The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-04-05

versation that be did not heed the jests Of
the pasSefs by, nor reply to several sdi-
rect attacks, and when the last Of the
merry andrews had retired, he was star
tied by an intimation from the officials
that they were about TO close the hall, and
that it was necessary to withdraw.
ALREADY |" exclaimed our friend.
They had been talking five hours.
"Permit me tc accompany you home, "
he said.
Impossible"
"Am not to see you again ?"
81 will think about it."
"And will you not tell me who you
are! This is cruel. You take posses
sion of me, turn my head, and abandon
me, as 3 child throws away toy OF which
he is weary. l shall not submit to it,
warn you. You forbid me to accompany
you. will follow you. ! will learn who
500 ave, / ~in force you TO Nae~ SOON.
self-tO receive me-tOlOVe me. After an
enchanting evening like this there must
not be forgetfulness between US. Make
your decision and accept my company, if
you would not have me impose it upon
you"
"You would not do that, l am sure.
If you did, should succeed in evading
you. On the contrary, you must leave
Inc free, and give me your word o: honor
not to seek who I am; in that case will
make you two concessions greater than
you could have hoped for, though, indeed,
| had long since resolved 10 grant them
when you had earned them"
"What are they"
~ wiz reinrn< sck: SztZy2-y, tx I
will give you my portrait. You can look
at it when Nm no longer near you"
~ Sac 7.s*Sz2 ~ y +"1N~ ':-,r7 -
promise to retafn. aiid, receiving from Ret
hand the card photograph in sealed and
perfumed envelope, haSteDed 10 q gas
light to tear it open. She protited by the
moment to disappear. When he raised
bis eyes she was no longer there. The
portrait represented the most beautiful,
bewitching creature one could ever dream
OF. Our lover remained for some mo-
mtnts stupeied by his own happiness.
Such face and such an intellect! 1t was
hardly to be believed, yet he could not
doubt it now. He FASTENED home like a
miSer bearing his treasure-tried to sleep,
but found it impossible. lie gnzed at the
beautiful face, recalled the five hours
passed so quickly, and concluded that he
could not wait week to see his unknown
he must, at any price, discover her and
see her again, under penalty Of losing his
senses.
AS SOON as it was light and he could
present himself with propriety, he went
to see three clairvoyants and as many
fortune. tellers. EacE one told him diff
ferent story, and sent him in different
direction for the mysterious beauty. This
would not do-he must try elsewhere.
The card which he had received, did not
bear, as usual. the name Of the photogra-
pher, but it must have been done in one
Of the fashionable establishments. He
would visit them all. lie went first to
that of Nadar He was too much pre-
occupied to observe all the miracles OF the
atelier, one ofthc wonders of Paris. He
could see neither rocks, nor cascades, no
works Of art-al that the most refined
taste can collect in a house like this =
the true lover has no eyes but for his
mistress. Our friend gave not look to
this art-palace; he drew the card from
his pocket, and asked the principal if it
was his work, and il he could tell him the
name of the original.
Monsieur" replied the artist, "if |
made this photograph, and did not sign it
as usual, | must have had reasons for ab-
staining; il did not make it ought not
to claim the merit Of it. You understand
me- cannot reply to your question. As
to naming the person you desire to know,
that would be still more impossible; We
are sort of father -confeSsorS, and never
reveal the secrets that are contided to us.
| am unhappy that cannot oblige you,
but little reflection will convince you
that am simply obeying my duty" -
He received nearly the same answer
from Disderi, from Ken, from DagrOn, and
everywhere else. He returned home in
despair, asking himself to what saint in
the calendar he should address his svows to
discover the mystery. His good star sent
him one Gf his cousins, to whom he reIa'
ted his perplexities The latter. after long
discussion, finding himself unable to help
him, introduced him to gentleman well
known in Paris for his perspicuity and
intelligence, which amounts almost to a
second sight for the intellect, while his
kindness is a second sight for the heart.
He heard the story, examined the picture,
and uttered his oracle:
"Go tomorrow to the rendezvous, and
as soon as you shall sec your domino,
say, 1T pleases me. l am enchanted ;
present me.
This was another enigma ; in vain the
lover asked an explanation.
"I will be at the ball, " was the only
reply. al will wait for you at three
o'clock, in box No. 20; come there, tell
me the effect you have produced, and you
shall know all" --
II vas necessary to be content with
this. Saturday came slowly-but it came.
The impatient one was at his post, reply
ing by monOsyllables to a sultana, who
prosecuted him with compliments. The
domino appeared. He recognized her i'm.
mediately, and disengaging himself some
what brusquely from his Odalisque, he
seized the hand Of the unknown and led
her aside. with q palpitating heart, He
forgot the enjgmatical phrase; it only oc-
Cured to him when she announced her
intention of retiring early. He hoped to
retain her by this "OPen sesame" He
repeated it. The lady could not restrain a
movement of surprise, and kept silent for
a few moments.
"I do not comprehend you" she said
with troubled voice.
"You seem, on the contrary, to com.
prehend me admirably; much better, "