The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-24

DCEulpS, SstNc when S->SAoSAhStto AN"N
color to her cheeks, and added lustre
to her earnest eyes.
But it would have been unwise to
have acted upon the expressed OPT
Mon of Cousin Frank, and to have
said to his face single disparaging
word of his pretty cousin; nothing
could sooner have enkindled wrath
in those manly features, nothing have
brought more hasty words to his
courteous tongue.
"Good-bye, darling co.," he said,
ut length, after long pause had sue
cceded to her last words; "don't
really make me jealous again
''Jealousr' said Emily, archly ac-
cepting her vantage ground, ''you
will surely not be jealous of me?"
Frank colored. "You provoking
pet" he said, ''I anu jealous of any
body else that gets q smile, OF kind
word, OF look, or touch from you,
and dance means all that and more.
1 only wish uncle"
"Hush, Frank! we had better not
talk of it again; few years is not
much, if 1 am worth waiting for; let
us think about the dance. Is there
any shop in this place where l can
bny ball dress, or must invent one
from my present stock?"
s'That will do just as well, Emily.
We look upon this as a sort Of picnic
ball; you will not be expected to ap-
pear in costume fit for Almack's at
the Cliff The most we can expect
of the ladies in such a place is, that
they will look as much like fairies as
possible, and be as good-natured,t too.
Ii you have white muslin, and loop
it up i'll my favoritc pink rose-buds,
you will look just rs pretty as need
be; now, am [ not q clever lady's
maid? Goodbye, dear, must be off
now"
Emily laid her hand in his. ''Do
you think it quite a safe place, by
thc-by?' she asked. ''I heard, the
other day, there was great danger of
the Cliff falling in. -
''Nonsense, my pet; thousands
moro will trip upon the light fam
tastic toe'in that strange ballroom
before that happens, even if it ever
does happen, and l very much doubt
it"
"Where is Esthcr's card, Frank?'
81 had quite forgotten it," he an
sweled, again drawing out his card
case and opening it. "Give her my
best compliments, and say how hap
py we shall be to see her. with you
conversing [ forget all time, and the
hours roll by like minutes; with every
body else-how many kisses will you
give me for the cards?''
''Nonc, Frank
"Sly puss, then [ must take them,
must l? Fifty for each, at least
''Let Esther pay her own debts, -
laughed Emily.
''Certainly not; I don'tg on the
trust system, but have ready money
for all my goods
He stopped to claim and receive
the treasured payment, when the
door suddenly opened, and another
young lady confronted them.
Crank has just brought us our
cards for the Cliff ball., said Emily,
recovering her self-posassion the
soonest; "herc is yours, Esther
81 thought You were gone, Cousin
Fral.k, said that lady, looking at the
officer with proud, uncousinly eyes.
"What ball is this?''
''The officers of our regiment are
going to give a grand dance in the
Cliff Ball Room to those gracious fair
ones who will honor us by their pre-
sence, and 1 fiatter myself that both
you and Emily will do me the favor
to accept cards.
81 am not ut al sure that papa
would like us to do SO, were he at
home," said the elder sister, coldly.
"You know as we'll as I do, for what
reason"
''Papa likes us to enjoy ourselves,
Esther said Emily; ''and it is very
dull while he is away
"Of course, Emily, if you choose
to go shall think it my duty to ac-
company you," said the elder sister
''but, though / am not sufficiently
older than you to lr, able to control
your actions, "-("I should think
not, j" muttered Frank, in an under
one)-"yct [ feel this is a rash, un-
wise act on your part, and one which
cannot approve"
Miss Graham walked out OF the
room, slamming the door behind her,
to give emphasis to her remarks.
''Now, then, viii you finish your
kissing business?" said Frank Gra-