The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-08-16

WIN uliu anu ulS pilCSNS' dISuCu
against her new choice in several long
talks. But it was all fruitless Her
firm mind was set upon it. She would
never tell me srhy she chose it. To this
hour Of my walk with James, it had been
mystery to me, and hsd often risen to
my mind amongst other difficult proc
lens in meditative hours. had never in
the least suspected that James Dawes had
anything to do with it.
And you love her, JamcS?' need not
have asked; nor did James give me any
answer. That she loves you,' Iwthtoh,
Il see there is no doubt
She did then sir answered he.
She is not the girl to change, james,
tV Sbe wonld never have naDde surb =
sacrifice. Why ever did she go? What
williul, witleSs babrs both Of you were
rot 10 have told me. never saw a sign
of love between YOU ...s.
- ~ thougnt tvcrv 6ody saw it, sir. felt
most convinced that You did.
/ am very blind, fear, in such mat.
ter>, | answered. I begin to see,
think, part Of the reason why you scpa.
IdtC'l. DuT ulDlIlcT-
Father and mother, too, sir, did al
they could to break it Off But, if you'll
pardon me, III tell you how it was When
you first asked me to help in the night.
school, | managed well enough with the
reading and writing, but | was so back,
ward in summing that saw some of the
lads themselves understood deal more
about it. You see, sir, father likes to
Wa,s--> - Z,., ~ IA,>r,1y ,Mattrrs by himself,
So that lost all practice in that way. |
really 44a2|;!&t carccct the Suaass LtRCI;-
it was little good 10 20 on teaching while
it was so; for aS soon as ever they had
found out that they knew more than my
sell in one ding, they wouldn't have learnt
much from me in other things. SO dc.
tcrmncd to get few lessons in arithme.
tic. darcnt go to the schoolmaster, toi
he has never much liked me since you
asked him to sit with the school at service
time, and put me in his place in the choir
Aud SO one evening asked Ellen if she
would mind helping me; and begging hcl
to keep it Il secret, offered to pay her
for the trouble. She promised to let me
know Of it, but she wouldn't takeany pay.
used to 60 to the school house two
evenings cv ry week. Ny little dog was
always my companion; and Ellen used
to have one or two School-gi with hcl
when | got there. | admired her some.
how for that at oucc-there was some
thing 50 >c!f-rcSpcctful and womanli!ie in
it,
Bat | could not stop long at admirine
Ellen, sir. soon began almost to forget
what went tor-thr ithmetic-though
indeed, We never spent minute in any.
thing else, and always left as soon a.
ever my exercises were looked over, and
fresh lessons set me. After had been
very few times, found myself looking
forward to it all the other davs of the
week a. tie time of secirg Ellen. Al
the pillow, in the tarm-vard or the barn, at
the market and SaicS-w wherever | was
there was always the thought of Ellcn,
like sunshine, with me, making me hap
py and cheerful to every one till | began
to be miserable lest any one else should
find out wh%t she was, and love her, and
take her from me. | never thought o
her loving me; for she seemed to know
50 much more than | do, and to speak 81
well, aud more like lady to my view,
sir, than fit for Us farmers of these part,
TO think Of as 4 wife. 1t was the grehtp>i
JOY to me to set chair for her, or to opvr
the door an! let her pass out first, or t,
put by her books, or to pay her any Snci
liltlr dDiirS. used so much 10 long that
she would some day touch my hand with
hers when we were at work and. one
evening, when she did it by chance, and
quite unexpectedly, | almost thought
should faint. My fingers were over til,
State, ana She just pushed them away
gently to look at the figures. After that
many time, sir, put them so ON pur,
pose that she might touch them, till was
afraid she would know it, But those dcal
touches, When they came, only made mt
long for something more. An day long
fused to be seeing that hand of hers, it
my fancy, before me-ior | never dared
lo'k at her face, hardly, for fear she
would find me out
She hWt found you out, my co0G
james, said |, long before you imagined
am sure
'YvS, sir She told me 50 afterwards
Many night as lay in bed, I've though,
| saw that hand before me over the slate
and I've longed to kiss it; and I've said tc
myself, Some day I'm sure shall kiss it
before | know what | am doing AnG
just SO it fell out, sir. was sitting dowr
one evening, and she was standing ovci
me, with one hand resting upon the Slate
frame. She was explaining some miotak,
to me; but | was not thinking at all o
what She was saying, but only Of that dval
hand saw before me, and whose hand il
was, and what great joy it would be t,
ms to give 1t only just one kiss. Then
suddenly, sir hardly knowing what did
( stopped down aud case it nn" Hiss. II
an instant was trembling ali over; for
thought, '"vw have raine4 laysciG, aud
must rush away at once Oh, what :
surprise it was, sir, when Ellen burst ou'
crying, and drawing her hand to her face
fell Oh my shoulder! Invent on speaking
as fast as words would come. dom
know at all what | said. 1t was all like ,
wonderful dream to me; hardly bclievcC
it Was really happening. All the Will,
her face lay on my shoulder, and she wa,
Sobbing, till | raised her head and looked
into her eyes. was reused up bv my
little terrier licking my hand and then
saw, too, the little girl who had come iato
the room with Ellen, standing with her
back to the fire, and her doll hanging head
downwardS, and she herself staring at us
with wide open eyes full Of wonder.
Ellen sprang up and ran to the fire.
place and kissed the child. followed her
and we stood there side by side, and talk.
ed long while. That evening we en-.
gagged and yet no, sir; it came so unex.
pected, and without our preparation, that
we felt rather as if Some one engaged us
to each other. OF fathers, or mothers, or
schools, we never thought. When left,
we appointed to meet each other the next
day after morning school.
When got home that night 0as sur
prised. Father and mother told me every
thing about it at least, they told me all
they knew-that used to 90 at nights to
3 ..,l,., .,.,l,.