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

SPAR WHICH IOunU leTTluC expression III
the cOuntenance that, as attracted by a
Slight noise hastily looked up, net my
view. 1t ,was Capel's He had entered
the room, the door being ajar, unobserv-
ed. at the chess players Twas so startled
that | mechanically, as it were, sprang to
NV feet, and, as did SO, Capers features,
by a strong effort Of will, resumed their
ordinary expression, save for the deadly
pallor that remained, and nervous quiv-
ering of the upper lip which could not be
instantly ma, tered.
/ was more than satisfied as to the true
nature of smooth seeming Mr.. Capel's
SenIiIpents towards the contracted couple,
but as they had observed nothing, l tho't
{ tt~S~nl3t - = sry pSaCC J cpuld not,
however, help smiling at the conHding
simplicity with which Travers, as We all
three walked homewards together, sought
counsel of Capel as to the readiest means
of raising-u0kDoWn 10 Miss Uervey--
the funds to he obtained before Prudence,
as interpreted by the lady, would permit
his marriage. Slight help, thought |, for
such purpose, will be afforded by tie
owner OF that amiable countenancc saw
just now.
1t was just week after this that thun-
der fell upon our Office by the discovery
that sixteen hundred pounds in Bank OF
England notes, sent in by different parties
late on the previous day, had disappeared,
together with a memorandum book con-
tanning the number and dates Great, il
may be imagined, was the CONSERVATION
! mn oil and vi ms
ton, which, however, led to nothing, was
Immediately instituted. Capel, who show.
ed extraordinary zeal in the matter, went,
accompanied by one of the chief clerks,
to the parties from whom the notes had
been received, for fresh lists in order that
payment might be stopped. On their re-
turn it was given out that no accurate,
reliable list could be obtained This, it
was afterwards found, was ruSe adopted
in order to induce the thief or thieves to
more readily attempt getting the notes
into circulation.
This occurred in the beginning Of Sep
tember, and about the middle Of October
Travers suddenly Informed me that he
was to he alried Oh the following Mon
day-tLiS was Tuesday. The lease of q
house at liammersImth had, he said, been
agreed for. the furniture ordered, and
everJ thing was to be completed and paid
for by the end of the present week. And
the money--the extra two hundred and
odd pounds required--how has that been
obtaincd?'
'Of my uncle, Woodbridge, a marriage
gift, though he won't, believe, be pres
eut at the wedding returned the BRIDE
groom elect with a joyous chuckle. was
quite sure from his manner, as well as
from my knowledge of his uncle'S penu-
rIous character, that this was deception.
Constance Hervey's scruplcs, had al.
ways thought, now that it was certain his
next quarters salary would be one hun
dred and fifty pounds. were somewhat
oveI strained and unreasonable still was
vexed that he had stopped to deceive her
by such subirrfugc. 1t was however,
no especial affair of mine, and reluctant
ly accepted his invitation to dine at the
IierveyS' with him on the last day of his
bachplorhood- that is, on the following
Sunday. Capel was invited. but he re-
fus, d. also declined, and rcsulutely, to
attend the wedding. That would, | ielt,
be az pen trop fort just then.
Avery pleasant party assembled at Her
vey's OH the afternoon Of that terrible
Sunday, and we were cheerfully chatting
over the dessert, when the servant girl
announced that four gentlemen were at
the door who said they must SEE Mr..
Travers instantly.
Must see me- exclaimed TraverS. -
Very peremptory, upon my word. With
your ieave, sir-yours, Constance, will
see these very determined gentlemen here.
Bill them walk in, Susan
Before Susan could do SO, the door was
opened, and in walked the strangers with
out invitation. n.---.---..-.--- .---.--..-.......
One Of them, q square, thick set, bullet
headed man, it struck me, had been in
company with before. Oh! to be sure
he was the officer who conducted the in
I-vestigation in the matter of the stolen
notes. What on earth could he want
Thereon with Travers?
You paid. Mr.. Travers,' he said, blunt
", something over four hundred pounds
to these two gentlemen yesterday
Yes, certainly did; there can be no
doubt about it,
will you tell us then, if you please,
where YOU obtained the notes in which
you made those payments?
obtained them--where / obtained
them p said Travers, who did not, | think,
Immediately V recognize the officer. 10 be
sure. Four of them--four tilties-I have
had by me for some time-and- and
THE two one hundred pound notes
how about them - quietly suggested the
man. seeing Travers hesitate.
Travers, more confused than alarmed,
perhaps, but white as the paper on which
am writing, glanced hurrIedly round
we had all impulSivcly risen to our feet
till his eve rested upon Constance Her
vey's eagerly attentive countenance.
Il received them,' he Stammered, re-
peating, | am sure, falsehood, from my
uncle, Mr.. Woodbridge, Of Tottenham.'
Then of course you will have no OBJ
lection to accompany US to your uncle,
Mr.. Woodbridge, of Tottenham.'
Certainly not but not now. To-mor-
row-you sec am engaged now
4 am sorry to say, Mr.. Travers, that
you must go with us. Those two notes
were among those stolen from the office
to whichyou belong ----------------------
There was half .tifed scream-a bro
ken sob, and, but for me, Constance Her
vey would have fallen senseless to the
floor. Travers was in the merciless grasp
of the officers, who nerdleSsly hurried him
off, spite of his frantic entreaties for a
brief delay. The confusion and terror OF
such scene may be imagined, not de-
Scribed. Although at first somewhat
staggered. five minutes had not passed
before l was thoroughly satisfied that
Travers was the victim of some diabolcal
plot; and pretty well guessed Of whose
concoction. An untruth be. had no doubt
been guilty of, through fear of diSpleasing
his betrothed-but guilty Of stealing mon
cy-of piundering the office-E'ah The
bare supposition was an absurdity.
As soon as Miss Hervey was sufficiently