhappy attemptS made by King Charles
II 10 overthrow PreSbyteFianism In Scot
land had involved the country In reli
Gi0ns war, and such a. declared them
selves friends Of HpiScOpacy we're sustain
ed BY the Government In whatever deed
Of fraud and violence they choose to per
petrate. Although the laird Of FOrvi'
had taken no active part In the genera
hostility, he attended eonventicles, har
bored intercommuned persons, and de
cIined 10 render himself responsible lo
hiS tenants. So that during his Lifetime
Sir Evan VacsllatOd between both parties
10 order 70 insinuats himself into the pos
Of trust with which he was invested
But aIter the funeral, he openly wen
over TO the prsIatea, e. he judged by thi
course no inquiry would be made, II HI
should despOiI the helpless orphans o
their inheritance.
Had the laird Of FoIvic been childlesa
we'll titled dOmaiDs Of fair fields end 70
mantle undulatiOnS, finely clothed with
trees, would have, At his den,ise, passed
to Sir Evan a. next OF kin; and Il wal
not without many feelings Of impGtienc'
be saw himself deprived Of what he con
sidered his rights by some feeble girls
But he resolved 70 bide bis time.
ID perHon he was strong and sthletiC
which preposGessed behOlder at first II
his favor, until . closer acquaintance be
tFayed . designing cunning In his looks
that would have lnspired distrust had IL
not g aFtfully eOtwiOOd himself into th