Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24

| u uhg ptIOfe lreturnpu TO IOnuOn. a meetln
with IN old fellow collegian is always pleasant
TINS sociality OF early days retains its hold upo
us through life. Lowther and ], for this an
for other causes, were glad to see each other
and shook hands heartily and warmly whei
| we separated
My reception by the Daltons was kindly, ant
had that domestic charm about it which il
wondrously agreeable to the bachelor. 1t il
something to be received en- .fdmHie when on,
has not home of ones own. liked Amy
Dalton better in the old-fashioned country
house than in the London bathrooms. lliket
her kindness to the children when they camt
down after dinner. Children cannot be bribet
or scolded into acting love where they do MOI
feel love. liked the hints which heard o.
her household handiness, and of homely duties
| diligently performed by her. ! liked her sto-
ries about the village folks, showing, not in the
way of exhibition, how she visited their Gotta
ges and read TO them. Above all, | liked her
because she did not try to captiyate me, did
not parade her accomplishment and her virtues
before me- had seen too much Of that lately
All these little favorable traits were SO much
thrown in over and above the essentials in the
bargain which meditntcd.
At night retired to the library. / had writ
ing to do which must be done for tomorrow S
post. wrote my letters, and then threw my
self into an easy chair by the dying fire. In-
stead of Amy, thoughts of Daisy rose within
me-thoughts long stiied and dead. Those
summer days came back--the wanderngs in
Landslip, the sketches, her childish petulance,
her wild Spirits her fits of melancholy, her
foolish dreams and speculations. remember
ed how she used to disappear in her hazel
thickets how her little head had lain upon
my knees how, at that last parting, she laid
herself into my arms and passionately kissed
me. Now that she was dead it seemed MS If
her marriage with Lowther was wiped away
She was mine once more. The old feelings
rushed back in torrent. | tried TO stem
them, but in vain. My heart awoke from its
sleep, and proclaimed its omnipotencei and
my frigid reason shrunk away before its fiery
sceptrc.
There was n sound. The handle of the door
turned, and the door creaked and opened.
Good God was mad?
There, in the doorway, stood Daisy-a little
figure dressed in black, the same thin face, the
same heazy hair The same treble voice ut
tered my name. A moment and she was gone.
rushed forward, and there was nothing.
A amentable weakness this. My head was
affected. Ny will came into action, and beat
down the strugglings of the heart, and strung
my nerves with its iron fingers, and brought
my wild thoughts under control. This, pres
sed on mind, has been phantom of my imagi-
nation. am tired and feversh after my jour
ney, and have suffered old thoughts to get
the better of me. will never let such absur-
dties conquer my reason again. have been
a fool.
lighted my candle and went to bed. Not
will and reason, there was
ceaseless whisper within, saying, SIT was no
trick of imagination. You have seen little
Daisy tonight, rs undeniable as you ever saw
IN nld In rampmhpr the
promise that whoever died first should come
to the other2"
Broad sunlight mostly dispels the imagina-
tive lunacies of overnight. ! had feyerish
dreams, in which Daisy and Amy played fan
tastic parts, interchGnging their indemnity
Amy dead, Daisy alive again-becoming mex
tricably confused in each other, until they
united and mingled into one phantom, which
l pursued vainly-a shadowy something, after
which yearned with passion unquenchable
and hopeless with mental determination un-
conquerable as it was fruitless. But all these
clouds of darkness melted away at once before
the cold light of the morning sun. When
descended to breakfast was the same calm,
reasonable person had been the day before.
The vision of the previous night had been
dream, like the dreams which succeeded it;
that was certain. banshed the trivial incl
dent from my mind resolutely. Amys cheer
full. fresh, quiet face, as she presided at the
early breakfast, had soothing influence over
me, which accepted as yet another advantage
in the meditated bargain. When we were
married the constant presence of that quiet
face would affect bcnefcially my daily life
make my head clear, keep my nerves cool.
| left the Daltons that morning. and proceed
ed on my journey. My business in the north
was accomplished and two days after, ar
rived at Sir Hercules Lowther's, just in time to
Join him at his solitary dinner. lie was dull
and silent; the house had mournful, desert
ed aspect the servants moved about with
mute lips and noiseless feet. All brought
Daisy to my mind but this time not so much
in connection with my own feelings as in the
character of my friends dead wife. l pitied
him for his loss. As we sat by the fire over
our own wine, he began to talk about his wife,
speaking with rough, simple pathos OF how
good she had been, and what blessing to
him.
"Poor Daisy" said, using tho tender di-
minuitve involuntarily. GAN you say of heris
true, know. You were happy in marrying
her II is something to have had her to lose
"Yes,n he answered me, meditately. "But
only those who knew her can judge of my loss.
feel that you sympathize with me, old friend,
and thank you for It; but you did not know
her"
ssNot know her2 Do you think have for
gotten the old Isle Of Wight days? Why
Iowther, /, too, once Lived this little Daisy of
yours may soy so now. You will not be
jealoU, of me-"
nRney NY wife loved my wifep' he hcgasped
out, syllable by syllable with slow horror
and nstOnishment.
ayes, you must have known it them said
~ was wild when you married her. But that
is passed long ago and remembering what
she was, | only felt for you the more"
"Loved my wife" he still muttered in q
stolid sort Of wonder "Loved my wife Dali
sJl What There is mistake" he said, and
his face frightened slowly into intelligence
oThere is a mistake. You surely know whom
marriedw
ayes" cried, @certainly do. Daisy Main
warjngn
HNeverl You are wrong"
stared at him aghast and pointed to the
ring which he wore. Whose hair is that 2"
INV poor wifes. I married my cousin, Mar
garet Lowther; not Daisy Manwaring, as you
call her. That was mere boyish fancy.
would have married her at one time, but she
would not marry me and thank Heaven for
It. Ny wife oply, in all the world, could have
made me go happy as Ihave been" He sighed
| and went on: "fIow ever did you come by
this false notion? Where did you hear it!
How on earth did il enter your head"
By slow degrees | recalled and explained
how had heard Of his marriage. It was not
easy for me, having held the event for so long
as IN established fact, to bring to any mind the
precise manner in which the news bad reach
ed me. However, Succeeded az length In lc-
calling the letter from my friend, and also the
confirmation of the former tidings, in my
mothers letter, received in Italy. ! learned
. It'll hos ant had hnau tha