The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-04-29
4 am sure l will, Rose said Fred nat.
yAuy. and without his drawl,

OpenlnB HIS S( Co.
And would not like TO hurt or distress
me?'
BY Jove, no!' he cried. 4 should
think not, indeed =
She was standing 10y the fire, leaning
one hand on the chimney-piece, with the
other Just lifting her dark blue gown
over her ankle, her foot on the fender,
showing her pink silk stocking, bronze
slipper, and bit Of broad needc.work as
a flounce above.
= V ~, take yo> Styopr s9Ord,' said
Rose. i want you ..'efEene up, Fred
break off the marriage Come, now are
you a good enough old fellow for that?'
Break off the marriage, Rose!' cried
Fred, amazed. Are you dreaming
Not bit Of it, she answered, laugh.
ing little historically; quite serious
and wide awake
But cannot give you up, Rosc,' said
Fred. MY mother has set her heart on
the marriage; and it is so near, too, now;
and | do love you-a great deal more
than have said or shown, he added stir.
red out Of his affcctaton. you know,
Rose, how | hate the idea of sentimental
ity or spooneyism with any one; and !
have fought oil that as long and as we'll
as could. But am not the Indifferent
beast you may think me. do love you,
Rose, and | cannot give you up
She had turned quite pale during her
lovers speech. 'Well, Fred she then
said, of course am very much obliged
to You, and all that; but | have not been
playing a part, and do not feel bit
more than have shown; so we.are not
on equal terms, if you love me as deeply
as you say, and am simply in the old
way Of good fellowship. Mind that, and
never rcproach me hereafter for have
tod you the truth, remember. And as
for your lady mother, | don't think she
will make much objection whcn she learns
all, because, dear Old Fred, am ruined.'
Good God. Rose! cried Fred, what
On Garth do you mcan?'
'Wcl, you know have been spccula
ting; and Mr.. Norton came down to-day
to tell me that all my great expectations
are come to nothing; the Bella Juniata
mines are drowned and have not what
viii realize two hundred year instead Of
two Thousand. And so think the ques.
ton Of Mrs. Whiltcld's ccnscut is settled,
is it not?'
Now, then, Rose, I will not give you
up for any one in the world said Fred,
in a deep voice. My mother may say
what She likes. and you may say what
ypn 'i}:c--thc marriage shall go on; this
day week you Shall be my wife, come
"hat may never felt how much low
ed yon before today, Rose, when there
has been just chance of losing you
But if don't want to marry you,
Fred? urged Rose, touched, in spite OF
herself, by the unusual warmth and chi.
valry Of the man.
oh, Bosh' said Fred. You ore not
the Girl to lave been engaged for three
lno"thS contcntc1'y enough, and turn
ronui Just ut tie last moment, and say
YOU uOat care for a f.'iuw. quite under
stand you, Rose, dear Old a,sie! You
'hink that my mother will not like the
natri 50 much !>w Is when y0u had
money, aud lhat you are Tot the catch
You were beioIe you had lost it.; and so
you t,toHGht You wct,il release ne. But
/ will not be released, RoScy and SO I'll
to. ny matIvr when sac speaks 70 me
about it, if She fakes that tone at all'
CHon which Rose did what was most
vHtilo:linary t'irS in her to do--what
F',i had never b,torc seen the sl shtest
inclination in hcr towards him she flung
her arms round his neck and kissed him;
and thea burst into violent food OF
tears. which soon passed into Mysteries;
when lie was obliSel to cal! the servants
ard Harvey Wynn.
No now the whole thing came out, both
u Mrs. Whitiild and to Harvey; Fred
ia.ino .dva q! making mysttric and keep
Ing secrets unnecessarily; but lie noticed
tN things as the result Of his communi-
cation, that his mother looked decidedly
and as if she had made up her
mind in different direction to his, and,
perhaps, with more stability; and that
Harvey, whose face had lighted up with
,tratga passion, suddenly burnt, himself
~, and became cold, and ashcn, and
'ods.' Bat Fred Whitfield was not re-
for penetration; 50 the coil
n"lioi Itself a turn tighter, and no one
seemed likely to get out Of the rounds, or
10 be free OF it,. strands. Rose could do
no more than She had done; Fred could
no less; and for once in her life his moth
Fl was po@crlrsS, and lie fatty refused to
ibcy her. His nature had been plough
I'd M for The time, and the weeds had |
been cut down and the good seed had |
sprung uP. RuSe B!ackcit, however, and |
Harvey Wynn were as miserable as it of |
en falls to the lot Of people to be by the
'irtues Of another. If Fred would only |
lave been selfish and narrow hearted, how
many dayS and nights Of suffering would
lave been saved
The time was coming very near now
t wanted only three days to the wedding,
md none but Fred was content. Mrs.
Whitfield was coldy savage and declared
he woGId not appear at the church or
breakfast either. Conditions were chang
ID, she said, since the engagement was
made; and Rose Blackctt, who had once
'een well enough, was TO fit match now
Or the owner Of the Hawse; Mrs. Black
1t was in q state Of chronic tearfulness.
which made her poor eyes very bad
toss was broken up out of all likeness to
Ter former self, and her attempts at the
Id hish.handcd 'lastness' failed sgnaly;
laryey was moody, irritable, feVerish,
and the whole octave rang with
n hndertone Of discord, which no one
aw any means of preventing; it not be-
1g always possible for ones fingers to
trikc the true key.
The three friends were riding along the
Inc leading up to Lisson Rose and Fred
n front, and Harvey at some little dis
nnce behind-the lane being too narrow
,r three abreast. Fred was talking about
next Gt was Monday now and
llking naturally and lovingly-for some.
ow he had forgotten his drawl of late
hen fhnv hoard n fnnriS.~ nlnnn;n l. A.