The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-08

| so Tar SymDatlllZel WIN Mark naSte u
get away from Joe Smith that she KEEP
up brisk trot, until they were half wa,
up to the Old Red
But old habits are not easily broken
and the shady, retired hollow they hat
come to, proved too great temptation 70
walk, and the walk into a decided stop
Mark sat with his knit brows and com
pressed lips, thinking of what Joe haC
said, and hardly noticed where he was.
1t was charming summers afternoon
and slight breeze rustled the myriat
RfaycS in the branches over his head, a.
though the old trees were whispering SC
crets to each other. Whether any Sucl
romantic ideas were suggested to Mark
we cannot say, only he reused up, some
what suddenly, and looking about him
said with evident cmot;on: Yes, this l.
the very place Tears gathered in tn,
old man eyes, and though he hru>hct
them away ,again, with his hard, rougl
hand, they still kept, coming.
Yes, this was the very place where
twenty-five years ago, Mark Goldsmith
had told the beautiful Mary Willard the
story Of his love; the very place whrr,
togethcr they nad promised to love cacI
other until death. Mark was then poor
while her father, Major Willard, was ric
man, yet be wei remembered the gene
ron, Kindness Of the old Major, the lrc,
consent he gave to their union, and ii,
wealth that was transferred to him at hi>
death.
Nor did Mark forget, (though he almost
wished hc coGid), shat Mary Willard had
said to him on that betrOthal night, 90,
Mark, if my father should oppose Us !
should die And was not Mary Gold.
smith another Mary Willard, with the
same loving disposition and winning ways
Was it not possible for the young minis
ter to love her, just as he had loved her
santcd mothcry What if he had been
tauntcd with wanting Major Willard
broad acres Instead of his daughter:
This thought was too much for Mark,
and he gave thc rcinS sudden and violent
jerk, which started the old mare into Il
b'i>k trot again.
Mark, however, did not drive directly
to the 'Od Rcd,' but turned down the
lane that led to sister Sally's aud drove
around into her ward. She Immediately
came to the door, for though her brother
often called, he seldom got out Of his
wagon. lie used to say, 'Nnbnly can
call me an old man, Sally, I'm sure, but
reckon It's the rhematis' makes me Kind
Of still
But this afternoon he got out and follow
ing her into her pleasant sitting room, sal
down in the armchair
Dclightcd with so unusual an Occur.
renee, the old lady made an extra effort
to entertain him, and having exhausted
all the topics concerning his affairs, She
began to talk of her own, entering at last
into Il somewhat lengthy account Of the
capture and subsequent destruction of Il
nous" that had got into her chamber tine
night. before.
Mark had not paid much attention to
anything she had said. Something very
differently was on his mind, and before
she had finished the mouse story, he made
two Intellectual efforts to interpoSe IA qucS.
tion. Each time he got aS far aS Sally.
how lo you like-.-?' but his sister wrl
perScvciiu-,y ON, until he abruptly said :
COulound the monsc, Sally; How
DO You like the new miniStcrl'
y little surprised, but not at all taken
aback by the sudlenness of the question.
Aunt Sally said:
'Ah, we are very fortunate Not mnny
such young men nova days And then
She gave Il deep sigh.
'Wcl, what is the matter with you,
then" said Mark.
20, was only thinking said the old
lady, SoIemnly, what a pity it is that
good young folks, who like each other,
can't come together and hc married a>
they used To. All times are changed,
and she -heaved another sigh.
'Umph = said Mark, what has that to
do with the minister?
Just this, Mark Goldsmith, said Sally,
as bending forward, She rested her arms
upon her knees, and looked upon into
Marks face; Is as plain as \ B c, that
the young minister likes your Mary, and
you wont let him have her. And now,
~ " udN vi WV, liz EhtS dNdN loi t'lICc vi
four weeks, and il he can't have the one
he wants here, why, hen have to try to
find wife somewhere else, for pnrSun
without wife iSu't worth much to a
country parish, and that you know as well
aS do, Mark. Then, as for Mary, if he
does do so, it will break her heart, that )
all =
'Umph = said Mark, rising and walking
to the window. What's to he dnuc:
'Wcil, really don't know, uulc>s YOU
have the sewing circle at the 'Old Red,
next week; that might bring matter,
right
The sewing circle at the 'Old Red -
The thought of it made Mark start, and
yet by the nervous twitching of his
mouth, Sally concluded he was trying tc
consent to it.
vt last he said, 'Wel, tell the child she
may have it, il She wants to- aud then h,
went out Of the house without speaking
another word, leaving Aunt Sally with
her mind full Of business and her heart
full of joy.
And so the sewing circle met at the
odd Red And o: course the minister
stopped to talk with the Squire after the
rest Of the folks had gour. And of COURSE
Mary sat down by her fathers side, to heal
what he had to say.
There was pause at last in the con
vcrSation, and then the minister reaching
his hand across the table, laid it on tn,
old mans arm, saying:
Squire, you have got one thing that
want
Name it, said the Squire. cIenchine
the table with his hands, and compressin.
his lips as though he felt the crisis la,
come.
Not your broad acres, sir, but YOU
daughter
'She is yours = said Mark, in clear
decided tone. Then, suddenly rising, h,
placed the minister's aud Mary'S hand.
together. lie tried in vain for momen
to speak at last, laying his own hanc
upon the young minister's shoulder, AN,
looking upon Mary, he said:
HES got Just what he asked for Bu
I'll treat yousboth alike. If You wan