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

All at onoe Lord Berry was struck ia
the earth by = blow from az unseen hand,
while a pair of strong arms were wound
round the maiden, u vail being flung over
her head and she felt herself rapidly
borne away into the thickets and intrica.
cies of the forest; then she was mounted
on p zhifrey, and their speed was redoubl.
ed; then fresh alarm-the sound Of con-
flict-a st,ife. fierce and deadly-deep
Oaths, prayers, grOans - and then she
knew no more.
In wild and savagely sylvan scene,
where enormous trunks, withered and
stunted, and dguarled branches bent down.
ward, forming on the cleared space below
a deep green shade, even at the sunniest
noon-dsy; where the face of frowning
rock, up which the ivy climbed and clung,
and down the front of which trickled the
crystal waters of spring into Followed
stone, and then, overbriInming that, went
away through the grass, silvcry tinkling
strcamlet; and where, beneath some tan
glcd creeperS, the entrance into a cave
might be found in this spot the fantine
Gcnevieve gradually recovered from her
fainting fit-saw by the cleaning though
uncertain light dropping through the
trees, the form Of man lying in collapse,
as that Of death, close beside her, still
gripping in the strong, unrclaxing fingers
the stained glave which bad slain the
three or four corpses which lay farther
GWay. .r -, 5-.. ~ v......'.
The sight of this would have horrilied
her just as much as the others did, save
that-the light falling full on the palid
countenancc, the lace of his helm had been
cut, and the head piece itself had fallen
oH-she recognized in moment the line
ments of the banner. bearer, Sir Raby
Copelande, but could not guess how he
had come there.
Thinking again, as she slowly crept to-
ward him-thinking of the attack which
had been made upon her and Lord Berry,
she murmured: Can he have been gull
yT-and her instructive heart revolteL
against the idea.
Still she pondered until she Nnthought
this latter, and exultingly whispered to
herself, oh. no; he came to my rescue
And he is wounded --dead-dead / q
heaven! let me gather strength to see =
And now she was by his side, feeling for
his. cold hands, to know il that was the
chill Of death and rcpressing the gha>tly
sickness at her heart, when she saw that
his head lay on the ground in pool Of
blood, now clotting around his hair.
She uttered an cJaculation-a cry-and
lifted up his head; when groan from
the PROSTATE man gave her as much relief
as blithe and jocund laughter would AT
another time. She fetched water, moist.
ened his lips, seated him against the trunk
ola tree and tendcrlv washing his wound
severe enough, but not fatal-staunched
it, and bound it up with her richly EN-.
broidcrcd scarf, the work Of her own
hands.
She was not wounded-not hurt-not
even frightened now; but food, shelter,
security, must be had-at least fU1" the
moment. Despite the dead banditti lying
around-leaving an inference that some
remnant must be living.-she felt no dread
of any second attack. Shelter, the cave
promised her. But for food and warmth
how then?
Then the dvlicately .nurtured lady found
out the inventive Uses Of necessity. Ran
sacking the pouches of the robbers, she
found the means of procuring light, and
boldly entering the cave, found Il lamp
supplied with oil swinging from the ROOF,
which presently cast & gI4'e &hrough the
gloom. The place was supplied with
provisions, and soon fire cracked in a
corner of the same. She instantly pre-
pared some food, administered some wine
to her patient, assisted him to tottcr into
the cave, and placed him on Il couch ol
sweet fern. and again dressed his wound
watching him 'aSSiduously through the
hours of the fever which supervened.
In fine, for three-or four days, during
which he recovered his strength--his
wound now beginning to cicatrise-she
was enabled to help him TO the outskirts
of the forest, where speedy aid came to
her summons, and both reached the Castle
of Berry Pomeroy in safety; thus putting
an end to the painful suspense cntcrtaind
regarding her. and termipsyting the sharp
and unceasing search made Of her, led by
Lord Berry in person, who had only been
stunned by the cowardly blow he had re-
ceived, and whose fears and anxieties on
her behalf were of the most lively deScrip-
tor.
Many days of coHvalescence and return.
ing health must row be supposed by the
reader to have taken place, ere Rahy
Copelande found himself fully strong
enough to bear his armour again. And
in the meantime, Lord Berry has not
touched upon the subject of his late con.
fession of love to her.
Il X X
4 broad -beaming, full orbcd moon is
pouring down her effulgence upon the
same terraces, tire same walks, the same
cleaning mere and slumbering forest, as
two forms walk once more Slowly down
the avenue from the broad balustraded
steps which led from the gardens into the
principal chambers Of the castle, and
softly murmured the evening winds, and
gently fell the feet of the promenaders on
the sward the one in white walking be.
fore with timid grace, the other follow.
ing after with slow, martial pace-his
dark armor and demi-harness Changing
about him as he folled closely behind.
The two were the Lady Geuevicve and
Sir Raby Copelande, of Champernoune,
just healed of his grievous wound, and
carrying in his hands, earelcssiy; the
lady's Lutte, just as page might carry il
for his mistress, and his look was sombre
enough Just fitted to match the pallor ol
his face.
Slowly they walked; softly, whitley
shone the moon; softly, swectly sang the
low-t toned winds among the trees; and
then they came into an open space where
stone seats were placed, and in beneath
the sleeping shadow of huge oak there
stood marble statue-a grand, stern fig
ure, carved out of the massive stone-o
an armed man and there time they
stood.
They paused, and for moment she
placed her arm, as if to rest herself, upor
the base of the sculpture while Raby
Copelandc, half chanting some rare ole
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