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AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. ST
Aol. V. Nc;av lOloomftelcl, HXuvoli 7, 1871. IVo. lO.
hi hp
7s Published Weekly,
At New liloomflcld, renn'a.
FUANK HOR T IX EH.
BUH8C1UPTION TE11M8.
OJVJi DOLLAR rEll YEA 11 1
GO Cents ford Months; 40 Cents
for 3 Months,
IIV ADVANCE.
OLD TIMES.
BI WILLIAM WIJITEit.
Rosy hours of youth auil funcy !
Happy hours of long ago !
Ah the playful, pictured memories
Let us eutcli them as they flow.
Gulaxlcs of bluc-eyed Marys,
With a Julia or a Jane,
Or a troop of little Lauras,
Laugh and blush and romp again.
Moonlight meetings, evening rambles,
When the night was still around,
And a sweet voice, softly murmuring,
Or a kiss, the only sound.
These remember, and remember,
How the kind stars shone above,
Keeping, In their softened splendor,
Watch and ward upon our love.
Youth is as a diamond dawning
Hold It breaks as gorgeous day ;
Heavenly lights of power and beauty
Glance and gleam along Us way.
Fur within the mighty future
There arc solemn voices heard :
Shaped to many a stately anthem,
Floats the music of a word.
But that music, lu the present,
Softly droops, with sad decay,
Till its echo in the spirit,
Faints and fulls and dies away.
Green be then tho tender memory
Of the Tast, forever sped :
That our youth may be immortal,
Though its days and dreams are dead.
MISSING CARPET BAG:
OR
LOVK vcrwiH LAW.
COXCL-l'DKD.
" Splondid, splondid, Sam !" And I went
out to Ann. " Itun down and bring me up
a pitcher of water and a couple of glasses,
Ann ; I want to make sonio lemonade,"
handing her a half dollar at tho same- time.
" Hero', I'll take your bag till you como
back." And I relieved her of It at once,
not giving her time to object.
Curtseying her thanks, sho tripped down
the stairs, while I hurried in witli the bag
to Bam. Thoro, mire enough, was tho
4road river of ink stripling off tho flaunting
tulip ! Ham and I looked into each other's
faces with brightening eyes. No, poor
fellow, fairly capered with delight.
" Yes," said I, " it is a groat thing the
first clue we have had. Now we have
something to work with."
Ann returned with tho glasses, and held
out hor hand for tho bag.
" What a gay one it is," said I, as I re
linquished it. "Is it yours, Ann?"
"La, no, sir," simpered sho, highly flat
teied at tho unusual notico sho received ;
" it belongs to Miss Carlota. I'm taking
it to tho laundress."
I saw Sam look up in wonder at the
start I gave. I could not help it. A pang
liko the stroko of a knife had passed
through my heart.
"Then it will como back again? I've
taken a fancy to it, and might Jlike to get
one like it," I said, as calmly as I could.
"O yes. The lauudross brings it back
when tho clothes are Ironed." And Ann
descended to tho basement in high gleo
over the unexpected addition to her piu
money.
I scut Sam away, too, as speedily as pos
sible, and then sat down to think. I did
not liko Carlota's being mixed up with it.
It not only interfered with my plans, but
disturbed tho zest and energy with which
I might otherwiso have followed up tho
trail of circumstances. Only one courso
scorned right to pursue, and that was to as
certain from Carlota how the bag came Into
her possession and from whence. I puzzled
my brain as to the best method of doing
this without exciting her surprise, then de
cided to set a watch over tho laundress,
nnd bo wilh Carlota when tho bag camo to
bo returned. My calculations resulted fa
vorably. Sam camo rushing to my oflico a
few days after, saying tho carpot-bag and
laundress were already on tho way to tho
boarding-house. I caught up the bouquet
from my tablo and hurried over to
Street, seuding up word to Carlota sho was
wanted in tho parlor.
Sho camo down, looking so liko tho queen
of roses herself, I camo near forgetting
business, carpot-bag and my own wits, in
tho thrill of admiration . Sho accepted tho
bouquet of rosebuds with a brilliant smile,
yet laid thorn down on tho table in a few
momonts as if they woro worthless things;
and then, with jealous vexation, I noticed a
cluster of scarlet geraniums nestling in tho
silky coils of ravon hair, just liko tho
flowers I had seen Ned Wilkins twirling
in his hand that morning, when ho camo
over to tho house.
"Sho wears his flowers," thought I bit
terly. " I will never seo mine again aftor
I give them to her hand."
How differently sho treated us, with
him so gay and free, and easy, but to mo
always so silent and reserved ! I triod to
forget thoso doleful ruminations and con
convcrso in my usual manner, but our con
vocation was fitful and awkwark, and I
was thankful when Ann appeared at tho
door witli tho bag oil hor arm.
"Ploaso, Miss Carlota, give mo tho key
of your room so that I can put oway your
clothes : they have como."
" Ah," said I, at onco, wondering all tho
tiino if sho noticed tho unnatural tremor of
my voice, "there's that bag again. Do
you know, Miss Itomcz I beg your pardon.
Sonorita Carlota sho disliked being called
Miss Iiomcz that I have taken a great in
terest in your property from tho glimpso I
caught of it on the stairway tho other day?
I havo known of just such a bag, so liko
it that it seems impossible to believe that
this is not tho identical ono. Pray where
did you procure it? I wonder if my friend's
and yours woro not sometimo twins in tho
same maker's shop?"
Sho colored slightly, hesitated a moment,
and then replied, evasively, "Ah yes, I
daro say it might have been. I brought
mine with me from home."
"Thou you havo always owned it?" I
returned, ashamed of my pertinacity when
I saw the look of distress on hor ingenuous
face.
Her dark lustrous eyes, woro fixed in
quiringly on my face. Sho took up hor fan,
and waving it languidly to and fro with tho
truo Spanish gruco, attempted to answer
playfully.
" Certainly, Senor C , you are ono of
the Yankees my father has such a horror
of. I dure uot indulgo your curiosity, lest
you by-and-by chnnce on dangerous sub
jects. Did you know wo aro going homo
next week to stay awhilo, and then I am
coming back to attend tho seminary hero
and loarn to bo liko your American ladies 1
My father says I must not bo so ignorant."
"" That is news indeed. Pray don't un
learn your own native gracefulness, sonorita.
I fancy most of the American ladies would
like to be taught by you."
A pretty blush acknowledged tho com
pliment, and sho chatted on with more
freedom than I had boon favored with for
a long time back. I understood tho causo
but tho effect was no less sweet to mo.
Sho sought to engross my attention and
prevent further allusion to the carpet-bag.
It was not that sho cared to please or en
tertain mc. I would rather havo dealt my
self a sharp blow than havo spoken of it
again ; nevertheless, just before I turned
from tho door, I said :
" So you will not tell mo how you camo
to havo that carpotbng in your posses
sion?" I was startled at tho chungo that swept
ovor her face. The protty blushes and
dimples died oil" scared and affrighted from
the soft round cheeks. The sparkles flick
ered out from tho eyo, and loft tho iris
black and dim with soma brooding sorrow
and when I caught hor baud, crying,
" Pardon mo. I meant nothing : it is but an
idle jest," a shower of tears fell down upon
it.
Gazing dreamily upou the crystal drops
still glittering on my hand with all of a
lover's foolish fancies, but none of a lover's
hopo, I returned along tho crowded stroot
to my oflico. At tho door I met with Ned
AVilkins. lie hold out his hand. I put my
left into it, begrudging him the ono so late
ly sanctified by Cailota's tears ; and then,
ashamed of tho weakness, I laid thorn both
in his honest friendly clasp.
" You're a good fellow, a true fiiond,"
said he, pcrcoiving perhaps magnetically my
momentary emotion. "Sam seemed to
think you might want mo for something, so
I camo up."
I struggled back to my client's case nnd
my business mind.
"Yes, no I'vo no need of you. Wo
havo a slight clue. It may amount to some
thing, and quito as likely may not. I think
you had better trust us, and not meddle
with it."
"Just as you Ray. Then I think I'll run
down and seo Senor Romez and Carlota.
Aro you sick to-day, C ? You look a
little palo."
"Sick? O no?" And I laughed in a
tono that reverberated dismally down my
heart. " By tho way, Ned, you go protty
often to seo Carlota. I hopo it is not mere
ly for idlo amusement. Sho is too sweet
and pure a blossom to be dallied with care
lessly. And sho has a heart full of Spanish
firo and vchemenco, that either rejoices in
happy lovo, or breaks at onco beneath tho
misery of unrequited affection. I intro
duced you to her, and I must look out that
no harm comes of it. Sho is full pleased
enough now with your attentions. If they
aro meaningless, it is time they wcro hin
dorcd." Ho looked up in my faco, his clear, brown
eyes dancing with exultation.
"Thank you a thousand times, C .
I'vo hardly dared trust my own convictions
that Carlota loved me. Now you havo ob
served it, too, I shall have more assurance
I thank you, for hor sako, for this remon
strance ; but tako tho word of a sailor who
honors his mother's sex too much to trifle
with their puro and tender affections. I
only seek to win Carlota's favor because I
mean to ofl'or hor my heart, fortune and
namo as soon as that abominable trial is
over. I only wait to know if it is a fair and
unsullied namo I can givo my wife, to
mako known my hopes to Homez and Car
lota. It is not honorablo to do so boforo.
Addio !"
" There goes a noblo fellow, if ho is my
rival," said I to myself, choking down tho
grief that had risen like a hard ball from
my heart to my throat. "A lino follow
who deserves to be a successful lover and
happy husband. As for myself well,
there is my profession left mo, my manhood
my ambition. What though this ono fair
dream must prove a dreary blank ? Bo
Bides, is not tiino a magical physician ? Tho
world has plenty yet as, fair and good. Ay,
another may bo found as fair and guileless.
AVho knows I"
So I tried to reason with myself, to coax
my heart to forget the smart, and be cheery
and hopeful again. It would not do ; tho
pain burned more fiercely for being smoth
ered. A voice within, that would not bo
silenced, wailed sadly. "Carlota," only
"Carlota.
Then I may as woll own it now I laid
my head, crowned with its thick dark locks
of mauhood, upou my desk, just as long
years before I had rested it, when shaded
by curls of childish gold, upon my mother's
breast, and cried long and heartily. No, I
do not blush for tho weakness now. Tho
tears wore beneficial, though very painful.
Their briny smart removed tho fovorish
aching of the wound, and though tho grief
was not removed, its bitterness had fled.
Tho next day Miguol Iiomez camo to
mo with an urgent invitation to join Ned
Wilkins on a brief visit to tho raucho,
whither Carlota and he woro going tho
next week. Ho was in high spirits ; his
crops all sold for extravagant prices, and ho
had received a princely oiler for somo land
which had hitherto been of littlo advantago
but uow, from its proximity to tho city,
had risen to an astonishing value. So Car
lota was likely to bo a golden prizo as well
as a tender wifo for Ned Wilkins.
I knew all the misery I should enduro at
witnessing tho lover's tender attentions,
and yet such was my infatuation, I could
not douy myself this last chance of enjoying
Carlota's society ; and so quieting my
conscience by the plea of following up tho
carpet-bag cluo, I accepted tho invitation.
A rare journey as it was,, ovon for mo,
what must have beeu Ned's enjoyment !
We drove leisurely along through tho fresh
moist luxuriance of California sconery, our
pathway be sprinkled with the most vivid
greon, and wreathed witli vines and flowers
of tho gayest hues. Tho pathway of a
queen or brido could scarcely bo more
daintily attired. Ay, and a lit queen and
brido shared our enjoyment with us. I had
never seen her so gay and light-hearted.
She could scarcely remain quiot a moment
and enchanting us with a new pleasure,
sent hor rich voice trilling out as musically
as the song of tho birds amid the dew
spangled boughs of our morning drive. The
namoless languor and half invisible sadness
had vanished from hor faco, nnd her inno
cent mirth and arch vivacity wcro extreme
ly fascinating, even without tho accom
paniment of her exceeding beauty. Wo
halted for tho nights at ranches whoro
Iiomcz scorned well known and much re
spected, and on tho third day arrived at
hisown homo. Tho grounds woro unusually
well cultivated for that portion of tho
country, but tho most prolific of all was tho
grapevine, which stood out from the prairio
liko fields in immenso clusters perfect
hills of curling tendrils and clustering
leaves. Tho house itself was rather rude
and primitive, but clean, roomy and com
fortable Iiomez pointed out to mo a
distant ravine, whoro I could just discern
tho glitter of a stream, nnd whispered,
with a significant chuckle :
" Mark that place, senor; if I'm right,
there's good digging there, for I found a
fine specimen of gold just befoio I left, and
I'vo been getting intimation how to go to
work."
Tho moment we ar rived, Carlota sprang
from tho wagon and darted away iu search
of her mother, but soon reappeared here
and there about the grounds, shaking
hands with the servants, and responding
gayly to their vociferous expressions of
delight. The mother, a dark but fine
looking woman, received us with kindness
and a sort of native dignity that would
have surprised me had I not seen Carlota
before.
We passed a pleasant evening, but separ
ated early on account of tho fatiguo of the
journey. Yet after wo reached our allotted
chamber I grow restless nnd feverish, lis
tening to my unsuspecting companion's
joyous lover panegyrics. So, pleading a
headache, I wont out again into tho cool
evening air. I passed around tho house to
find a rustic scat I had noticed in tho af
ternoon, and in doing so, glanced towards
tho rear door, which was open, revealing
tho kitchen bright with a glowing wood
fire. Tho picture I saw there rivitod mo to
tho spot.
A slender girlish form I should have re
cognized at a far greater distance, stood
between me and tho dancing firelight.
What was Carlota doing there ? How my
heart loaped as I saw tho round graceful
arm raised to throw into tho fire not a
letter, or bouquet, or love-token, as one
might expect of such a girl as Carlota but
that very carpet-bag so mysteriously con
nected with the robbery and Ned Wilkin's
forth coming trial. Sho watched it burn
entirely away, and then camo to tho door
and looked out into the night. I was very
thankful for the hanging shrubbery and
tho dim light which concoalod mo from hor
sight, yet my heart beat nervously when I
heard her coming toward mo. She passod
so near that hor muslin robe brushed
against my hand, but the thicket of shrubs
into which I shrank hid my form from her
viow, and she glidod on to the arbor and
gave a low bird-liko cry, which was immedi
ately auswored by the plulntivo notes of the
whippoorwill, and in a few moments I
heard quick springing steps beside me, and
sho was joined by tho tall figure of a man,
plainly discerned agaiust tho open space
whoro sho stood. A long and earnest con
versation ensued, but tho tonos woro low
and cautious, and no words reached mo
except as they parted, when approaching
nearer, her fluteliko voico said in Spanish :
" I tell you again the contents are safo,
and you shall havo the packago any time
you say ; but you must release me from tho
promise"
As soon as sho disappeared, I returned
to my chamltcr, whoro Nod was fast wrap
ped in Bound and refreshing slumber, leav
ing mo to wakefulness and disquiet over
his law affairs and his lady-love I envied
him his tranquil sloop, nnd wondered, woro
our situations reversed, if I should not
still bo wakeful ovor tho happiuoss of Car
lota's love. In regard to tho robbory, I
scarcoly knew what to mistrust. Tho littlo
light accidentally revoalod, only served to
render tho darkness more donso and impen
etrable. Never a doubt crossed my mind
in regard to Carlota's innocence and puri
ty, however circumstances might havo on
tangled her in tho chain of evldonco. I
judged It best now to acquaint my client
with tho now discovery I had made ; bo I
relatod the wholo to him tho next morning,
and was astonished at tho constornatiou
and grief he manifested.
"Carlota, my peerless Carlota 1" ejacula
ted his shivering lips ; " you don't toll mo
that sho has boon an accomplice in this vile
robbory ! Qood heavens, C , the trial
and verdict of guilty were nothing iu com
parison with this. My happiness is crush
ed now !"
"It deserves to bo 1" answered I, indig
nantly. " What man, you, a favored lov
er, ready to believe tho first aspersion
against tho character of your charming
lady lovo; when I, a hard, distrustful,
crabbed lawyer, never dreamed of wrong
ing her so much, though circumstances
lowered around her a thousand times more
darkly."
Ho caught my hand impulsively, and
held it so firmly I could not release it, al
though the warm, kindly touch soomed to
blister it.
" I am a wretch, C , not worthy you
friendship or Carlota's love. Thank you,
for showing mo my duty."
And at the breakfast table ho was more
tender than ever in his attentions to Car
lota, who blushed and smiled, and gave
nover a glance to mo. After tho generous
repast was over, we separated in different
directions; Nod followed Carlota to the
garden, and I accompanied Iiomez over tho
field.
"You have no negroes on your rancho,"
I replied, casually. Have you nover tried
their labor?"
"It is too much work for mo to manage
thorn. I prefer native Mexicans, lazy as
they are There was a tall black follow
hero a month or so ago who plcadod ear
nestly for mo to try him on."
"Ah," rejoined I, mentally ejaculating
"Another link," where did ho hail from?"
"San Francisco'" he said. "Ho had
been disappointed about a situation ho ex
pected to obtain out this way. But I knew
our hands wouldn't agree with him."
"What became of him?"
"I don't know, I'm sure ; I haven't heard
of him. Carlota was desperately afraid I
would keep him. She had a littlo talk
with him, and didn't soom to fancy him
much."
I took care to make diligent inquiry in all
directions for the noxt three days concern
ing the negro, but no ono seemed able to
contribute anything more to my informa
tion. I was sadly disappointed at so mea
gre a result, for I had hoped tho magic
thread was already in my hand which was
to unravel the wholo mystery.
On tho evening of tho fourth day, as we
all sat enjoying tho coolness of twilight
without the door, who should appear but
Sam? I knew something of great impor
tance had occurred, and wont one side with
him immediately, and half breathless witli
eagerness he cried :
"I'vo found him, Mr. C ; I've found
the darkey ; but eithor he's a decoitful vil
lain or a terribly innocent man. I pounced
upon him tho day aftor you left, and seizod
him by the oollar and took out a pistol and
informed him ho had five minutes to re
fresh his memory, and then he must tell
me about that carpot-bag or take an un
wholesome portion of cold lead.
Ho was dreadfully scared, but for the lifo of
me I couldn't get but one story out of him.
He declares he knew nothing about steal
ing the bag. Says that he met two men
on the wharf that day, and ono of thorn
gave him a quarter to run down to the
steamor and get a carpot-bag he hod just
left there Ho described it as they told
him, aud when I gave it to him he carried
it to the wharf, and they took it and drove
off in a carriage with it. Ho didn't hoar
anything about tho robbery, because the
next morning the same man came to his
stand and sont him off into the country to
carry a letter for him, and promised to find
him plenty of work and good wages thore ;
but aftor he bad douo his errand the man
slipped away from him and he had not
seen him since. He was frightened enough,
and to save my life I can't help believing
his story. But I left him safely locked up,
and startod after you to see if you could
make anything more out of it, and you'll
go right back with me."
"Yes, Sam, so I will. You've done
nicely. I'vo been on tho trail of the fel
low hero ; but you'vo done better you've
caught him."
I whispered Sam's information to Ned,
who was greatly elated thereby, and I my
self felt much encouraged, and was in un
usually cheerful spirits. Indeed, our wholo
party seemed to have inhalcdjsouia cxhilcr
ating ether. I shall never forgot that mer
ry evening. Wo laughed, aud sang and
jested, as wild and noisy as a group of glee
ful children, llumez was actually uproar
ious, listening to the jovial'storius of Sam
and Ned, and laughed so much and so
heartily, ' that Carlota and hor moth
er begged him to luughloss heartily, assur
ing him something dreadful would happen -if
his delight wjujao extravagant. It was