The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-04-27

arms, gave promise Of splendid develop
mcnt when years should have added ina
turity to her charms. She was very
young, only eighteen, and from her earli-
est childhood had never known one Edr.
row. There was a bright joyOuSness in
her large blue eyes, in the pretty, smiling
mouth, and the quick, graceful movements
of her slender figure. 1t rang out in the
sweet, Silvery tones Of her voice, and sent
back its echoes in her merry, ripping
laugh. Her exquisite features were like
her mothers, but no impress of pain
marred their pure outlines. Life had been
to her one long sunny day, and none Of
the depths Of character had been called
forth by the sad and searching hand of
tribulation.
"They are coming! hear wheels, and
see there Is the carriage at the end of the
avenue. How faSt Harry drives! Here
they are
Truly enough, there they were. Harry
sprang out first, and tossing the reinS to
the lad who jumped down from the seat
behind the open carriage, turned to assist
his friend. The doctor stood behind him
in an instant, and then the young man
went to receive his parents welcome. II
was huShcd moment, for it was like the
d. ad come to life again, and after n long,
iervent embrace, the mother turned to the
doctor. She took his large, strong hands
in her thin, wasted ones, and looked up
into his face. He was looking down upon
her; the large black eyes were soft and
tender at that instant as her own, and bis
lip quivcrcd with emotion. There was n
long, silent gaze, and then Mrs. Grey drew
him down gently, till lie dropped on his
knee, and his face was level with her own
She put her lips to his forehead and kissed
him with loving pressure, but no word
could she speak. The doctor received the
without any of the reluctance he
had shown to entering into her home. His
noble heart read truly the deep, speechless
gratitude that kiss betOkened.
When he rose, the father poured forth
his warm words Of thanks and welcome.
Then katc's turn came. Until that mo-
ment the doctor had not seen her. Now,
as she came to him, her lovely face lit with
a glow Of tender feeling, he started at her
innocent, childlikc beauty Of face and eX.
preston.
LET me too thank you," she said, hold
ing out her hands, "f'r restoring my
brother, and speak my gratitude to you,
who have made this home Of thaukSSiv-
ing instead Of mourning. God will bless
you for the deed, Dr. HILL"
10 her surprise, the doctor only bowed
gravely, in answer to her words, and SEEM
ed not to see her Outstretched hands,
PiqIed. she turned again to her brother,
who had thousand questions to ask Ol
the changes which had occurred in his ab-
sence Of nearly year.
Evening fell while the group sat on the
porch, and the summons to tea first broke
u1 there converse. The bright lights in
the dining room showed Harry that the
habitual gloom on his friends face was
deerened instead of diSpelled, as he had
hoped it would be by his intercourse with
the family. The conversation between Mr..
Grey and his guest was on the current
topics Of the day, politics, European news,
the new literature, aud the state Of the
crops, and Harry was surprised to find
that his recluse friends information was
up to the la,cSt dates.
The drawing-roomS were in a subdued
light, when they entered them after tea,
and Mr.. Grey's practical suggestion that
to leave them SO would keep out the mos.
quitoes. prevented larry from raising the
wicks Of the astral lamps. They fell into
couples-Harry and his mother, Mr.. Grey
and the doctor, and Kate was alone. She
went for few moments out on the porch
and then, seeing all cngrossed in conver.
satiOn, went softly in again.
Mr.. Grey had fallen asleep, and the doc.
tor sat silent, his head leaning against the
wall. Harry was telling his mother Of
tho doctors untiring devotion to him in
his illness, after the accident which threw
them together, and the mothers eyes
were fixed on the tall figure dimly visible
in the shadOwy light.
On the silence, broken only by the low
murmur Of Harry voice, there came low,
trembling nutes Of music. At first soft
hardly sounding. but swelling gradually
into sweet melody, not sad, but SO full
Of sweetness and power that the heart Ol
the hearer almost Nched in listening. liar
ry ceased talking, and the music rose
higher as Kate became interested, lost in
the ravishing sounds her own fingers drew
from the piano. The half light and tn,
silence lent n quicting influence to til,
girls light, gay heart, and after sweet
symphony, she began D sing in clear
rich voice, that beautiful song
"De kind to the loved ones al home"
The last line had scarcely left her lips
when she was startled by q deep, heavy
sigh, almost sob, at her side. She turncC
to zee DR.. Hill.
"PardOn me-" he said, quietly, "if
have startled you. Your music drew NJ,
here with an irresistible power, as q mag
net attracts needle"
"YOu are fond Of music ?"
"Passionatelyl Years ago cultivated
the little talent had for it; but for ter
years l have neither heard music nOr
tried to bring it out from my piano."
"lIOw could you give it upy"
gave it up at time when all pleas
urc went from my life, and became the
sad-well, well, VIC will talk Of other
thirgs. What right have to cloud =,
bright heart as yours with my sorrow.
lul thoughts?"
There was something in the rich tones
Of DIR. Hills voice which moved Kate
strangely. "Shall play for you again p
she asked.
"Will you? I cannot tell you how
gladly will listen Y"
Two hours passed away, and the piano
gave forth sweet sounds under those white
taper fingers, while still, motiOnleSs as
some tall statue, the doctor listened. Then
Kate rose and, after waiting for the doc.
tor to speak, and finding he did not, she
went to the sofa where her mother lay.
For q few moments there was total
silence in the room, and then again music
filled il; not sweet, cheerful melodies,
such as Kate had brought forth from its
KEYS; there was strong, heavy chord,
followed by q succession Of other chords
which pealed forth strongly, as il some
gust Of passion prompted the player; then
Al 4 .