The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-10-11

watened Capei thal day Win ykeeA AZ
tention. He was much excited u awas
evident, aud WithAl III at eaes; theFs Ens
q nervous apprehensiveDess In hie utnpef
and aspect ] had never before postfed, i
over which, however, from time 70 ,tme
quick flashes Of exultatioB glinmened,
Sparkled, and then vanished. Isit, th0gght
Z, the sa3GSs<ar esS S Sa.5.->E>N <IS> .AzFyRe
that already projects over and awes, and
appals him? 1t might be. l..t.
Marie Deschamps and were ensconced
punctually at the hour named in the little
slip Of closet communicating with the
Hervry's upstairs sitting-rOom. Nobody
appeared there till about five minutes to
seven, when Constance, charmingly at.
tired, and locking divinely y-though much
agitated | could see through all her as
sumed tirmness-entered, and seated her
self upon . small couch directly in front
Of the tiny window through which we
cautiously peered. ~
No .EepS5er' i mentally exclaimed.
that Capel has been beguiled Of al Sense
or discretiOnf
In reply to Marie Deschamps' look Of
jealous yet admiring surprise, | whisper
ed, pointing to the neat but poor furni.
ture-
'Capel expects, you know, soon 10 have
six hundred a year
'Ah,' she reioined, in the same tone,
and in this country gold is GOd?'
And all the saintS in yours, believe
but bark there is knock at the door
it is he. no doubt
Comparatively dark as the closet was,
could see the red, swarthy color come
and 60 on the young woman's cheek and
forehead-and 1 fancied could hear the
violent and hurried beating Of her heart
Presently Mr.. Capel entered the apart.
ment his features were flushed rs with
fever, and his whole manner exhibited
uncomfortable agitation. His first words
were unintelligihle, albeit their purpOrt
might be guessed.
Miss Hervey, though much disturbed,
also, managed to say, after n few moments
awkward silence, and with bali, ironical
yet fascinating smile, taking Ip as she
spoke . letter which tay-nn the fahRs.: = =,
Upon my word, Mr.. Capel, this abrupt
proposal Of yours appears to me, under
the circumstances, to be singuIarly ill.,
timed and premature, besides
The lady's discompOsuTe had. il struck
inc, dsSipated half-formed suspicion in
Capels mind that some trap or mvstitica-
ton was prepared for him, and, throwing
way to torrent Of fervent, headlong pro-
tesiations, which there could be no queS.
ton was the utterance Of genuine passion.
Marie Deschamps felt this, and but that
forcibly held her back, she would have
burst into the room at once as it was she
pressed her arms across her bosom with
her utmost force, as if to compress, keep
down, the wild rage by which she was, |
saw, shaken and convulsed. Miss Hervey
appeared affected by Capels vehemence,
and she insisted that he should rise and
seat himself He dill so, aud after min
ute or SO Of silence, Constance again res
olutely addressed herself to the task she
had determined to perform.
But the lady, Mr.. Capel, whom We saw
you conversing with not long since in the
park--One Marie--Marie, sOmethingl-'
The name Of such . person as Marie
Deschamps should not sully Miss Hervry's
lips, even in Jest; hal
No wonder he stopped abruptly, and
turned round with quick alarm. Till that
moment I had with difficulty succeeded in
holding the said Marie, bat no sooner was
her name thus contemptuously pronoun-
ced, than she plucked . small, glittering
instrument from her bodice-the half of a
pair of scissors; it seemed to me, but
pointed and sharp as a dagger-and drove
il into my arm with such n hearty good
will. that I looscd her in twinkling In
she burst upon the utterly astCunded Ca
pei, with cry Of rage and vengeance. and
struck furiously at him right and left, at
the same time hurting in his face the e; j.,
thets Of liar l. .traitornn n.robher y 4.rillaia !,
and so on, as thick as hail, and with ma.
niacal fury. l had instantly followed,
and at the same moment Mr.. Hervey and
the officer who arrested Travers, came in
! by another door. and Mr.. Hervey
placed ourselves before Constance, who
was terribly scared, for this stabbing bu.
sineSS was more than we had looked or
bargained for. The officer seized Marie
Deschanps' arm. and with some difficulty
wrenched the dangerous weapon she
welded with great deadly ferocity from
her rgrasp. 1t was, as supposed, sharp
ened scissors blade, and keen, as large
scar on my arm still testi6eS, rs pom
lard. Capel, paralyzed, bewildered by so
unexpected and furious an attack, and
bleeding in several places, though not Sc.
riously hurt, staggered back to the wall,
against which he supported himself, as he
gazed with haggard fear and aStOnishment
at the menacing scene before him.
'And SO you would marry that lady,
thief and villain that you are = continued
the relentless young fury, she shall know,
then. what you are; that it was you who
contrived the stealing Of the bank notes
which,
'Marie!' shrieked Capel, dear Marie,
for your own sake, stop! l will do any
thing
Dog! traitorl' she broke in, even Wild
or than before, if that were possible; it
is too late. know you now, and spit at
both you and your promises! 1t was
you, | say, who brought my uncle the
one hundred pound notes by which your
friend, Martin Travers, has been entrap-
pedl'
''Tis false! the passionata, mad, jealous
fool lies T. shouted Capel, with frantic
terror.
Lie, do I? Then there is not a thous.
and pounds worth of the stolen notes
concealed at this moment beneath the
floor Of your sitting-room,- till an opper-
tunity can be found to send them abroad
That, unmatched villain, that you are, is
false, too, perhapsP'
She paused, from sheer exhaustion, and
for brief space no one spoke, SO sudden
ly had the blow fallen. Presently the Of
ficer said
The game is up, you see, Mr.. Capel--
you will go With me;' and be stepped to.
wards the unhappy culprit .... y
Capel, thoroughly desperate, turned,
sprang with surprising agility over q d.
ming table. threw up windOw-sash, and
| leapt into the street The height waR mt