The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-24
COLUMBIA, S. c., FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER a. 1865

gil was dbCdChSO WIFI COnHuonJ small
pox, which, the doctors confessed,
could scarcely fail to disfgure her for
life. Hardly was her life spared,
when Sir John waited on her mother,
dlsregarding all warnings as to infec-
ton, and proposed for her and, as
soon as matters could be arranged
after her recovery, they were married.
Eventually Lady Maurice nearly re-
covered her good looks, and was as
excellent q wife as he was q husband.
After some years she bore him q son,
and, when they were neither of them
very young, a daughter-Rosamond,
the heroine ofmy story-not very long
after which she died.
The first ball that had been given
at Halliday Hall since Lady Maurice's
death took place on the occasion Of
Rosys eighteenth birthday.
Young as she was, she was already
opening out into a splendid specimen
of womanhood, tall and full and fair.
with masses of nut-brown hair, and
large violet eyes that looked at Won
steadily from under their deep white
lids.
This was her frst regular ball.
How she enjoyed it, I don't know !:
but this [ can state, that on entering
her bedroom, when it was all over,
she sat down, hid her face in her
hands, and began to cry, sobbing,
gasping, as only young people and
strong men cry, and indulged-I use
the word advisedly-in this exercise
for about half an hour without inter
ruption. Then she got up, undressed
hurriedly, and went to bed.
Next morning, after breakfast, she
came down late, when she knew her
father would be gone to pay his ma
tutinal visit to the stables. She went
for her usual stroll in the gardens. It
was lovely day, though we'll on in
September, and the beds were still
bright with perpetual roses, calceola-
rias, verbenas, and geraniums.
But she passed them all by, and
wandering off to ne of the shadiest
walks, began pa 6 up and down
with an almost feverish rapidity
Suddenly, as she came to the end
and turned, she saw figure entering
the alley at the further extremity.
Her first impulse was to dash in
among the shrubs and escape but a
moments reflection induced her to
continue her course, though at a great
ly slackened pace.
Meanwhile, from the other end the
figure advanced, meeting her.
A TALL slight, though firmly built
man, of about six-and- thirty not in
the least handsome, but with grave,
striking face, especially about the
upper part, where singularly earnest
and piercing dark gray eye looked out
from under firm, broad, massive
brow. At last they met.
'Ihave been looking for you, Rosy, :"
the newcomer said. ''Child, how
cold your hand is r' but he did not
hold it in his to warm it, as he would
have done yesterday; nor was his looks
or his voice the same.
For some seconds they walked side
by side in silence
"Rosy," he said at last, II want to
speak to you. Shall say what have
to say now and here ?'
She merely bowed assent.
"Rosy, fear have been mistaken
in you, that you have been mistaken
in yourself, and that we are both be-
ginning only now to find it out"
ooh, Stephen -
eff it is SO, we had better under
stand the truth at once. Rosy, !
would rather die than give you up, il
l thought you loved me. But also ]
would rather die ten thousand deaths
than marry you, if I knew you did
motif I thought you only fulfilled
our engagement from mistaken
sense of duty, to save me and youl
father pain. You are very young,
Rosy, a mere child compared with me-
1 know the world, and women, and
my own heart ; and chose you de-
liberateiy, and with full knowledge OF
what l was doing, and because