The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-05
How DO yOu know bot that III. Nay.

held tst"
Can't be possible said Amy, archIy
shaking her curls. " His hands are too
small for anything but lemon n-color kid
gloves. I'll wager Q new bonnet, Alice,
that be never did anything more labOri-
Gus than to carry box Of cigars, 10 his
life"
Miss BrOwnIeigh laughed, and Amy
passed out Of the Vine.wreathed porch.
wondering within herself whether Mr..
Richard Mayfleld had been much NnKed
because she had refused to danes With
him the evening before.
Mrs. John Maydeld's house was at no
very great distance, and as Amy was
quite intimate with that lady, and under.
stood the domestic sateFnalia that was at
present transpiFing within her domains,
she did not think It necessary 70 knock,
but opened the door aud walked In with.
out ceremony. -..--..,.,...
There stood Dick, the apex Of q pyr.
amidal scaffolding Of. boards, his 6ne
broadcloth raiInent obscured by q lime.
splashed sheet which was girdled around
his waist by 9 pOnderous knot Of rope,
and his black curls Overshadowed by q
coarse old straw bat. working away as il
for dear life. His back was toward the
door and suppOsing the step to be that of
bis eister.in-Iaw, he said gaily, without
turning the head
"Whatl is the carpet ready 30 soon,
Belle! I'm jus. through here, and I'll
come and tack II down iO one minute"
Not receiving any answer, he threw
down his brush and turned around.
Miss Brownieighl"
He had never looked 30 handsome IN
his iGe-and that was the first thought
that rushed through Amy's mind, in the
midst Of all her embarrassment; for Dick
had the advantage Of the young lady in
this respectable was embarrassed, and
be was not.
: He sprang, laughingly, to the ground,
and threw off his ghostly drapery.
you must think have curious taste
in costume" said ne, archly, "but the
truth H. Isabel has been disappointed In
her hired help, and my mother IL away
from home, so am helping ber clean the
house."
"I did not know-I thought you had
no taste"-stammeTed Amy, unconscious.
ly speaking out her thoughts.
You supposed that I was nothing
more than an ornamental piece Of fnrni
turel Ask Isabel about that. said Dick,
half piQued, half smiling. "But can be
Of any service to you nOtO ~
had Q note from my cousin, for Mrs.
Msy6eld," said Amy, still speaking scarce
Is above her breath.
She has gone down to the farther
orchard, said Dick. 1T is some dis.
tancc, and not b very straight path. II
you will wait until | remove little Of this
lime, ] shall bc happy to escort you down
there"
Half an hour ago, Amy would have
haughtily informed him that It was quite
unnecessary for her to trouble him-now
she stood and waited.
Il was long walk, under tho over
spreading shadow Of noble apple trees,
bending with their weight of crimson and
russet fruit, and through meadows ankle
deep in purple and bloom. and nodding
plumes Of golden red, yet for ell that, Amy
was quite surprised when Mrs. Mayheld
came in sight carrying q basket Of rose.
checked peaches from pet tree beyond.
We believe it is one Of woman's special
and inconrovertiblc privileges to change
her lnind-thereiore nobody was much
astOnished when three months subse-
Quently there was q rumor Of the en-
gagement OF Mr. Mayfeld and Miss Brown
leigh Still however, Dick always de.
clared that II was an insoluble mystery to
him that when serenades and schottisches,
poetry and perfumes had all failed to win
an entrance to the maiden's heart, white
wash brush should have been the unro-
mantle weapon which at last brought
down the barricadesl