The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-04-06

own. From bis earliest bOyhoOd he wal
true and honorable. That was what iirRt
impressed ms-ths high sense Of honOI
which seemed natural TO him, and which
10 few have. He wss very frank and I'M
reGerved-6OyiSh In this, even afleT he
was man in yeaFA
lie used n talk to me no freely Of oil
his plans. his ambitions, his joys and sOr'
rows-loOking into my face with his clraI
gray eyes, through which ! could look
right down into his true heart Aud II
was the losS Of this bOyish franknes'
which grieved me 70 now since his disap
pointment
For John Murray was . " disappointed
man." ~ the world has It But more
than that, be was . deceived, bitterly
wrOnged man.
He had loved, as such true, earnest
men alone can love, . young Southern
beauty, belle and heiress. Others thought
her weak and vain, but he loved her with
. blind, unreasoning love. ! shall neveI
forget the day he came TO me with his
face glowing radiantly, and hrs eyes al
full Of tears. and told me that the lady he
loved had promised to be his; and how
his voice trcinbleJ ~ he said In low, rev
erent tones:
"DO thank God for me, MrA II.
am not good enough to thank Him, but
will be now"
All, how happy he was, poor boy
lie went away with bis -lHdy'lovc and
some other friends, TO travel through the
Summer. A few weeks parsed, aud
heard vague rumor that his engagement
was broken Then Il became certainty
but John did not come home. In two
months ! read in n newspaper the notice
Of the lady's marriage to . wealthy for
ciSner.
low my heart bled for my boy then
but I could hear nothing Of him. Il was
four months before he came home, and he
was then 90 changed. could no longer
call him boy. liz looked years older
aud, while his trouble had not made him
bitter and cynical, as such troubles often
do, he had lost that honest frankneSs
which was once his peculiar charm. lie
became quiet and reserved, though more
kindly aud gentle than ever before, even
to wOuen-unlike those men who con.
denim the whole sex because one had
proved faishleSs.
Itwas now Ave years since this hap
pencd, and John Murray was thirty years
old. Not very advanced age, yet every
one looked upon him as an old bachelor,
and few dreamed that he would ever
marry.
Well, the days Of Kitty's absence went
by, and the time Of her return drew near,
had had two or three letters from her
but they were short and rather unSatis
factory, ell agreeing upon one point, viz
that East Hampton was not stupid.
missed the little danSel sadly, and wa'
very glad when, one afternoon, note wal
brought from her, saying, Dear, Auniie
I'm At home; came this noon. Father h
going out this evening, and l shall b'
alone. Please come over right after tea
Tor want to zee you dreadfllly."
Of course I went, for ! wanted to sec
Kitty dreadfully" too. As walked up
the pleasant path, lined with rose bushes
which led to Kitty's abode, looked "
toward the house, thinking she would
come to meet the. but | saw nothing o.
hOr. Going into the house, and not see
ing her down stairs, | went up to heI
room. opened The door softly, and came
upon Kitty sitting idly looking out Of the
window. She did not hear the door open
and as her face Was turned from me, did
not see me till ! came cloSe to her, and
drawing back her head, aaid, iAughngly
"Well, Kitty, where's the Offer :"
In minute her face was hidden In my
bosom, and she vas crying bitterly sob
bing till her little firm shook cOnvulsively
and I was fairly frightened. "Kitty, pet
what is itl" l asked, anxiously. "Dt
look up at me and speak,"
Then sho lifted her head and looked
into my face. Instead Of the bright
plump, rosy face she had worn Q month
before, she wan pale, heAvy.eyed and thin
Sitting down, I drew her into my lap anC
said, while the tears trembled In my OWL
eyes:
"Why, Kitty, you have been i'll Why
did you not let me knOwl l would hav'
gone and nursed you if you had only sen
for me. But never mind now, darling;
have you safs, and you will GOOn b. vel
and strong; 90 don. cry" Kitty smiled
iaintly, and said:
do I look very thin, auntief Fathe
thinks 70. too, and has gone to see Mrs
Wood about INC; but indeed, I've no
been sick"
"Not been sickl Why, what then i
the matterl not been sick |"
"NO, auntie, have not been sick 81
hour, ] wish we're sick; ! wish I wer
deadi" Aud with another passionate burS
Of tears, Kitty laid her head down on mI
shoulder. ] SOOthed and quicIsd her
strOkiNg her hair, kissing her fOrshead
and singing scraps Of lullaby music, jus
IN ] had coMl0rtCd her when her molhe
died twelve years before, and she littl
sObbing child, lay IN my arms a. now.
Presently she grew calmer, the sob
ceased, and at last abe lifted the little we
face from my shoulder. and said:
"I'm sorry to Tighten you 80, auntic
but | have kept It in 20 long. and knew
you would let me cry. ] aw very nlissF
able. aunt Lizzie"
This she said 40 mournfulIy, and witt
such pitsous look on her pale face, tha
I broke through my resolution not 4
question her % 70 her trouble, and said
quickly:
"What Is II, Kitty1 What has hap
penedl :"
Drawing . long. qOivsring sigh, sh
aid:
!" think ! had better tell you all abou
Il, auniie. though ] could not tell any OH
else In the world; and now please dom
say anything till have quite finished tn
story, or shall break down, and wan
you to know Il ALL"
So abe laid her head down again, hidinI
her eyes on my shoulder, and began:
"You know. aunt Lizzie, the sill,
speeches made before I vent away ab0u
having an offer. Well, though knew
was silly, I could not help hoping that
might have one 70 tell the girls abOu
when I came back. I thought Il woul,
be 70 nice to be knelt 70 on the beach &
the Moonlight and some one beg me b
love him and pity bis misery, and all thai
and then ] bad made up what though