Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-05-19

talked of books, of authors, ancient and
modern, of art and scien@, of every.
thing in fact, that came int our heads
we partook of champagne Id other re.
freshments and then-I I'D scarcely
believe 1.-THE great clock Bsfhe church
tower suddenly struck the Hour oftwelvs
I started up, apologized for my rudeness
in OBTAINING her from her slumbers un-
til so late an hour, gazed once more
/ upon her beautiful face, looked into the
crate where the cheerful fire threw out
its genial warmth, then gave one thougt
to the weather outside, which l forgot
to mention, was most intensely cold.
Perhaps it was the champagne | had
drank, perhaps it was-uo, guess we
may as we'll let it go champagne-any-
how, either Cecilia in the kindness of
her generous nature, invited, or I in
my confounded impudence proposed,
that l should remain until morning,
passing the few hours that must elapse
before daybreak, upon the sofa in the
par lor where we had been sitting. I
have however confused idea that
bade my little friend a courteous good
night, and that 1 Immediately after
found myself alone. l remember indis-
tinctly, also, of pulling off a pair of un-
mercifully tight boots, and settling my
self up on the sofa, meantime congrau-
lating Rube Holden on his good fortune
in securing such comfortable accommo-
dations on night so stormy without
the infiction of an hours travel in
weather which, to speak in mild terms,
was certainly cold. And something
equivalent to " A fool for luck, and the
bigger the better,'' which poetical idea
was succeeded by visions so heavenly,
that to unfold them, would be a sin,
passed thorough my mind as I relapsed
into dreamland.
Suddenly was startled by tapping
at my door, and opening my eyes as my
vision vanished, | sprang up in time to
seethe beautiful Cecilia, her face blanch
ed with terror, and her whole form
trembling with agitation, come flying
into the room, her snowy robes making
her look like some fair medical, fair
saint.
"Oh, Rube!'' was the hurried excla-
nation; "wbo would ever have thought
it ! Didn't you hear the bell And
its my husband, too and of all jealous
men that ever did live-oh! Tn sure
he never will understand your being
here, never in the world And in case
he don't, oh, dear ! l don't know what
to do. He will shoot sure as a gun !;
and if he does how it will be misrepre-
sented in the papers"
1 was strong in innocence, but mat
tiers were critical. A moments thought
however, and l felt that l was master
of,the situation. To be sure Rube Hol-
den, with the most laudable intentions,
had for this once been caught mapping,
but with GOODNESS that would tbave
done credit to an older head, and .riper
experience, I picked up my boots, reas-
sured the frightened wife, and handing
her the lamp, ordered her to precede
me to the front door, where the now
violent ringing of the bell attested the
|impatieDce of the waiting husband =
q here pause in my story to remark
that all this trouble might have been
saved, if all mankind were sensible
enough to listen to reason, and not so
willing and ready to become victims of
the green-eyed monster
Down stairs we went, stepping when
she stepped, SO there could be but the
sound of but one football, in ease any
long ears should be listening and sus-
picious of the delay, until the door was
reached, and hand upon the latch, l
suddenly extinguished the light and re-
treated step into the passage way lead
ing to the rear of the house, where, as
though guilty of treason, stood, scarce
ly able to breathe
The door oper ed. I heard, much to
disqualification, the conjugal kiss there
followed the question: Why do you
tremble so 2" Aud the reply: Trem-
BILE | guess yoa would tremble getting
out Of warm bed into this atmosphere
Then the query: i" Why did you not
bring light p answered with, j" I did
but it blew out"
Then the twain started for their room
but as might have been expected, the
blundering brute missed the stairway
and came tumbling along in the dark
ness, with outstretched arm. jabbing
his cold gloved hand along side my nose
which |, with noiseless dexterity more
than human, succeeded so we'll in dodg-
ing, that he doubtless imagined it was
a bannister instead of barrister, he
had hit.
However, with little guiding, re-
ceived at the hands of the gentle Cece-
liza, he was set right, but the devils
own luck was mine; as they had near
y reached the top of the stairs, down
dropped one of my cursed boots, which
in the Stiffness, sounded as though it
might have weighed ton. There was
some talk about the cat, and pity ex-
pressed about turning the poor creature
out such night; and by that time,
much to my relief, they had passed on
out of hearing.
Regaining the boot, I tucked it un-
der my arm, and then, stealthily as
finished burglar, 1 opened the door
Before me was the broad expanse of
snow, nnbroken, save where the unex-
pected visitor had trod. l looked, but
g. !