The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23

IfOn his boots with his handkerchief, all
that is not very alarming. The advrn-
turr is taking raticf interesting turn
Once more he added. speaking to the
domestic, 'arr you quite certain that il is
To me, Railarllc Smith, Clip>tonc street.
London, landscape painter, that Your mis-
trc~> has sent this cordial invitation
You are the very gent. sir,' answered
tn" groom readily: and here is note
f9g You
Raiiacllc hastily Snatchcd n little note
which the groom held towards him. The
address was plain enough, Mr. Smith,
although the writing was completely un-
known to the artist. lie tore open the
envelope, impatient 10 see what signature
was at the end of the cpiStlc, but to crown
the mystery the note was Anonymous and
contained only tlr>r words:
MIR. Smith is awaited with the greatest
anxiety, and he is begged Instantly to fol-
low the bearer of this note. Every rrli-
ancc is placed upon his alacrity aud dis,
ciction.'
Now this was an adventure that com.
mcnccd in too charming fashion not to
be followed ur. RaiIarllc at once forgot
tIic rrirc>hmcnt counter at C0kehampton,
and the next train. He boldly command
I'd the train to 90 on
1T is nnt two minutes walk answered
the servant. leading TIC way.
All the better, thought the artist; for
am literally dying with hunger and Gu.
rIo>lty.'
But, On suddenly turning the corner out
Of the High street, Rail'irlic saw an clc-
giant blnn9han, into which the groom il.
vtcd him To enter. The artist took seat
therein, ard the driver instantly whipped
lis horses into "A fast pare. Railacllr hal
learned nothing from his Interrogation Of
the groom. lie threw himself back on li>
SEA; and i, >iGrrrd himself to await the dc.
nou>ncnt of his travelling adventure
'.\h, ha = hr SAID To himself, n, the br"ug.
han dashed along the road. the whole
thing resembles an incident in play, and
am at this moment performing the part
of II ia>hionabl" lover flying to Il secret
rchlrHvou> with his lady love. At ahy
rate, it will he Il good story to tell my
lrlrnd>-that j. pr"viicd the play does not
trimiI ate in Il lugubrou, fashion. One
ding is certain. lac continued, (which is,
tl.at don't knuw Il single individual III
t"kyhampton. Can any of my friends
has" come d"wp here without my kuowl-
edge? M. that hypothesis vii! not stand,
ipr left London without telling single
soul where | was guing. None Gi my
ch,m> know whcr, am, and | only in.
trt!,d /" bid them "no!.hyc by letter,
after had iut Fifty mics Of railroad be-
tWccnu,.'
The hur>'S siill maintained their fast
rac and Rniiacilr threw himself back in
tt.c rl'rIgc, .i'inS free reign To his inaS-
iuntirn.
i have it" herIir,l suddenly, c!ariing
his khcr, i have found the key to the
rni.um. III wager that this is the work
of lhmni>"a or Mcgil. don't know
which, but have Il i'm recollection Uf one
of ,h,m :: ling me hc hal an uncle living
in the nri.hhorAoul "f Cukchamptun.- -
That's it. Either Thompson or Mrgilp is
ru>ticatlng down here has seen me get
out at tiir Hallway ,tnti"n-an (sub|imc
id,alh has seat I!.c an iitpI"vi>cd invitation,
\ clever and discreet groom-a myStcIl-
uu> rutc--I am cnrti,l oil ali 4ht at the
avaucuiar ,!onr-dr'ightiul surprise in
lru1urlon - good dihn,r-capital little
partr--rluirc winr--cunvcr>aiiOn. All !.
good Joke.
Rli3r,lt had 10 ;Auucr brought his So
liloquy to this satisfactory termination,
than he thrust his head out of the window.
lie was resolved to put his ida at once
upon an au;hvntir basis, hy c>trarting a
few cuntiruatory replies from the groom.
Iii, coachman just pull up a moment.
Young mam, hc continued, addressing the
groom, 4 want you 20 an>A ct me Il qucS-
ton
The coachman RULED up lis hnr>c>; the
groom wa, at the door in an instant.
Your masters namc is Thompson MI
quircl l,allacllr.
TIA, g.oom touched his MT. 'Nn, sir >
'Ihcn you are IN the service Of Mr.. Ne
gilp:'
Don't know no person Of that name,
sir, replied the lacunic groom.
Rallacllr fiji back in his seat thoroughly
routed In an instant the active groom
had resumed his place beside the driver,
ani the vehicle was whirling rapidly along
the road. Eaiarlle pulled his hat over his
eyes, crossed lis arms, and tclt like gem
rra whose elite corps, scnt forward To turn
the tide of battle, hal just been rrpul>r'!
-annlhlatcd At the t, Il u! ten minutes
the bluu.ham stopped before little green
gate, which WAS immediately ~" ned. -
The artist descended, and mechanically
followed Il servant, who led him across Il
garden. After proceeding along II uimly
kept gravcllrd walk, he reached the back
entrance of II country mansion.
Beg pardon, sir, said the domestic,
! but mistress thought you would not mind
coming into the hou>c through the kitCh-
en-, as you might not like 10 he seen by
the company Til yuu had changed your
dress.
Don't mention it, replied Railaclc,
casting Il glancr at the great tire, the spit,
and the bright stcw.,anS. They crossed
the kitchen. and the HvIvant opening the
door led the way up the harrow staircase
Hush he silent a$ you can, sir, we are
on the private stairs "i the house, leading
to your apartment Pray take care, hold
On by the rail-lullow ne" HailacIlc aS-
crndrd on lip.toc This y"ur room, sir
Win YOU please take II seat, While ! so and
iufnrm my mi>tr, -.
Railaclc drolrrd i"t"n chair, once more
cntan.lcd in an iucAtricablc maze Of sup
position.
'Ihc,c is evidently some mistake here
Ii is quite clear that | am mistaken for
some one else When the lady of the
house discovers that am total stranger
we'll, shall he politely shown To the
door, amidst the laughter of the company,
that's all Come, the affair is taking Il
tragic turn. That splendid rcraSt, upon
which my imagination dwclt, is being
whisked from un,Rr my nose, like Sancho
Pauza'S dinner. But If it turns out so,
muttrrcd the cnrased artist between his
teeth -'ii am elected from this house,
my unappvasrd appetite will drive me to
hal: kill that viIlainouS turnkey who has
brought me into this Scrape. llark |
hear luot>tcpS! -thry approach ! The
catastrophe is now at hand"