The mountain Democrat., 1864-07-16

ouOu 'uihSS1 OuC tneY happen 10 oe tIue
My acquaintance with the Jasinskis had
commenced in early spring; before mid
summer my letters to Lucy Anne hat
dwindled dow n from Eve pages to scarcely
one and hal and before the leaves were
falling, could never find leisure to take
one to Lake in time for the passing post,
man. who picked up letters at all the vii.
lagos on his waN from wilma to Warsaw.
| was losing my heart, or rather Lucy
Anne'S part of it, losing my self command
and my selfrespcct too, for was. not an
engaged man, and what had one of my
estate to do with Polish countess? But
Clementa was fair. and, had persuaded
myself, fond; and how could a man be cx
pected to keep constant under such cir.
cumstances? 1t was all the fault of Lucy
,Annc's mamma.
Was there ever a son OF Adam who
could not find somebody to blame for his
own doingS? In short, | came to the con.
clusion that my vows to the belle of Birk
enhend were not at all binding that for
tune did not put such an opportunity in
everybody's way; that doubtless there
we're transcendent merits in me, Charles
James Hawkins, which had escaped the
notice Of my friends in England, and been
made manifest to the heiress of the Jasin.
skis; had she not encouraged me, and
should ! not take heart and make nv dec.
laration on the very first opportunity p
Wouldn't Duroche be aStonishrd when it
all came out. and he had never guessed
what was passing under his own eyes,
notwithstanding his countrymen's prctcn.
sionS to aStuteness?
Being thus resolved, I waited hnt the
occasion. 1t was the beginning OF winter
nOw-the Polish winter, which sets in
with such wind and rain as we seldom see
in England, great as is our lands repute
for wet weather. Our stays at the cha.
teau were consequently longer; the
lengthening evenings gave time for music,
cards and talk, at which Clrmcnta and
were frequently, in manner, tcte a.trte
but on the very next visit after my grand
resolution was taken, | was surprised tt
find Hungarian cousin, of whom I had
never heard, just arrived, and established
in the chateau. He was All officer in the
Austrian service, wore the uniform, to.
gether with an immense black beard
and could speak nothing but German OF
Magyar. How he would have looked
without the hairy mask which concealed
the greater part of his countenance,I can.
not tell; but the Hungarian struck inc a.
not at all prepossessing, and haughtily re
served.
There was another peculinritv ahou
him which gave me n still worse opinion
Of the Hungarian cousin. His prrScnc,
seemed TO impose an unaccountable con
Slrnint or concern on the family. Ever
Clementa look ked alway on her guard aftel
his coming; the old count was forcvc
casting anxious looks round the room
where we all sat so cozy in the wet an'
stormy evenings, and the Sudden entry q
servant would make him and his daugh
ter appear as much frightened as if thry
had seen specter. They did not wish i
to be noticed and put on great symp
toms Of non observation, as soon as tn,
fact was made plain to me. Duroche dit
il in his own way, as we went home to
gcther through a lull in the tempest -
Sad pity of the JaSinskis," said he
"whO could have thought Of poor Henry
getting into Such heavy embarrassment
debts, | mean-to the Hungarian cous
in9 A wealthy Magyar, you perceive
mine owner, in fact, Of the strict ant
stern old school. He |. mt the Loor bo,
money at different times, when Henr,
was at college and elsewhere. The oil,
count not having the cash to pay, CAV
his bond for it at a heavy percentage
which the Magyar comes to levy every
year about this time. Between ourselves
| believe he is now pressing for the prin
cipal the count cannot raise it, large a.
his estate is; the family are too hospita
ble AMI generous to have much laid by
and they are trying to promise him off, =
They don't care for anything if the diff
cultv can he kept out of sight; so vo'
and had b. tier take no notice of thei
diSQuictude."
The propriety Of the course thus re
commended vas obvious; | only regret
ted that it afforded, pe no c,ha9ce of ex
hl6itinG my sympathy With the family
and thus outrivaling KrouzoR By tn
way, forgot tn mention that he was no
at the chateau that evening; and Clcmcn
ia told me, with some appearance Of sat
iSfaction, that he had gone to visit hi
relatives in Grodno, and would not b.
back for fortnight. There was my op
portunity. I would lay my heart All,
hopes at her feet, in spite of the Magya
and his bond. Might not the Hungarian
cousin be a rival too, though Dnrochc hat
no, said it? | sounded him on the sub
iect. The Frenchman looked mysterious
but would admit nothing. | should Sc,
for myself, however, and it was a Strang,
conflict of hopes and fears. concealed, a
flattcred myself Eunder an easy and care
less exterior, that started with him OF
the next convenient evening, for the cha
teau, as Duroche never allowed me to g
alone.
The November day was drawing to it,
close, the storms Of wind and rain ha'
fallen to cold calm, which promised tn
setting in of the northern frost. Tn,
muddy path by which we traverSed tn,
bare woods was already growing firm be
meath our feet, and another turn wUult
have brought US within sight Of the ia
SinSki mansion, when Duroche, who hat
been looking at the effects of the sunse
through the trees, suddenly stopped il
his walk, as if something had struck hin
"A fearful thought it SEEMED, for he turn
ed as pal" as death. and before could a>S
what was the matter, said in hurricc
tone: ~ must go back, my friend;
have left my portmanteau unlocked in th'
tent; there are papers and things Valua
BILE to me in it. and nobody could trus
those men of ours. Go on, | will joiI
you at the chateau" and he started Oft a
pace which prevented all questions. -
What could he have in that portmanteal
to be SO frightened about? 1t was new
wonder concerning Duroche, but tool
his advice, and hurried on TO the chateau
where CleInenta and her father RECESSED