The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-27

with einbFNsures and pierced by an arch
ed gateway, the whole surrounded by a
mOat, at this period dry and nearly filled
with rubbish. Beyond, the ground sloped
to the granite pTecipices against which
the ocean ever chafed, and the river
hOarseIy muTmured, whilst north and west
were veFdant valleys, trenching into blue
bills, bounded ct last by the gloomy aud
rugged GTAmpians.
II was about month after the evanes.
cent reDsins Of frAil mortality had been
laid in the tomb. and Sir Evan was absent
in the capital, that the sisters sat at 4
window which overlooked the ocean, on
May evening, just as the twilight was
lOosIng the last CLEAN Of day in the thick.
enIng gloom. Although the atmosphere
was serene, ever and anon . moan and
long whistling would sound in the chin.
DeyS, and around the turrets, whilst the
ma emitted hollow mutter, that prelude
Of storm which ever imprtsses the liz.
tener with an intuitive sensation Of ave-
struck melancholy.
"Sisters," spoke the elder Of the or.
phans, . beautiful girl Of acme eighteen
4 , NOthC NtSu bU0 WUItS ! UOlU EDlUe
converse with you touching our guardian,
whoSe manner ! have noted Of late, and
like not This new sOTrow has 20 tanned
my heart that the tide Of mourning has
nearly ceased to flow"
"Oh, Katharine you are ever harsh in
your judgment, and must be mistaken.
Were we not bequeathed to his care BY
our dying father, 10 whom he Swors to
shield usi There would be peril in any
unlicensed sct, II he meditated it." cried
Label, . fair-haircd girl, just entered on
her teens.
Would to heaven II we're 40, Isabel
but " he finds US Q hindrance and Obsta.
Gle In his path. think you he will scruple
10 remove us ?" asked the eldest sister.
(" lie surely dare not he villain enough
u murder us!" exclaimed Annie. 1--WE
can appeal 70 the king, who cannot have
so thoroughly forsaken the paths Of hu-
manity a. to be lost 70 ell the finer feel.
ings Of nature
Alas, you ere unmindnIl ofthc gloomy
period IN which we live. and that party
fend has rent assundeT those ties which
God himself created. What justice can
We EXPECT from one who drives bis wretch.
ed subjects to seek refuge in caves and on
the hills, and renders himself 10 terrible,
by his cruelty that his very name is
OdiOus: :"
frar me, then, we are at the mercy
~ Sir Evan, should he be iorgctIul Of his
duty and join the Sons Of Belial, who act
a. " they suppOsed the God of mercy, like
MolOch Of Old. vas being that delights
in blood, sighed Annie, dejectedly.
Dear sisters, we must be cautious in
our talk, when our interest hangs on such
q rrccaTious tenure. Well you know the
danger your father was often placed in Of
lOoSing his lie and lands for cOnscience'S
sake. and the heavy fines imposed upon
him for sheltering our worthy minister"
Hut why are you suspicious Of Sir
Evan, Kate?" asked Annie. His man.
ncr tow ards Us il ever courteous, and il
his opinions differ from ours, he is care
ful how he expresses them. Methinks
wc are needlessly expressing ourselves" ="
"Would that it we're 80; but ] have
noted = cruel meaning in his look and
tone when making the greatest efforts to
please. ] know twas he who informed
on our father, and then restrained Claver.
house from executing vengeance. This
journey bodes us no good, and II will be
a dark and fearful morning to us when he
returns or I'm greFtly mistaken"
The poor girls shuddered at the men,
tion II that pejurcd mans name, false
slike TO friends end country.
40, God! defend ua from that barbar.
ous rUfilan and give us the same undaunt-
ed courage and (ortitude to submit to
Thy will in time Of need. a. Thou hast
given 10 others OF Thy prosecuted peO-
ple." piOuSly calculated Isabella, sinking
upon her knees and, following her exam.
pie. the other orphans zcal"usly poured
out with aObs their petition to the Father
Of the fatherlesS.
~ feel, IN the words of good Mr. Cam.
crOn, that the Lord will spare the green
corn, and II lie brings us through much
ribnlation, he will at last open the gates
Of Heaven TO receive u.s. BE OfgoOd cour-
age. sisters, our cause is in excellent
hands," aaid Katherine, rising to her feet
with renewed firmness, which was soon tC
be put severely TO the test
The Duke Of York had Just entered or
the administration Of the affairs Of Scot
land, and, anxious To cODciliate persons
OF condition, as well as disposed to act
with severity against Presby OI
every shade. was easily induced to pas
sentence Of forfeiture on the lands OI
FOrvie. In the same facile manner, HI
regrnnted them TO Sir Evan, who not only
promised that his dependents should re
nOunce the Covenant, but that he would
exert his influence with his neighborS u
take the test.
Weeks passed on, and as nothing fur
ther trsnspired n rouse their fears o.
awaken their anxiety, the timid young
girls fondly hoped the OminOus conclu
SiOns they had dawn from their kins
mans journey were false when, one day
horses feet were heard dashing rapidly
into the courtyard, and Sir Evan came
abruptly, and unsnnVunced, into theiI
presence.
Excuse my sudden entrance, " he said
"IOr my news Is urgent As you ar'
known to hold fanatical principles, th'
TTINy NOuUCtI neb IOTtetteu your IunoTII
ance, and = party Of dragons has beer
J sent from Aberdeen to put the sentence
into execution expect them here speed
u" /"
Upon hearing this fearful announce
ment, the poor girls became blancheC
with fear, and gazed with expressions o
alarm and grief on the guardian, in who's
} dark, frOwning, fierce and closely ret teetl
they could hardly recognize the smooth
polite Sir Evan Gordon, the sworn Grien'
OF their father.
You will not betray us; you cannO
be 20 base-sO fOrgetful Of the ties o
blood and honoFi" said Kate, advancing
towards him, with ~ much cOmpOSure n
she could command.
In pity help US to escape to plac
Of safety, and we will forever bless you I
cried Annie.
I" The time and season must excus
this courtesy, young ladies. ." replied 81
Evan, cOOlly, at this perilOus period