The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-08


tramped sullenly 10 on that low sea shore J
Oh, heart Of ine!-scorched and dead
that day-lying dumb and vOiceless in
its winding sheet Of dead hopes, that one
week b, fore had been alive and radiant.
What was this anguish of the elements to
thine?
There was long silence. / sat with
face avertcd. She stood by the window
and Alfred still turned over the prints
seeing them not t-eyes and heart far away.
The low, sweet voice Of Ernestine, plain
tive and sad, broke the silence first:
"IIow it storms! How the lamps of
the lighthouse glitter in the spray. And
see that boat-it will surely be swalnped.
o Alfred! come herc!"
He went, Of course.
There is no dangcr-the boat is safe
enough. Those fishermen know what
they are about. What dismal scene 1t
is! Yes, am tired Of it. | am going
away to morrow"
"Going away!" How he started, and
how white he turned.
80 Ernestine where 2"
Hometown South. ] am tired Of
this cold climate, and the cold hearts init.
D my beautiful Louisiana that any one
should prefer this wild, dcsolatc country
to you ~
saw him turn and look at me; but l
sat like stonc-my hand over my eyes.
Miss Maggie is asleep" said Erncstine,
with a curling lip. How | envy her
calm phlegmatic temperament"
Had she only seen my burning heart,
my white lips, my vcilcd eyes at that
moment.
lie made q sudden, passionate gesture,
and strobe up and down the room like
Gagged lion. What strange red fire was in
his blue eyes, and how white and fierce his
face looked! saw it all in one fieeting
glance.
81 wonder you can stay here, Alfred"
said the sweet, plhintiYe voice. DO you
remember the happy days we spent in
dear old belle NOrmGndie, as you named
it?--our rides, and walks, and sailsl All,
those beautiful days! What q pity the
past can never be recalled, Alfred!"
Would you recall it, if you could,
ErncStine y.
"Would :" How we'll that look of
childish innocence, in those great dark
eyes, was feigned. Would | recall the
happiest days ever spent! o, Alfred !"
"Then you have not forgotten them ?"
"No--no, indeed! oh, what pity
aehot pity they are gone forever !"
;sNothing is past but can be renewed"
.eVAh these cannot. You will never
see y Rose NormaMdie any more !"
That sad tone--So soft and touching,
SO child.likc aud sweet How we'll she
read him--what an actress she would
have made
Again that fierce, passionate gesture,
as if all within was at war. Ile looked
at me and turned white, even to the lips.
That promise on the beach, knew it
was soaring his heart like red hot iron
was dancing before his eyes like letters
of fire but, as yet, my lips were scaled.
And that ring on my finger. ] felt as
though living viper were cOiled there.
How soundly she sleeps !" said Erncs-
tine, looking with a puzzled face at me.
" wish | could take to the world as easily
as she does. And she-this girl without
heart or brain--is all the world to you,
Alfred; and all you once said to Ernes-
tine is forgotten" she said, in voice Of
sad rcproach.
He turned as if to speak and then,
with frantic motion, checked himself
and paced up and down MS before.
"Ah it is so then it all ends here -
Well, good bye, Alfred. Tomorrow l
leave; to night shall remain in my ROOM"
She held out her hand what beau
tiful hand it was! and looked in his face
with her sad, reproachful eyes full Of tears.
lie took it in his-lookcd in those beau
tiful eyes, and then opened his arms, with
q great cry:
40, Ernestine! I cannot! My own,
my darling-I love you better than life
| cannot let you go!"
In his arms she laying place once
and sat there and saw all. Something
went to my heart like a bullet sharp,
keen and quick, and the blow was over.
rose to my feet. They started back,
and the guilty blood flushed over the faces
of both-but they turned white the next
moment at the look on mine.
/ held up my hand-his ring glittered
in the fading light.
"YOu placed it there ten days ago, AL
fred. ! give it back to you to-day, with
all you said that night May God forgive
you, as l dol Here-you are Free"
lie took it with look of dark remorse.
30 Maggie! what villain l am You
may forgive me, but when shall be able
TO forgive myself." How she shrank be-
fore my gaze!
al was not asleep. you see, after all.
I wish you both many happy days in
belle Normdndie. Goodbye"
turned away; neither spoke-and I
passed from the room. One glance l
caught Of her as left the apartment,
standing with her face hidden on his
shoulder, his arm encircling her waist.
l sat in my room that night, while the
midnight moon rode high in the heavens,
and watched the serene sky and sea-
Rain and wind, and storm had passed
away, and far up in the blue sky shone
the light Of the high, bright, solemn stars.
Floating on the still night air came the
sad, sweet strains of a brass-band, as q
steamer passed up the river, playing
"Love Not" A book lay open on my
lap-the Book of books and clear and dis
tinct in the light of the moon shone the
words:
"There shall be light at the eventide."
-%$NS%
A STORY is told of a quarrelsome couple
in New Hampshire, who got into pitched