The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-13

hrec cheers for old England. God
bless herp cried severat voices. So.
with kind words, ringing cheers, and
no small amount Of envy, Dick Carter
turned his face away from Meerut,
devoutly hoping he might Eever hear
more of his life there than pleasant.
There was q dinner party at the
Resident Magistrates that night, and
of course the Colonel and his daugh-
ter were there, the latter the centre
of attraction. Vivian, who had, ac-
cording to his own mind, been MAX
ing some progress with the pale, quiet
beautv, was thrown into despair
brother of the Judges wife, a certain
Major Hervey, had just returned to
India after long leave, and had
taken Meerut on his way to the head
quarters Of his regiment. Hervey
was one of those modern Crichtons
one meets with now and then, per-
feet, or as nearly perfect as human
nature can be, in everything he un-
dertook. A hero in the service, ire
sistible, so gossip affirmed, in the
jungle, well read and accomplished,
good-looking and rich. What would
you have more? With all these
things, one might conclude Hervey's
happy lot, but there is no life with
out its alloy. Hervey had been
touched in the most vulnerable point;
he had married, but the marriage had
been unfortunate, and after three
years separation, he had gone home
just in time to stand by the unhappy
woman's death-bed, and forgive her
the wrong she had done him. One
child only she left, and this boy he
had brought out to India to share his
| sisters nursery.
/, When Beatrice Meynen reached
the station, Mrs. Masters at once set
tied that she was the very wife for her
brother, and never rested until she
had secured the girls friendship, in
teresting her as much as possible in
her brother, by telling, with all sis
ter's prejudice, the sad story of his
marriage.
Indian society is much more OF q
family sort than English, and the
most private affairs soon leak out; SO
1t was well known in the station that
Beatrice was booked for Major Her
vey. Much speculation was ahoat,
and when they met in the Judges
drawing-room. many eyes watched
| them with no small amount of envy.
do you like India, Miss Mcv-
neil?' asked Hervey, when, the in
troductlon having been made. he took
vacant chair by her side.
''Not yet, was the answer; and the
sad eyes rose to meet his, with a world
of feeling lying hid in their brown
depths, feeling totally separate and
unconnected with the words that
were spoken almost mechanically.
Eyes that We're full Of unshed tears
and hid themselves away under their
long thick veil of lashes, rs if afraid
lest they might betray some secret.
They had strange effect upon Her
vey as he looked back into them, and
he scarcely heard t;.o commonplace
answer the lips gave to his common
place question. Not vet, but I may
do SO. 1t is so different, and I led
such quiet. lonely life in England.
''Do you ride:''
"Oh, yes!it is the only thing care
for and there came a faint flush
over her face. ''But do not think
riding along what you call the Mall
worth mounting for
''Iou like going across country,
perhaps?"
The Major looked at the slender
wrists, and wondered what power
they could exercise over q bride. As
he looked, he was conscious that a
deep crimson rushed over the girls
face, and that her eyes fixed them
selves upon him with an expression
Of intense fenr. He was interested
and perpleXed-h scarcely knew
whether agreeably or no:-and in
tho midst of his agitation, she asked:
Are you fond of hunting, Major
Hervey?"
Very; il is one OF the many hard
ships of soldering out here. that we
have no such glorious sport.
Have yon ever hunted in York
shire?''
NO; Go 10: know Yorkshire al
all. Gloucester is my County. ana
the Dukes hounds saw my training.
But if you don't like the Mall, WHY
don't You ride early, and have a gal
lop into the country?'
$50 do, when papa will 40.
And the Colonel, coming up at this
jnncture, said:
81 wicb ro,,'J do dnty CO.., ,,o H.,