The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-23


quietly in his own bed.
"They-they do concern them
selves SO with you-why can't they
let me have You, while L can, without
limiting, everytime they come here,
about your marriage-and my dying
-yes-they even talk coolly of my
dying"
'tThey're set Of snakes !'' cried
Dick with vindictive energy, and q
queer look in his eye they'd better
not let me hear EN-, that's all. But
[ wouldn't mind 'em, little mother
mine"
COZ course it's natural that they
should set one thinking, you know, "
said the little woman more composed
ly-wiping her eyes slowly with a fine
handkerchief siand it distresses and
makes me feel very miserable-fo it
is only two years since your poor,
dea1 father died; and you know, Dick,
darling, you are all / have"
81 know it, mother" replied Dick,
ruefully-he always did speak rue
fully, when his mother referred to
the Colonel ''but isn't it most time
for dinner ? I'm confounded hun
cry. AS for your venerable adviser,
I'll settle her. I'll tell her I'm going
to open an intelligence Office for
spinsters. That'll stop her. The fact
is, little mother, they're all of 'em
envious of your good looks and your
big Dick; that what's the matter
81 know it's foolish of me ;" sigh ed
his mother. 81 can't understand
why the thought of your marrying
makes me SO wretched. I'm afraid
you'll think me very selfish but if
ever you 10 contemplate getting mar
ried pray don't tell me Of it, I'm
sure it would kill me, for my heart is
bound up in you, my darling. You
see [ am so all alonc-if / had sisters
or brothers-or-or-a husband
which is out of the question entirely,
dear Dick-I-''
Don't think of the thing, mother
[ shan't get married this year or
next-or next either Not but VIII at
L have q little lady in my eye who re-
sembles my mother, and-there-
don't go to being frightened-for
don't [ declare to you that 1 am not
going to marry her Now please
don't ask me any questions
S'But I WILL" cried the little mo-
ther-''of course, if she is like me,
and you like her, don't 1 want to like
her too ? To be sure [ do-so tell
me all about her. Is she here ?"
Dick shook his head.
''She's many a mile from here, he
said.
and where, pray, did you meet
with her %
''When was with father in the
army"
80 Dick-it's gone case then ;
you'll marry her.
Il tell you I'm not going to marry
her-and I'm very certain I shall
never marry any other woman; SO
make your mind easy mother mine. "
My poor darling-if size Tilted
'Horsewhip her, MOTHER laugh
ed Dick. quietly slowing away his
portion of dinner. ''But she didn't
jilt me. I've reason to know she
thinks rs much of me as L deserve. "
''Well, but that's a queer kind of
friendship" persisted Mrs. Fisher,
puzzled and annoyed. ''Does she
correspond ?"
why! ycs-no-that is, some
times" said Dick, blushing like
girl 'sonce in a very great while, you
know, just to keep up acquaintance
you couldn't object to that
90 no-of course not," said his
mother; "but, Dick, it's very queer.
You'll tell me about her solutime-
and show me her photograph.
'Well, mother-yes, if L ever think
of it again" said Dick, carelessly !;
''but I must Le off to the office-so'-
he caught the little lady round the
waist, kissed her plump on the lip,
and vanished.
She was a pretty woman, undenia-
bly,, that soft, shining little Mrs.
Fisher, and she had been kept, as
the saying Is, like doll in bandbox,
all her life long. Consequently care
or It's shadow had not touched her
serene brow-her hands were white
and exquisitely shaped-her taste in
dress was absolute perfection, and
her little whims and wishes had been
commands by those who loved her
best. People made it q matter of
duty to talk about it-of course they
dld-and not always in the sweetest
way. You have heard the tone that
some affect in gossipping about their
neighbors.
Chips, absolutely, in the parlor,
/ I ~