The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-08

And knew not--dreampt not with what
6erce aud passionate ferVor this man loved
thee. Didst not think for moment Of
tie mingled dread and delight with which
he regarded thees
No, never; not for a moment, she re-
joined.
And for ten years this feeling had
grown and gathered about my heart for
you,' continued Raby, who, now that his
lips were unsealed, poured forth his hoard
ed secret as though it were the outgush-
ing of bubbiing well. For ten yenrs
have cherished the feeling that was prey
ing upon me. bore your colOrs in the
fiercest fight, and you knew it not
though my brave old chief, Lord Berry's
father, laughngly said to me, as we went
into the charge-'Raby, thou hast chang
ed my crest for anothcr's cOiOrs, and |
swear It's my niece Genevieye's scarf!-
! And so indeed it was 80.
Il missed none, said Gencvicve.
THAT might be; but | had one woven
like to your own, and one day | changed
them
4 recollect,' said Genevieve, with a
smile and blush, that one day had q
miSgiving about my scarf, and that tho't
it ncwer--and then th0ugfH nothing
more of the matter
4 would were wounded again--in the
cavern again-in the hands of the mnr-
drr0us men-so thou vert by me with thy
wondrous touch, and thy magical voice
Ge&,ai4cSs;..! '7.''-o I. t.h~0|see 5s4,. 4ste@au
how trulyl l am a knightly soldier, with
out rood of land; but, an thou wilt, I'll
carve myself a barony yet, and at the
point of lance gain that which, to this
hour, had never charm for me-
And none for me- said Gcnevieve. 4
have no heart for ambition, and think !
am not mcrcenary.'
Il am mercenary from this moment,
said Copelandc, with a hsightening color
on his brown, manly face for thou, my
love, art concerned iH it. ~, ......
'Raby CupeIande,' she said, in a tone
distinct yet low, with her fearless, honest
eyes turned full upon him, and hooking
into his very heart-'Raby Copelande,
dost thou truly love me?'
Had he been the man Of marble stand
ing on the pedestal by his side, he would
have been reused into immediate and ac-
tive life by her question
10 ask HIN if he loved her!
The heart within him bounded, so to
speak, to his lips. The thrilling memo
I ries of time he had cherished SO long,
so secretly, were Sursing up in delicious
tumult ON the heart to the brain; and
looking, as he did, upon her flashing eyes
and glowing cheeks, what marvel il, for a
moment, the strong man felt weak and IN
strung in the great charm Of the question
she had put to him.
DO | love thee?' he said, hrokcnly.
God who is above us, and the heaven
and the earth that is about aud around us,
can attest it! | do love thee, thou beau
! :iful =
Then graf tremble ran throughout
her frame, fer the words fell upon her ear
with an inconceivable+ delight; and then
she well knew how deeply and fervently
she loved the banner bearer; and after a
mOmeats pause, she said
Thou lowest me 1t is a frank con-
| fesSon--and--'
'Speak-spcak ny cried Sir Raby.
and IL accept it-l return il; for
never nobler man went forth to meet his
foe than thou. But |, dear Raby--l am
dowerlcSs.'
'And by the light of heaven said the
other, hadst thou been princess, and
loaded with yellow gold, it would never
have taken my fancy. love thee foI
thyself alone, and in thee centres all the
! hopes of earthly happiness ! crave
There is my hand--my troth--my
plight, said Genevive, with frankness,
rand an open and inborn nobility Of nature,
so generous and so outsLoken, that, daz-
zled with the precious prize thus becom-
ing his with such apparent little pains to
WOO, he could not speak, but sinking on
one knee to the ground, he lifted up the
fair white hand to his lips, and kissed il
with reverence and iervent love like
that Of worship.
Thou art mine, thcn--thou art mine
he cried gaspingly. l mind now, even
when the fever and the delirium was OH
me, that there was promise in thy dove
like eyes, such as men read III the evening
rainbow
Accept the omen. Raby COpelande
aud so may heaven deal with thee as thou
dealcst with met
Then life will be to me one long bles-
ing!' cried the impassioned man, rising
TO his feet, and this time pressing upon
her lips that first kiss flove and the seal
of their troth plight, which forms mo-
mcnt in human life not easily forgotten.
And so they walked murmuringly on in
the soft moonshint, down and along the
garden walks. ..-
The mother and the son, in the mean
time, and while this scene was passing
the stern and naughty Dame Eleanor, and
the milder-hearted lord Berry Pomeroy
were standing together in the cmbra-
Sures of window which commanded a
full view Of the scene we have described
and if no words of the speakers reached
their ears, it was not difficult to under
stand what the purport of their conver'
Sation was.
'DoSt thou see that, Berry 2 said the
lady, in Kissing whisper at his ear.
She loves him. he said; she loves
him !!
And thou!' And the proud, fond moth
er looked inquiringly into her sons be-
loved eyes. --'--------'---
I loved her, too; but I think not
am sure not as Raby Copelande did + was
his answer. -
And thou wilt join their hands?'
'Yes, my mother said Lord Berry
very quietly, and still with that intention
of purpose in his tone that was not to b.
mistaken.
And wiring thy hearth asked Dam'
Elcanour, anxious for him, and with M
thought or feeling beyond.
'No.-I love Raby. too! 1t is piece 2
good manliness at times, fair mother, Il
suffer that others may enjoy! 1t shal
not be said that my mothers son coult
not make sacriicee
And still his eyes followed the pair will
a-4rieRdly, tender longing; all adown tn
garden. 80
why. let it be so, said his mother