The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-18
Miss PrIscilla's Dream.
BY C. 2. WALKER.

BY C. z. WALKER.
i had such a queer dream last night,
said Miss Priscilla WoOdside to her dear
brother John, who sat reading the morn.
ing paper.
lie Iooked up with an expression Of face
not at all pleasing, and said, with half
Sneer,
These school girl fancles! What new
thing has your romantic brain devised
now r
1T was only a dream, said Priscilla,
submisSively. Il thought we had pres
ent in which we took so much delight -
| can't conceive what is going to happen.
Nor ], was the mocking RESPONSE
But, Of course, it behOOves us to know
directly. Nonsense, Priscilla the next
thing you will be dreaming that am mar
ried.'
no said Priscilla, earnestly, 4 hope
not. With your present ideas fear you
could not make one happy
And the pleasant faced woman TO whom
forty would never come again, sighed and
went on with her occupation.
4 have been a.SErecked once upon that
rock, was thstgloomy reply. Nothing
can ever tempt ME again
Because one woman was unfaithful il
does not follow that all are. wish, John,
you could find in the wide world some.
thing 10 good and true that even you could
no longer Sneer.'
The person addressed arose impatiently,
shook back his dark locks and went stri-
ding up and down the room. He was not
so very old, although he was known as
Old WoOdSide among his townsmen. -
Neither was he naturally diSagrecable
looking man; but an expression which
time could not have stamped there, rested
forever upon his face, an expression which
served to frighten away all his neighbors,
and keep the old house dreary and sad.
4 domestic opened the door.
Letters, sir"
John tore them open one after another,
paused lONg over the last, and uttered an
exclamation Of intense disgust
There's your present, Priscilla, and q
fine one it is, too
DO tell What is it, said Priscilla,
in an excited manner.
A nice young lady, daughter of that
Albert Laudor who, years ago, after heap.
ing upon me every possible injury, took
away from me all that made life cndura-
ble. Since then what have been, thanks
to him! Now he coOlly proposes, being
upon the point Of death, as he informs me
to leave me his only child as legacy
Hope Landor, indeed She has little tc
hope for here except the aims house, where
she shall 60 speedily
Poor little innocent orphan! YOU
won't send her there brother 2
Won't ~
His really handsome mouth curved into
a sardonic grin as he spoke.
But could manage so that it would
never be in your way, John. Poor thing
neither father nor mother! know | shal
take to it at once so, John, do let US keeE
it,
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
Am | master in my own house or am
not? never mean to encourage bsggal
children
But little child running about thi.
dreary old house will brighten it up so
We shall grow young again
His brow darkened with anger Miss
Priscilla paused in time, well knowing by
experience that nothing would be gained
by urging the matter further. She turned
away, thinking of her pleasant dream
and sighing at the pleasant prospect be
fore her.
That day fortnight, Mr.. John Woodsid,
was called away very Unexpectedly OF
business. A day or two after his depar
ture, carriage deposited at the door o
the WOodSide mansion, little golden
haired, sad.eycd child. Miss Priscilla
paused a moment, debated with herself
then flew down the steps and took th'
child in her arms. From that momen
little Hope Landon had one faithful a4t
loving friend, who had vowed in her hear
never to desert her.
Week after week went on. Mr.. Wood
sides business, which had at first seemed
easy Of settlement, was found to be 81
complicated and involved in its character
that his absence from home was mucl
long than that originally suggested.
At last one autumn night, filled will
sad reflections, he drove through tn
gloomy avenue and approached his owl
door. He walked up the steps with firm
tread, threw open the outer door and en-
tered. His sister met him with an embar
raSsed and confused look, which at am
other time would have attracted his i'm
mediate notice. Now he was too mucl
occupied with many other things to ob
serve it.
ANY news?' he asked with an approach
to cOrdiality foreign to him, but whicl
arose from his long absence from home
None, | believe was the heSitating re
ply.
At this moment a burst Of laughte
foated down the staircase.
'Hark |! he exclaimed, nervously; 'wha
is that! Is the house hauntcdy'
1T is only the wind rattling the win
dows. The house is old, you know.
Yes, he responded, dryly; but in al
my long experience never knew the wine
to make such noise as that. BY tn
way, We shall not be troubled with Ian
doris child. Just before | left home,
wrote that the proposed legacy was boil
unexpected and undesirable, and therefor,
! must decline it. So that nuisance i
abated,'
Next day the master of the house, re
clining upon a sofa, fell into a troubleC
slumber. His dreams were not pleasant
indeed they seldom were. Men who cher
ish bitter remembrance in their hearts
haye few agreeable thoughts either waking
or sleeping. But now his dreams took
different turn from usual; he went back t.
his younger days haReir~ days then wOul'
ever come again.