The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-20

pSfS nit tnrOuSu tu6 paSSuS0S, on nn6
days, even whispers, out in the gar
den, and. away abroad among the
woods. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Peg
O'Shanghnessy was trying to entrap
the millionaire And, oh dear! who
could say that Lucretia Fitzgibbon
was not kind, md even sisterly, to
the shy. friendiess girl, who was
stranger among strangers?
And did no one dare to speak above
a whisper, you will ask, and say
word for Peg? Oh, ny!-there was
one good, little lady, Of small social
consequence, who ventured to sug-
gest that the whole party stood aloof
from the girl, criticising her; that the
poor thing felt herself apart from the
rest OF the ladies'; that she had no
pretty morning dresses to eat her
breakfast in, no handsome evening
dresses to eat her dinner in, no fine
riding habit to go a-riding III; and
that these wants usually press upon
the female mind That she had only
one straight black gown for all times.
Further, that. beins; accustomed to
wait on an old man, her father, she
had taken, naturally, to waiting on
Giles Humphrey, who was an elderly
man, to say the least; that her eat
beside his chair was a harbor to her
not pleasant one. perhaps, hut still
harbor. These things were said by
the blessed little lady of small social
consequence. but whe heard them?
1t was at this period Of affairs that
one evening. 'ewels being the subject
Of converse N, Giles Humphrey.
having drunk wine, set his eyes
, a-twinklin3. aud began to brag of
certain wondrous trinkets which were
in his possession, the like of which
had never gladdened the eyes of any
Of the assembled company \ gem
uemnn present, who was Judge Of
such matters, twitted him to make
good his boast, wherellpon the little
mans SLOW blood got up, and he
rushed to his chamber. knocked
Jocko off his perch on the Golfer. and
presently came down with bag full
of jewels fit to startle the eyes of any
prince in the Arabian Nights There
were necklaces, bracelets and bangles,
bodkins for the hair, and earrings
weighty enough to tear the flesh Of
delicate ears; gems Of as many hues
and cuttings as puzzled Aladdin in
the cave. There were dazzling nc..ks
in plenty and arms bare to the shoul-
der all round about Giles Humphrey.
on which he might have displayed his
treasures to advantage, but it was on
Peg that he chose to hang them. He
stuck bodlzins of blazing diamonds in
her hair; clasped dozen chains and
necklaces round her neck, till they
dropped below her waist, making her
bust one tiaring mass of splenuur:
| and made her bare one round white
arm, which he shackled with brace
lets. Blushing in confusion, and
smiling in amusement at being so
bedlzcned, Peg looked as quaint and
rs radiant as some rare old-fashioneu
princess stepped out of an illuminate
ed legend. Many IN eye saw beauty
in her ut that moment which it never
had seen before. For my part. l
thought she had looked more beauti-
full in the scarlet aud white flowers
which had given her for her bosom
that morning Where, hy-the-wav.
was Lucretia Fitkgibbon during those
five or ten minutes OF Pegs magniti
cence? Positively, l forget l re-
member that !: female voice could it
have been hers?) murmnred in deli
cate under tone that it was pity
Peg had not right to wear the
jewels, since they became her SO we'll
and that this was the signal for my
gallant uncle to begin to unclasp
them and gather them into their
cuskct again as fast as he could. As
one after another dropped away from
her, Peg grew pale and ceased t"
smile. Watching her curiously. I saw
strangely eager, stern look come
over her face, as bauble afte1 bauble
disappeared. Once, for II moment,
her cheeks flushed, and flash of
longing came into her eyes, but il
faded away again and left her pale
and thoughtful. I OWNED that she
was thinking how much few of
those trinkets would 10 towards re-
lieving the distresses Of 4 poor old
broken-down father, and restoring
the comfort of the barren fallen home
OF the O'Shaughncssvs Oh, Peg,
Peg! Why did you let me see that
! look?
! 1t happened that the last OF the
ornaments which she relinuuished-a
certain bracelct-had been clasped too
! tightly on the swell of her plump
arm, and there was difficulty about
/ getting it unfastened One after an