The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-14
'Od, and do you advise Us to get an alarm

Miss Merwyn declared that this was not
what she meant, but she didn't proceed to
explain what she did mean.
I should like to try to find something
to do among the poor, said Emily, turn.
ing to Mr. Merwyn; If you viii allow me.
Certainly returned he, If - and
he stopped short hesitatingly.
Perhaps you mean If they will allow
me, continued Emily. Tom and have
both thought they seemed rather unwill.
ing TO hold any intercourse with u.s.
The common people in this part of the
country are extremely superstitIous,' re-
marked Mr.. Merwyu. We we're fairly
puzzled.
But my dear SIR / said, we have done
nothing to shock their superstitions. We
have not forced them to eat the leek, as
Fluellen did Ancient Pistol
no, said Miss Penelope, mysteriously,
it's not you, it's the house
Emily and stared, and begged for an
explanation.
You will hear the story before long.
said Mr. Merwyn, 1t is, of course, an idle
superstition, and | would rather not be the
one to tell it, if you'll excuse me-
We were thus forced to repress our
curiosity. Before they took their leave
we asked our visitors to walk round the
garden. Emily was leading the way to.
wards point Of the cliff where she had
erected her iavorite seat, the finest view
Of the sea and coast being obtained from
thence, when Miss Penelope held her sis.
ter back.
That's the very spot' she exclaimed,
in tone Of horror.
Hush" whispered Miss Merwny but
she stopped short, nevertheless, saying
aloud that they had long walk home be.
fore them, and she thought they had bet.
ter not tire themselves by going further
The two sisters, accompanied by their
father, took their leave.
A few days later the Audleys called up.
on US, not the squire, but the young gen.
tleman, with his mother and one Of his
sisters. We had not expected this conde
scension, and | was secretly of the opin
ion that it was young Mr.. Audley who haG
persuaded the ladies' to do Emily thi,
favor, in order that he might discover
whether she looked as pretty seated visa
Wis to him in her own drawing.room as she
did in the church, with hali-a-dozen pews
intervening. lie wanted to see her cyet
when she had no prayer book in her hand
on which to bend them so pertinAciously
We had, however, no fault to find with
the ladies' manner; it was extremely cor
dial.
The old question did not fail to occur in
our catcchism: How do you like your
heuser' inquired Mrs. Audley.
Very much, indeed / answered as be
fore.
1T is such pretty place, added Emily
And in size and every other respect
suits Us nicely / went on.
But, inquired Miss Audley, ARE YOU
not afraid Of something happening!
am sure should be il lived here
Her brother laughed.
'Ldsciate Ogni sperdnza roi che entrGt'
qm, he said, in a tone Of mock solemnity
turning to US.
HERBERT exclaimed Mrs. Audley
don't make joke Of it, Too dreadful
things have really happened here
oh, do tell us what things begged
Emily.
Yes continued, we do very mucl
wish to have the mystery solved. Th'
Misses Mcrwyn gave some dark hints Of
tragedy, but shrank from being explicit
| think | may promise that my sister
nerves will be strong enough to bear til
narrative
And those Of my mother and siSte
will not suffer them to be the narrators
so suppose | must undertake the Office,
said Mr.. Audley.
And thus he opened the chronicle o
the Doomed Cottage:
About eight or nine years ago, thi
house was built by q persOn-nobody
knows whom. He called himself an Ital
ian Count; but believe the aborigine
hold that he was the devil in human shape
He was certainly dark, forbidding look
ing man, who, arriving here one day as I
stranger, saw, admired, and purchased
the site on which this house now stands
The walls were raised by ordinary work
men and by ordinary labor; there wa
none of the magic speed which ATTENDED
the erection Of Aladdin's palace. Tn
stranger came and went while the worl
was going on, one day here, to approve
hasten, or suggest alteration, and the mex
gone, nobody knew where. When tn
house was ready, he prepared himself t.
inhabit it but after residence Of only
few weeks, he suddenly disappeared, ant
after being absent several months, on,
day as suddenly returned with q gentle
man who, it was shortly announced, ha'
become the purchaser Of the place. Tn
soi.disGnt Count, after that, disappearet
altogether from the scene Of action, ant
tho new owner brought down his wif
and family. He was . retired captain il
the army, in delicate health both he ant
his wife were quite young people, ant
they had three Of the loveliest childrel
that ever were seen. All the neighbor
hood called upon them, and Captain ant
Mrs. o. speedily made themselve
popular. The place suited his health
and both appeared delighted with il
They had lived here about SIX months
when one day 1t became known theil
eldest child, q sweet little girl Of abou
nine years Of age, was very III, and TIL
disease was soon pronounced to be typu'
fever of the most malignant type. Mrs
o., and the two younger children sue
CessiycIy caught the infection, and within
q month they all died of it. Poor Cap
tain o. did not take the fever. but hi
mind gave way before the dreadful be
reavement Of those he so tenderly loved
and he Is now, it is said, the inmate Of 1
private lunAtic asylum. Those who un
dertOok the management Of his property
tried in vain to dispose of this house q
length, after standing empty for more thar
two years, it was let to Mr.. and Mrs
B."
You have no more horrors to relate.
trust said Emily. who had grown quit
pale while listening to the foregoing.
Indeed, this story Is not less shock
ing. Do you wish to bear its'
Emily gavO . sigh Of acquiesencc, anC
be proceeded:
Mr.. BIS antecedents were wrappeC
| T. - Al - Al.