The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-05-13


appropriating his commentator.
Suddenly Mr.. Graham rose, and bent
over the light. for closer view of couple
of sketches. Both were caricatures.-
One represented an elderly man, tall and
angular in figure, sparse locks of coarse
hair hung, OVer. h;S ears, deep set-eyes1
peered from under shaggy brows, and the
nose and chin were brought into close
proximity. The Tutor was penciled un.
derneath. TIE other delineated a female
of middle age, the shoulders round ond
high, the face Of preposterous breadth,
and double chin Of ample proportions.
These caricatures, Miss Smith where
did you get them p asked Mr.. Graham.
Some of my fancy sketches, suppose
They are no fancy sketches Didyou
draw themT
She rose and approached the table, the
bloom on her cheeks deepening little.
Il have no recollection Of drawing these
odd figures. Perhaps Betsey will own
them. She has taste for sketching eve.
ry strange, queer-loOking object that falls
in her way, and Lizzie looked imporing
ly at ME.
Are they yours2' asked Mr.. Graham,
addressing me.
Yes, they are mine
Copies or originals?'
Originals, Mr.. Graham, and essentially
so. ] have often beard you say that Mas
ter Barnard and his house keeper were
two old originals
He dropped the sketches, and stool, re-
garding me in mute surprise. Suddenly
smile of recognition frightened his face,
and coming forward he clasped both my
hands.
Lizzie Lake! My old friend Lizzie y
he exclaimed. Then observing the as,
tonished looks of Mrs. Smith and her
daughter, he attempted an explanation.
Years ago we were companions, play
mates, and fast friends, my dear Mrs.
Smith, and Lizzie will tell you So
The best of friends in time of truce
But you remember, Mr.. Weld, thatw of.
ten quarrelled, because you were irritable
and mperious. Masculine faults, those,
altogether
'Taunting and villifying as Of old! =
Time has failed to blunt the sharpness of
your sarcastic tongue, my perverse Liz
zie.'
Time has dragged me through deal
of rough experience; w hich has in no wise
corrected my 'perverse' disposition, tho
! protesting to do so.'
Sit here and tell me over this rough
experience while promise beforehand
my liveliest sympathy. Pardon me, Miss
Snith-bear with me dear Madam, If |
am so i'll bred as to seize upon Miss Lake
and monopolize her for the remainder OF
the evening"
In relating the experience OF the past
six years, ! meant in naughtto extenuste
nor to set down aught in malice. But
freely and fully | explained to Mr.. Ora
! ham the relation in which stood to nv
guardians family. told him how | had
lived almost servant in Mr.. Smith S fam.
lily, under the impression that | was de-
pendent upon his charity for home.
| But have at last discovered that my
dear father left me something; how much,
remain to be informed, | concluded,
turning to Mr.. Smith; who had entered
few minutes previously.
lie left about five thousand dollars, but
| dii not mean you should know it until
you came Of age. The original sum will
be nearly doubled when you are twenty.
one
Shade of my sainted father, listen to
this guardian of the interests Of your only
child! | come into possession of ten
thousand dollarSa at the close of my minor
ity, and have had the training and educa.
ton Of a charity pauper! BenevoIent,in
deed Would to Heaven had known it
earliern
Don't get excited, Betsey,' began Mrs.
Smith, in her smooth, slow way. we
thought it best for your interests to sup.
press this fact until there was a necessity
for your knowing it. Beingplaced in my
charge, thought it my duty to give you
a thorough domestic training, such as ev-
cry young woman ought to have before
she is fitted for the responsibilities Of ma
ture li(e.'
And that to the utter neglect of your
own daughter =
But with Lizzie's delicate constitution,
I could hot
had not patience to listen further, and
turned abruptly away.
Have you no congratulations for me ?
I asked Mr.. Graham.
An infinity Of them, all struggling for
utterance. But, Lizzie, now that you
have found yourself so rich, you will, of
course, wish to return me that shilling. -
| cannot deny feeling particularly anxious
to reposSeSS it,
And | am fully as anxious to keep it.
| earned it, remember, and it is unqucs-
tionably my property
But want keepsake
so do I, Mr.. Graham
Bending over my chair, he said in q
quick, low tone:
Let US share it, Lizzie; will you break
the coin with meY
Possibly | may. But shall insist on
keeping the biggest piece. You know
when people Unexpectedly come into pos.
session of property, they sometimes grow
terribly avaricious. l am one of that
class, SIR
What will you do with your ten thou
sand dollars?'
donate good share of it to humane
cause-to ameliorate the condition of or.
phan girls under a course of thorough
domestic training
How keenly resentful ?
Yes, just at this moment; but / shall
grow calm, perhaps forgiving, by.and.by.
Now ! am excited, angry, pleased, and, as
| verify think, half.crazed. | will betake
myself to my room, before any sudden
outbreak shocks the sensibilties of this
exemplary family. Goodnight, Mr..
Graham
Good night, and suspicious dreams to
you. Remember the shilling, Lizzie
You have promised to return to me a
moiety.'
All that long nigh. lay awake, a con.