The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-16


daughter Of q widow lady who had seen
better days, but now took in sewing to
support herself and Agatha. After
Agatha's introduction to the school FRI.
quently walked over to the little white
cottage by the hillside, and spent hours
there in fact, my numerous visits there
were noticed and a lady jokingly told
me that, were Aggie little older, or her
mother twenty years younger, she should
think there was chance Of my gaining
bride during my stay in the village.
This had but the effect to cause tHe to re-
fleet little; was now nineteen, Agatha
Lee but ten and ] formed the resolve,
one day, to win her when few years had
passed away; she was a child, then, but
yet woman to me. You may call this
foOlish-romantic il you choose, and !
will admit it all; but it was life rO-
nance, and one which, now that joy is
gone embitters my life
And the speaker was silent for mo-
ment, gazing into the glowing embcrs,
with mistinesS gathering in his brilliant
eyes.
The winter wore away, and Aggie
grew to love me as brother. | could
see her face light up when she heard my
voice and the smile grew brighter on her
lips. But the time approached for me to
leave her-tO 20 back to college life again.
! did not speak to her Of this until one
day just before i left. l was walking
from school with her.
"Aggie,' said, watching her face as
I spoke, 'Aggie, am geing to leave You
She turned aud caught my hand. TO
leave ME = she echoed.
Yes, Aggie. am going back to my
school now. am going to be u pupil in
stead Of teacher. Throwing open the
gate which stood before her mothers
house, ! said, And you, Aggic, are you
sorry an going TO lcavey lrcpented
Of the question in a moment, for she gave
no answer, but tear fell on my hand.
do not cry, Aggic, for I shall come back
to see you often, if You wiShf' Oh! will
you, will you, Nj. Riversy and smiles
banishcd the tears from her face. Twill,
Agatha
We entered the house. Mrs. Lee sat
near the window, as usual, sewing.
oh! mother. Mr.. Rivers is going
away said Agatha.
is heg' said Mrs. Lee, glancing up
from her work and seeing me, she added,
so soon, Mr.. Rivers? We'll Aggie and |
shall miss you very much, for we have
but few visitors, and she sighed.
'Ah! Mrs. Lee, shall claim the privi-
lcge of sometimes calling upon you, If
you will grant it,
shall br most happy to do So, she
answered, smiling.
Agatha left the room at that moment.
Mrs. Lee, spoke quickly, Il have
request to make TO you.
She looked at me in amazcment.
a strange request, doubtless, you will
think it, but it is also an earnest one.
Your daughter, Agatha, is but child
vet; she is more than that to me; and !
ask you, if one day eau win her heart
that | may have your consent to our
unioa.'
think she must have deemed me mad,
for she rose to her feet and gaZed at me
WITHOUT Replying
why | ask now is that may have
permission to bear the expenses of her
continued.
She spoke then.
your request is indeed strange one,
yet | believe you to be serious in it, and
I would agree to your proposal but Ag-
gic is too young to decide in such mat
ter, and would not bind her to such an
engagement
do not wish to do that, Mrs. Lee
wish her to know nothing Of it; only
let mc try to win her, and for the rest,
even il she bestows her love upon some
other, it will be pleasure to me TO bear
the expenses Of her education
Your offer is n generous one, and
though it be q most singular one, will
accept
Thank YOU cried eagerly.
But | learn that you also bear the
expenses Of your college course; how
can you afford to have an additional
draft upon your
Il assure CAM shall have an OBJ
ject for my labor .
'One thing, you must prove yourself
worthy Of her, my dear little Aggie'-
and the mothers voice pronounced the
words tendeFly. ....
Il will,' I answered, crimsoning like q
school girl at the recollection Of my two
years Of college life.
Mrs. Lee smiled.
Not word Of this to Aggie.'
NO.
Just then she entered, all unconscious
Of the strange compact into which the
two before her had entered. l moved to.
ward the door.
Are You going, Mr.. Rivcrs?'
Yes, Aggie, and must bid you now
goodbye
Goodbye, Mr.. Rivers
win you give something more, Ag-
gieY' ,
She gravely came to my side and kissed
me, and left her.
Il know you are thinking, Charley,
that this is the most eccentric affair that
ever occurred in the life Of that most &C.
centric person, Phil Rivers, and yOu are
right 1t was strange, and | wonder now
why I was induced to engage in an affair
which might have fOresecn would end
as it did. But to return to my story, as
the novel writers say.
lett Aggie Lee that night, and, ow-
ing to unforeseen circumstances, did not
meet her for year or more. After that
visited her frequently, till at length she
reached the age Of sixteen.
Il cannot describe her to you as she
then looked to me, only that she was
more beautiful than have ever seen be-
fore or sincc-more beautiful than you
Gun picture, Charley. ! loved her madly
almost wOrshiped her and she-well,
she said she loved me, and believed her.
She promised to be mine, and her eigh'
teenth birthday We decided should wit
ness our marriage.
when she was nearly seventeen ]
went to the West and began my career
as q lawyer. For q time every mail
brought ine letter from Agatha, and she
grew dearer than ever to me. At length
her letters were less frequent; and,
though wrote and begged to know the
cause, soon ceased to hear from her.
Surprised beyond expression at this,