The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23

lady appears to look upon me IN the light
Of friend. wonder what reason she
will assign for my alnluction.'
'Ah, sir, began the lady, we have been
awaiting your arrival with the greatest
anxiety. It appears that Charles has not
accompanied you, aS we requested him to
do. At any rate we have received you.
(Anothcr smile on the part Of the lady
giving her, in Rallacc's eyes, the most
Sphinx.likc attributrs) i am sure YOU
will agree with ne when say that is the
essential point. How many thanks and
apologies do we not owe you"
Uwc me, madame! lam >ure-ycS-
ah " replied the voting painter, .in1?ine
that in snch a reply there was nothing to
compromise him.
'YrS. sir; but Charles las mad" You
acquainted with thc impciri, motive ilir'
have caused H. [" act in this abrupt rai''
circumstances will, trust, conplr,cIy
excuse Us IN Your eyes. Only All init
mate friend Of nv son--a friend w,,"m. j.
la, known since hoyhood-a g..nticra'.
in whom we could curililca> in him --uri
pcrson only could we admit to It com.
plicity in our plot. The rulosiun which
Charles ia: I'D upon you in hi letter 81
yesterday. inf ,rmiug us Gf your inil".i
ate departure from London, has fully .rt.
i>iicd us. My dear >ir, am certain wt
shall never have to repent having fep">ou
our entire confidence in y"n-- or having
conii'lcd to yuu that which we heal dear
est in the world; aud beg Of lnu t,
rest assured tI.at YOU will never hay'
cause To regret having placed Implicit re-.
lance on the honor Of Charles AID ouI
selves
am certain Of it, madam, answered
RaiiacIlr, whose curiosity was now raised
To 'hc highest pitch.
But the time Graws near. You arr
SomcN lat late, continued the 'n.iy, IA
the company are assembled il i!ir diaw
ing.roonI. Charles wrote to inform "
that hc had arranged everything Wi.h YOU
! can assure yon we have neglected n"t'
Ing. NJ, | see You are in yo"" iHv, ,iI'1
dress, and in your haste forgot your lu@
gage at Cokrhampton. You viii ;ihd il
lie wrote t" u> that you were !,,tll + IL,
sam" stature see that you are II ,itt.'
taller However, that is not lnat"iia!. -
Pray attire yourself as quickly N, yoIrau
In "A quarter Of an hour my ht'"hrr, I'll,
Major, will come here for YOU. He Vi,
introduce You 10 the fnmily ana t" ON
friends. Adiru, for the prfSont, ard r''cn
my dear >ir--l may almost say my drai
Smith, said the lady, holding "Wt Lol
hand, with another ol her elegant but mos
iurXpliciblc smiles. And She went. lrav
ing my iIrld IN condition buidtrihg I'll
complete stu, faction.
'Nrll. wcil, lr said, after hc had some
what r,r"vcrc'! him, il this i, II farce il
is not II bad onc. must aluit that ia,
matron OF the piece plays her part III til,
most cal tiva,nE manner. Bat | think
must hc allowed to cali hrra most rux
z,ing Old lady. Ah! if only understood
Il single word Of this affair II only
kncw her sou who is called Charles, an'
her brother, the Major, who Is to ocoInc Il
conduct me to the assembled company, Il
introduce me, to oil,r mr-som,thiu I,
eat, hope. But must hasten to put or
the clothes of CnallcS--iny most intimate
though Unknown liirnd! The lady >@l
they were in the wardrobe. All. Til i.
capital Coat, waistcoat, cra,at, patent
feathers, AL here; aud on the dressing
table, oils, brushes, cosmetics. Cial'n,
is vyiir,t'y a swell Of the most rc>pl,n
dent character.
Ia very short time, RaN;.r!ir Snitl
was transformed into an elegant cavalier
Willie he WAS contemplating himself wi;|
some satisfaction in the glass, and takiu.
in by several holes, the band Of that a:li
Gle of attire that envelope the ncthcr -
trrnrtic>, with vicN Of si!rnriug "a,
murmnrS of hi, stomach, RaiIac!iv h,aro
brhiud !iHl, in deep bass voice:
'Wcll, my dear Mr.. Smith are you NON
ready
\ glance at that tall, m,agl", military
t1rm. that hooked n0>c, that y hitc uio,i~
tarhr, told the painter that it Wa, til,
Major lialacllc was 10y no means conn
Portable in spirit rs he t'irnrd towards til,
old man. The latter, however, seemed t,
review him from head To foot with an all
of satisfaction.
Il am clad to find that Charles has not
deceived Us. must admit that ynu ar.
stuart youMg fellow, aud not iii,>uitc:
to the business we have before Us. loGl
hand, Mr.. Smith. We are not stranger,
although We now see each other for tht
first time, ! hope you haven't forgotten
the instructions that were given YOU hN
Charles:
On that point, my dear sir replied Eal
facllc, you may he quite easy. | can a>
sure You that have not forgotten on,
word of What Charles has told me-
Very good. You will rcro,l,rt that my
niccc'S name is Emily, and that it is ai,>o
lutcly essential, in order to save her in thl
eyes Of the world, and particularly in III,
eyes of my old cousin Luc,'S irirnd>--it
is Imperative, | repeat, in order thai oui
proceedings may not appear strange, I'M
becoming and abrupt, that yuu >hou!d
pretend Ia have made the acquaintance o
my niece whiic she waS stay ing with hci
mother in London, year ago. DO you
under stand: y
'rrrirctly, Major, perfectly
'Thcn let us 90 down at once
Rnilacilc experienced considerable hcsi
tation at this critical moment, but the sin
guarty Of the adventure, the desire to So,
the conclusion, and, it must hr added, th,
dcvourng appetite which tormcntcd him
all united in compelling him to follow til,
Majors footsteps. The latter led the way
down Il vast and richly decorated stair
case, and op, Mtg II door, u>hcrcd him in
to Il magnificent drawing room, where the
hcwildcrcd painter found himself in tho
presence of brilliant and numerous as
>cmbly. The entrance of the Major an,
the painter produced general sensation
Il have the honor, raid the Mnior, I,
introduce to you Mr.. Smith, the fnlur,
husband Of Emily Shuttlcworth, my niece
At this extraordinary announcement
Hallaclc felt his knees giving way bcncatl
him-al the blood in his body seemed t.
be rushing into his chccks-hc was Vie
tim To vcrtigo-he was fairly stunned
and had the Major not supported him, h,
would certainly have fallen backward.
BE cool, whispered the Major, be self
possessed, Smith. Try and master youl