The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-22


but which is not calculated to make
ourselves so. 1t is delightful to have
ones own way"
Perhaps it is better, and even
happier. for woman, that she should
not be SO self-willed, or be permitted
to always have her own way"
She answered, impatiently:
''Oh, dear! Miss Surrey, do not
preach that doctrine; it is suc!, wo-
men us you who make tyrants of men.
Why should women, because they are
women, yield up their opinions, their
feelings, their actions to the control
of others? Is our womanhood, our
right ami title to Il bondage, worse
than Egyptinn?"
'Women are the weaker vessels,
you know, We are told
eyes, shamefully weak, when they
submit to hayiuy their very heart
strings torn out of them, as did my
Aunt Iphigenin. There lived in my
grand-father's house young artist.
Hugh Elton was an orphan, poor and
of not very distinguished lineage.
My grandfather had adopted this
boy, and my Aunt Iphigenia and
himself grew mp in the closest init
macy. OF course, they loved; it was
natural that they should; but my
grandparents were overcome with
dismay and astonishment when they
made the discovery. The proud race
of Montfort could not stoop compla-
Gently to oil alliance like this, and
stern wrath fell on the young offend
ers' heads. My grandmother took
her erring daughter aside, and repre-
sented, in not very mild language,
the Nervousness of the crime she had
committed. The young girl wept
and promised not to love any more;
but the lips promised more than the
heart could possibly perform. The
youthful lovers became cold and dis
tant to each other when in the So
ciety of others, and suspicion was
lulled. My grandmother thought
that, as the poet says, with Il little
hoard Of maxims, she had succeed
ed in preaching down a daughters
heart But the garden witnessed
many IL long, passionate einterview-of
earnest professions on the one side,
and sobbing avowals on the other.
But the love dream of these two
young hearts was about to end in
darkness and despair Then came,
to visit my grandparents, distant
relative-an English nobleman. He
fell in love; no, [ will not call it love;
he took fancy to marry the beauti-
full young Iphigenia, and carry her
back to adorn his English home. The
young girl naturally shrank from q
wooer older than her father; and her
eyes were too young and her tastes
too simple, to be daZzled by the rank
and wealth with which he tried to lure
her. Besides, her hearts fondest
pulsations were nll for the young and
poor, but gifted artist. When called
by my grandfather into his presence,
to inform her that he had accepted,
in her name, the suit of Lord Villers,
and that she must prepare to receive
him rs her future husband, she grew
still as stony statue and as white,
too. Her glorious blue eyes dilated
with fear and horror; she uttered
low moan, the only sound. that es-
capped her, and fell senseless Mt nv
grandfather's feet. 4 week elapsed
before she re-appeared in the family
circle, pale, listless, wan
During that time, the young lovers
had one stolen interview, in this very
gallery, and, while the faithful maid
kept watch at the door, these two
poor broken hearted yonng creatures
poured out their tears together. No
one knew MI that was said in that
long, agonizing interview; passionate
sobs reached the maid, and, once, she
heard Hugh say, In tones of bitter
grief: "Oh! that we both could die
before worse thing happens to us.
When my aunt came out, her maid
was startled by her pale, sad face;
she tottered into her room, and,
throwing herself on the bed, moaned
herself into an easy slumbcr. .At
midnight, the maid heard her sobs
from the picture gallery; she quietly
opened the door; there, PROSTATE on
the ground, lay Hugh, his wan face
upturned to the moon, which was
flooding the room with silvery light.
We may blame him for so wild an
exhibition of grief-So unmanly Il
display of sensibility-but many a
man, far older than this young artist,
has covered beneath the storm that
laid his hearts idols prostrate in the
dust.
Preparations were now made, on IL
magnificent scale. for the wedding.
Pale, self-absorbed, the young Iphi-