The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-09-27

confirmed by her appearance. did not
think her handsome, certainly in the style
of my siSter-in.law. She was q small
woman, light-foote'i and slender, with a
sunny, pleasant face, which might have
testified to thirty.five summers, but no
winters, surely or, if she had met storm
or chill, she had borne them with such
brave patience, that her face reflected only
the sunshine. Her brown hair was put
up simply and smoothly away from her
tranquil face. Her eyes were frank and
cheerful her mouth not small, but win
ming and smiling. When she spoke her
low, pleasant tones indOrsed the express
sSOw Is -S.IY HcN0nteNauces
} Nr Bishop. believe: the gentleman
who wrote this letterr
The same, madam
4 came, sir, to say that would accept
your propositions, if you still wish it, now
that We have met
( | was abont to SPY that Fwished it more
than ever, since had seen her, but fortu-
nately recOlected in time, that cOmpli-
mentS to my houSekeeper were no part Of
the programme, and very decoromSly con-
cluded my engagement in mattcr-Of.fact
and business manner.
The next week she entered upon her
duties. had never known what it was
to be comfortable. My house was a model
Of convenience and simple elegance; at
least my sister.ln law, when she went over
it previous to Mrs. Smiths commence.
ment, pronounced it perfect. had a sort
of some feeling that had never known
before room enough for all my posses
sions; a place to welcome my friends to;
very agreeable companion in my house
keeper when chose to talk to her, an un-
obtrusive minister to my comfort, when
was silent.
True, Mrs. Bishop found, whenever she
honored me with a visit, that something
or other was not ordered as she had man
aged it in poor, dear Roberts time.
1lousekeepers, even the best of them
she was wont to remark, require a little
looking after. They can't be expected to
take SO much interest in ones affairs, as
ones own relations Her comments did
not give me much uneasineSs, however.
went home one day little earlier
than usual. thought quiet chat with
my housekeeper over the dininS-room
fire, would not be unpleasant. had be-
gun already, to take altogether more in
terest in her than | was prepared to ac-
knowledge myself. ! pictured, as hur-
ried home, the cheerful room, the table
har dsomcly laid, and Mrs. Smith in her
neat, quiet dress, sitting by the fire with
book or work, waiting for the dinner to
lie brought up. AS l reached my own
door however, found it open, and three
children of varying ages, taking most
affectiona,c farewell of my housekeeper.
had never cared enough for any one be-
fore TO experience such an emotion Of
jealousy, but think no other word ade-
quately describes my feelings as walked
into the parlor and shut the door. Pres.
emily Mrs. Smith made her appearance.
| am very sorry, sir, she began.
Not at all, madam
20, but am. remember your stip-
ulations about the children, perfectly
| surely did not intend they should annoy
you. presume you would have no Oh.
jections to their coming sometimes in
your n; sencc, and like to see them as
often as can, but they shall not be here
again at an hour when you are likely to
come home
She must have thought me an ungra-
cious boor, for growled out, merely
No matter-no matter at all
was in an i'll humor. The pleasant
anticipations with which | had hurried
home, had not been realized. Moreover,
] suspected was becoming too much in
terestcd in my housekeeper to like to be
reminded that others had stronger claims
upon her lf'hat evening I sat on One
side of bright fire, and Mrs. Smith on
the other. abhor furnaces-it is One
of my whims. loved, when was boy,
to make pictures, in the fire, and the hab,
it and have grown old together. We
had sat silently for some time. was
watching in the embers two little boats
sailing side BY side.
At length asked, abruptly
what was Mr.. Smiths business, mad.
am:
"A merchant He was in dry goods
firm; and able to give us every luxury
until he failed
So that was it. He had failed and died
and left her all those children to support.
| looked into the fire again. The boats
had drifted far apart, and were sailing
down tame-colored river
'He on the one side-she on the other
| mused on, half-sorrowfuly, until at
length said, speaking unconsciously out
aloud
Perhaps | could have stood the chill.
dren if it wern't for thinking that she had
| l,yo,l rn,,,nhoA,y nlcn Sh.'l L.. lnal.t,,o,
back, and all the time comparing me with
Number L.
| 'Sir!'
Ny voice had attracted Mrs. Smiths
| attention from her book, but she had evil
IDENTIFY not understood what had said,
and was looking up inquiringly. Thank
fortune for that. laughed, little ner-
vously, | imagine.
Nothing | was not speaking to you.
In fact, think | was talking in my
sleep.
She looked down again, and watched
her, instead of the fire. She was pretty
-prettier than had given her credit for
at first. thought. too, she might be
younger than thirty, as | surveyed her
now. There was peach blossom color
on her cheek, an innocent, girlish express
sion on her face. Well, cheek and cx-
preston were nothing to me. got up
and went disconsOlately to bed.
The next day my sister.in-law came to
see me. AS usual, she had plenty of sug
gestions to make to Mrs. Smith, which
that lady received in silence, but with a
peculiar twinkle in her eyes. AT length
Mrs. Bishop followed me into the library.
well, Sandie,' she remarked, seating
herself, since you do not feel disposed to
fulfil my prediction and marry your house.
keeper, | suppose may speak of her free.
ly. | have thought, from the first, that
she was a very artfnl woman. have no
doubt that when she came here, she
meant to marry you. She is very atten-
tive now, but of course she has her own
motives. j, can see. If any trial should
come, YOU will find out who your friends