The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-11

carried about like piece of furniture
by her and his rival. How often that
poor heart must have been smitten
bitterly! How often those crippled
limbs thrilled with agony!
1 took his hand in mine but did not
say a word. There are times when
consolation is cruel. It was better
than all words to let him feel, by the
pressure of my hand, that he had
found friend. We sat this way for
some time, until I was aroused from a
painful reverie into which I had fallen
by long, black shadow, being pro-
jected across the spot in which we
were sitting. I looked up and saw a
tall, handsome young man, with
bronzed cheeks and curly chestnut
hair, on whose arm was hanging an
exceedingly lovely young girl, whose
face was perfect treasury of archncss
and innocence. They looked rather
surprised ut seeing me, but explained
how it was that I came to be there,
and they seemed satisfied.
Harry, isn't it time to come home?''
said the young girl. 'Ralph and I
are come for you"
''Thank you, Alice; but I'd like to
stay an hour longer. The day is SO
bright and sunny that it is IL shame to
be in doors. You don't want to go
home yct?" and he looked at Ralph as
he said this with bitter expression
of countenance that, perhaps, I alone
observed, but which seemed to say:
cit will give you nh hour more to
wander together. Of course you
don't want to go home"
"Well, us you please, Harry. Ralpl,
and L will go Off to the pond in the
cedar grove, and come back in about
an hour. But I say, Harry, look here,
isn't this pretty?' and as she sp& Re
she held out little box for his insp &C.
tion.
He opened it, and disclosed pretty
little ring set with garncts. Willie he
looked ut it Alice stopped over, AMI,
with blush, whispered something
into his car, which made him. to my
keencr sight, quiver in all that part OF
him that was alive. 1t was but mo-
mentary, however, for he restored the
box; saying, coldly: "Wen, 1 WISH
you both every happiness. You Will
lind me here when you return"
AS they walked slowly away he fol
lowed them with his eyes, then turned
to me.
''They are to be married next Sun
day." he said.
felt all the meaning of his words
L pltied him. Solitude is Il need to-
him at this moment-I will leave linn
AS L pulled out my watch and pre-
pared for my departure, he said to me
II am exceedingly obliged to you,
sir, for your company, but want YOU
to do me one more favor before YOU
leave. You are strong and I am Ii ght.
Please take me to the giants ch,sir.
L love to sit on it and dip my hand III
the salt wash of the sea-"
But are you not afraid of slipping
and falling in?" ]. asked, for the giant S
chair was fantastically shaped rock
Il few hundred yards down the BEACH,
around whose rugged base the sea, at
high tide, washed clamorously.
ooh, nor he answered; "there is 4
cleft in it where sit quite safely; nd
when Ralph and Alice come tt look
for me, I can easily shout to them frcm
where am. Do take me, sir, if You
please"
OF course I obeyed his wishes.
lifted him in my arms, and, with Rob
flying alongside of IFS, carried hmm
down to the huge old rock, which wSs
regally draped i'll the rich brown tapes
try of the sea. I found Il comforta-
BILE, dry cleft, in which slowed him
away, and with a promise to come and
see him the following day, 1 left him,
with Bob chattering away ON his
shoulder, gazing dreamily across at
the Connecticut shore.
About an hour and thrcc-quarters
after this, L was strolling down the
road, smoking my after-dinner segar,
when / heard hurried steps behind
me, and the young man named Ralph
r;ln ND pale and brcathlcSS