The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-04

mana on my arn' ano qae'Ay con
ttinued:
'"Agatha, it is too late for me to say
be warned in time-love not Ah
dear Agatha, how many wrecked hearts
lie along the shore of time
eyes," I said passionately, 'syour
warming comes too late. Iloved when
I was child; I am now woman-if
I love unworthily and without re-
turn, heaven help me, that is all I have
to say" and I shook off the protecting
coat angrily from my shoulders.
Mr.. Raymond smiled at my pctr1-
lence; he picked it up and put it on
himself. had expected him to urge
it again upon my acceptance, but I
was mistaken; unseltish, tender, and
kind as he was, he had no idea of coax
ing a petulent woman.
All the while the storm was raging
around us. I felt no disposition to
converse and sank into a gloomy si-
lence. Mr.. Raymond grew equally
silent, and sat watching the dashing
waves made visible by the lightning's
glare. Al length the thunder ceased,
the waves grew oalmer, and the rain
fell in slower drops. The storm was
over, and we left the rock upon whose
summit we had sought shelter from
the encroaching waves.
That night I pondered long on the
unselfislr devotedncss of Mr.. Ray
mond, his reverence for woman. his
consideration for her feelings and her
comfort. He is the very sort of Il man
[ thought to marry and be happy with;
married to him, woman would feel
so cared for; L hope some one may yet
love him for his loveable qualities.
Thus 1 thought then came before me
another picture. 0, how different from
this-cold, selfish, calculating. Alas!
how perversc is woman's love, that
could turn away from Mr. Raymond
to lay;sh its deepest feelings on Charles
Howard
'.And during those fearful hours
that your boat lay tossing on the deep,
of what did you think ?' asked Mr..
Raymond.
Charles Howard replied, laughing
ly, myself, of course. I filled the
entire circle CT my thoughts; I thought
not of father nor mother, sister or
brother, nor Of you, Agatha
'"Thank you,' I said, colcsing, sI
scarcely expected your thoughts to
rove in my direction.
'.But what thought YOU of, Mr.. Ray
mond, when high 'on Cormuls S rock
you stood ?'' asked Charles Howard,
'sOf Agatha" he answered quietly.
"I thought it deplornble that a feeble
woman should have to face so fearful
a storm
s'Well, so it was," he answered care
lcssly. "What did you think about,
Agatha?" he asked, turning to me,
''while contending with the fretful
elements?'
''She thought, said Mr.. Raymond,
before I had time to reply, "of Il lone
ly boat struggling with the fierce
waves; and she saw Death sitting at
the helm.
''Stop. stop" I whispered, "A1r.
Raymond" He continued: "She saw
the fiery billows drive the frail bark
down, down into the fathomless depths
of an awful eternity. She heard the
shrek of despair us it mingled with
the howlings of the storm, and she
thought how gladly she would have
died to save him, the lonely voyager.
and throwing herself down on the
rock, she sobbcd bitterly. She thought
not of the rain that drenched her, nor
of the fierce lightning that played
around her. One, one thought filed
her mind, her very soul; he is dead
the love Of my childhood and my wo-
manhood
I grasped Mr. Raymond's hand and
said imploringly, ''Oh, spare me-"
"No,'' he whispered, "Agatha, it is
for your own good" His cheek was
pale, and his eye flashed indignantly
upon Charles Howard.
Zone who loved her long and ten
derby stood by her side; he could not
shield her from the cruel storm that
u Z F. e I L..