The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-07

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pense for this thing. How fares the mai.
den bride?'
AT times she is wild and weeps many
tears, captain; but she is now tame as q
dove
so much the better if her spirit is not
broken. A woman is good for nothing
without her spirit. would not give the
fire of her eye for all the softness to be
found in score of doves eyes, CocOtras.'
She talks a good deal about her young
husband, and is dying for him, captain
"A woman never yet did for such
cause, you may be assured. Now go back
to thy post
The old man returned, and the Greek
pirate, whom Randolph now understood
had come to visit somebody's fair bride
his lieutenant had stolen for him, marched
on, following his torch bearer until about
twenty rods beyond the spot where Ran.
dolph stood, he saw him stop at another
door. This he entered, leaving it ajar.-
The Young Americans feelings were now
interested and his curiosity excited, and
lie advanced from his covert TO go after
him. lie entered the door and found it
an ante room. On the floor were sleeping
two guards, evidently overcome with wine,
for their cups lay on the floor beside them.
The chief cursed them and walked over
them, ascending few broad steps cut in
the rock, and putting aside n curtain, en-.
tered q vestibule, where an old withered
crone met him.
How fares it with the bride, woman p
he asked in the hearing Of Randolph
who had followed in the obscurity behind
him.
She sleeps. All, she is lovely as a
pearl of the ocean, captain. But she spoils
her sweet eyes with weeping
The Greek pirate smiled, and placing a
piece of gold in her hand, lifted another
rich purple curtain and entered bOudOir
which was truly temple Of beauty and
luxury. All the wealth Of Greek cor
sair. combined with the native taste of
those sons Of the South, had cOntribu-
ted thus to convert this remote recess Of
the Esean cavern into one Of the most
charming retreats that volnptuOus pleas
ure could devise. II was illuminated by
three silver lamps, which shed q SOFT and
dreamy lustre over the whole INTERIOR
Especially it revealed the face of young
and lovely girtwh was reposing in half
waking state upon divan. 1t was rare
picture Of lovelineSs to gaze upon. Pale
with sorrow, yet her beauty was not im-
paired. She heaved heavy sigh at inter-
walls, as if conscious in her dreams that
she was captive.
The Greek stood and regarded her with
deep aud impassiOned pleasure. There
was blended with his look Of admiration
the expression of triumph and of power.
lie bent over her to press kiss upon her
lips when, as if her spirit was conscious
of his near presence, she started TO her
feet with cry. Upon seeing him, she
sprung from him as if he had been SER
pcnt. She gave him look Of recognition
mingled with fear and despair.
Rpu are surprised, | see, fair maiden,
to\1s4d that an your captOT, aud not my
lieutenant Since the first hourI saw you
shining like star of beauty in your faith
cr's house, | swore you should be mine.
But when ! found you were alarmed by
my admiration and frequent visits, and
that you spurncd my love, sent my lieu
tenant to take you. learn that you were
that very evening to be led to the altar;
nay, mcthinkS he said the marriage vow
had been uttered. But do not fear me
Love me you must
The maiden stood before him with an
aspect Of fear from which all hope had
fled.
Il was not bride. But o that he who
was designed to be my husband was near
to save INC. can only appeal to God for
protection.
4 will give you till tomorrow, lady, TO
become resigned 10 your fate. have Wis.
tied you now only TO assure my eyes that
the treasure have coveted is really in my
possession. / have duties with my people
that will keep me till noon. Then prepare
to receive one whose love will make you
forget that Of all the world
This was said in the manner and tone
Of naughty confidence which had charac-
tcriscd him from the first. He then walk
ed up and down before her, as il he would
impress her with the gallant splendor Of
his costume, and lifting the curtain left
her to herself. AS he passed out Ran
lolph concealed himself amid the folds Of
a curtain that concealed The bed of one of
the slaves. lie also felt deep interest in
the haplcss girl within, whose shrek had
reached his ears when she awakened and
found the corsair gazing upon her; and he
resolved that he would not escape without
her if she would consent to place herself
under his protection; like brave Ameri-
can officer he felt all his generous emo
tions aroused at the idea of young and
beautiful woman being held captive to n
corSair.
At length all became still; the two in
toxicated guards still slept; and the old
woman laid down by the curtain and was
ere long buried in rcpose. But the silence
of the cave was broken at intervals by the
faint means Of the maiden.
4 will save her at the risk Of my life,
and il Can effect my own escape, ! can
effect hers nc said with earnestness.
When he thought all the persons about
him were buried in fOrgetCulness, he left
his covert and advanced toward the cur
tain. lie had to step across the body of
the old woman in order to reach it. Upon
raising the heavy drapcry he was surpris-
ed at the glare Of splendOr that came from
the inner room. lie looked for the Occu-
pant, and beheld graceful female figure
kneeling with her face buried in her
hands.
There was something in the outline, in
tue shade Of the soft brown hair, as it fell
over her like veil, that made his heart
leap into his throat. lie advanced toward
her, and was surprised to see that her cos
tune was not Grecian but European
One hand was visible, on which glittered
a ring. lie looked at it, and exclaimed al
most wild
1t must be Mary Middletoni'
Theyoung girl sprung to her feet, but
seeing Greek as she supposed, she was
flying to the extremity Of the cave, when
throwing down his cap, he cried
'Maryl It is GOrdonr
With q shriek Of joy with which she
nearly set free her soul, she cast herself
into his arms, and lay sobbing in wonder
and happiness upon his breast.
| We will not enter into the particula rs