The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-07
L OC X E ID I'm.

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pea the sides Of the vessel impatiently
and the thick black smoke shot strnigh
from the funnel to the rcccding shore, a.
II anxious to escape from the restless tur
bulcnce OF the water, and forn a SCOT,
canopy over dry land.
There were but few paSscngcrs on boart
and drizziing rain sent them below
One gentleman alone stood his grounr
upon the quarter deck, and, cumfortabl,
encased in suit of oil skin, puifed hi,
cigar ia defiance Of the weather lie wa.
q tall. fair haired man, with a bright eve
thin, high'bridgcd nose, and light wavy
Inoustachcs, through which was seen /
good humOred, but sarcastic mouth. II,
accommodated himself TO the motion o
the vessel like an experienced traveller
aud, with well.gloved hands deep in hi,
capaciouS pockets, looked on the steers
man, the funnel, the lights upon the dis.
tant pier, aud the vibration beneath him
and about him, with an easy and comfort
able nOnchalance Of manner that seemed
peculiar to him.
Upon an obSrquious aud curly headed
steward-whO kept coming on deck, and
then diving down into the cabin upon
those purposclesS crrandS which would
appear t0 TIC the continual employment ol
those iunctlonarics when on duty-pass.
ing near the traveller, he said:
'Iiavc you come to tell me that must
not smoke?
No. Air. said the steward, with the
most dcprcciatIng smile 'you can smoke
u you choose, sir; there is nobody OH
deck but you, sir
Very few passengers tonight remark.
ed the gentleman.
very, sir, very few, sir replied the
steward; you're the only cabin passenger
'Am ] = said the gentleman. Then
suppose ] shall have my choice of bvrths!
Whichever you please, sir, when you
come below. We've only one other pas
scngrr, and she's lady
All! said The gentleman, looking down
the sky light, as if To see whether his frl
low traveller were in the cabin. I am
alrnil We shall have u very rough pas.
sage
Yes. sir. answered the ar0uicscent ste.
ward; 1T does look very dirty to wind ard,
sir; and lac divrd down again.
The traveller lighted a fresh cigar, toss.
c1 away his old one, locked at the white
foam in the Vessels axe, aud resumed hi.
march. He was naturally u grcgarious,
conpanionabc sort OF fellow, fond O
society. argument, the shock of opinions,
and collision Of ideas. lie had hoped Il
meet s"mc other well-traveled man, with
whom he could have smoked and chatted
lie felt that hs should bore himself alonc,
and began To think abun, the lady who
was his sole companion in the boat.
i wish knew her. thought he; we
c nd converse som hours away. Twenty
years ago ! should have cUlsiI,r,d his
quite an adve' ture. What 'oolS men mr.,
in their >-!addays. should have thought
that it was fate had thrnwn uS together,
because we were destined for each other.
Perhaps she is married, old, or disagree
able. ! shall bc horribly borrd ill We
reach Kingston
After half an hours more walking, he
looked down the skylight once again. and
saw IA lady seated at the cabin taking tea
she doesn't suffer much, at all events,
he thought to himself; IL may as well
have lonk at her." and he finished hi,
cigar, and descended the brass. bound
steps leading TO the 'cuddy.
The lady about whom he fa!t so inter.
csted. was over thirty years Of age, and
despite pAlld cnmpiexon and languid,
mournful eyes, possessed great beauty.
Her manners were elegant and refined
and tinge of cXhaustntion in her face
aud voice heightened the sense of subdue,l
sentiment that hung around her. Over
wrought srnsibilitv and sensitive nervous
organization we're written in the constant
play Of her short thin upper lip and the
perfect taste Of her dress, completed the
charm Of very fascinating invalid.
When the gentleman entered the cabin
she was seated at the table, waited ON by
= bustling and active XtcwnrtlrSS. liz
took off his cap-As il weren't her, and
diSrmbarraSScd himself Of his oil skin COW
ering. He coughed in token Of his pres
rnce, but she took no notice. but contin-
ued playing with her teaspoon, all uncon-
sciouS Of his entrance.
With a glance in the mirror that be.
trayed knowledge Of the possession Of q
good appearance, mud a smoothing Of a
well-tied cravat, the gentleman advanced
towards the table, and conghed again.
The vessrl gaVe n slight lurch, and the
tea-Service clattrrcd at the same time
The lady looked up, saw the new conner,
and bowed slightly.
fear We are going to have a rough
passage began the male traveller, when
the lady shrieked, and would have fallen
had not the Stewartiess ran forward ia
support her. The gentleman turned pale
and red, and pale again, and trembled in
every limb. .'.'~'- re ,'
Bring some water he said, after mo-
ment'S pause. Don't be alarmed it,
the-thN SurpriSe-the sudden-let me-
he wet his handkerchief and laid it on
her forehead, while the stewardess ran for
her smelling bottle. BY the aid of their
united exertions, in about five minutes
the lady recovered, and looked about her
as If just aroused from an unpleasant
dream.
Better leave US = said the gentleman.
yOu SuO tuuyA OH ucN-
ed the stewnrdess, hardly knowing what
to do.
Know herr Yes
you've only got to call me, mum;
shall be close to-" said the stewardesS.
Can ! do anything more, mumV
Mono. thank you, said the lady
. ] am quite well now. You-you need
not trouble yourself further
The stewardess Quilted the cabin, leav-
ing the two passengers staring at each
other, in mute wonder.
Good God, Maria, is it your said the
gentleman.
It seems almost impossible it can be
you, answered the lady, in low, faltering
tones.
'Are yOu--better nOwr inquired the
gentleman. Can I get anything for you p
Nothing, thank yOu-if 1t be really
you replied the lady.
1t seems like = dream continued the
gentleman, to think that after years, we