The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-24
'sOh, George, George!" Rosy ex-

you may hurt her dreadfully. Oh,
don't, I beseech you, Georgev' as q
yet heavier kick resounded on the
side of the plunging, terrified crea-
ture, whose mouth was also bleeding
from the pressure of the bit.
sD-n her!'' exclaimed George,
savagely, 'I'u teach her to play me
these tricksv' and kick, kick, went
his double-soled boot into the mares
ribs again.
Rosy turned away her horses head
and rode homewards. In few mi
nutes, she heard the plunging and
painting of the mare behind her, but
she continued her course without
looking round. In another moment,
George was by her side.
He glanced at her furtively, and
saw the tears wet on her cheek. This,
far from touching, annoyed him; but
he knew not how to commence con
versation. He was half angry, half
ashamed, and wished to appear in
different.
81 don't think she'll try that game
again." he said II was determined
nOI TO give IN.
''Not even when I entreated YOU"
Rosy said, without turning her head.
"My dear Rosy, what can women
know about managing horses? Be-
sides, there's nothing like determine
ton; it's no use to let yourself be
bullied by man or beast. Inever do,
and never will"
They rode home in silence. There
vat no singing that evening, and the
hours passed heavily; everybody was
glad when bedtime came.
But next day George brought Rosy
Il bunch of roses that might vie with
those of June, and made some sweet,
and quite original, speeches about
their being less fresh, less lovely.
than his Rose; and so they kissed
and made friends, and all was sun
shine again.
Stephen had once given Rosy some
slight offence. He had not made her
any peace Offering; but he had begged
her pardon, acknowledged himself in
the wrong, and promised never to
repeat the error.
At Halliday Hall, it had been the
custom, from time immemorial, to
greet Christmas in most hearty fa-
shion. For some years after Lady
Maurice's death, the habit had been
discontinued; but as his children
grew up, Sir John had resumed it,
and this year a large party had been
invited to stay in the house
One morning, Mr.. Wilbraham
strolled into Rosy's sanctun7, where
she always contrived, even when the
house was fullest, to have a couple of
hours to herself after breakfast.
He sat down by the fire, and began
pulling her dogs ears, a resource he
not unfrequently indulged in when
out of humor Or when conversation
: IS slack.
'I say, Rosy, a deuced annoying
thing has happened to me this nom
ing"
''Dear George, what?" Rosy said,
all sympathy.
'sI've opened letter that WASH t
intended for me. 1t was for Whining
ham; but the address was badly writ
ten, so they brought it me, and I
opened it without looking at the out
side; and though, of course, I didn't
read it, see it's from a woman
'Well, but you told him, of course,
how the thing wasp
"No, didn't
"you did not! What have you
done with the letter?"
LOCKED it up"
ooh, George, why did you not give
it to him at once, telling him of the
mistake? Even if he had been a
little annoyed, he'd have seen it was
not your fault"
81 don't know He's a deuced
stiff, punctilious fellow"
Rosy was struck dumb. To keep a
letter addressed to another man, pro-
badly a letter of deep and delicate
significance to him, through fear of
provoking his displeasure by frankly
Il IL