The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-17


spite Of fate. You and j VIII go TO-
gether. You shall introduce me to
all the Ballyhuckamores,v and we'll
have such a honse- warming as never
was there before.
If we had not been walking down
Fl street, believe German would
have thrown mp his hat and given
three cheers 1t was i'll July that we
talked thus, and when December
drew near we had not forgotten our
plan.
! / need not describe Ballyhacka-
| more to you who know it. I nevcr
was so esreeably disappointed in any
place. A Asnow-storm had just cleared
away as we drove to the Hall.by q
short cut through the wood, with the
dry branches cracking like fireworks
under our wheels. \ s',lky red sun
! was dropping behind IL col,se, seem
ing to kindle sparks in the under
wood, glowcrilg on the l,oles of the
oaks, throwing crimson sp1nsiles on
the whitened knols, and wisping Il
May murky light abont the deepen
ing gloom Of the brown stripped trees
on before us.
German was in state of wild eN-
hilaration, and l myself was in unex-
! pected delight with my new posses
! sion.
! 'Let us alight," said, ':ahd send
! this machine back to the village
whence it came We shall enjoy bet
ter to walk through this very Jolly
Wilderness
And so it was that we arrived on
, ~ II. la.
more Hall.
l felt curious TO see the house, and
auickened my steps, as we came I'D Il
by-path in the shrubbery, which
brought us out upon the gravel sweep
under the front windows | remember
doing SO, and how, the next moment,
my attention was fixed, hot upon the
old house frowning before me, but
upon lady, who was standing on
the top OF my fight of Ballyhllck:,-
more steps, with my Ballyhuckamore
hall-door lying open behind her. And
such lady! She held up her green
velvet riding habit with both hands,
and her little boots were almost lost
III, the snow, which lay thichupon the
! steps. She had handsome brunette
face, and bands of magnificent hair
under her riding-hat. She looked
about thirty years of age, had per
feet figure, and q jeweled whip, and
, seemed IN the act OF taking counsel
with herself upon the weather. These
were the items regarding her that
summed up during the space of some
half-dozen seconds.
Tracey" said 7, ''is there anv
mistake about the place; or did Won
ask any friends to meet us here? Can
this be little Peg?"
''Stuf1' and nonsense!' he said
''there is no mistake, and | know no.
thing about it. Pegs hair was as
white as flax. Shabby Peg got up in
that style! [ have no idea who this
! may be. Some wonderful bird of
passage.
Meantime, the lady had tripped
into the house, whittier we followed as
quickly as possible. We took off our
hats to her in the hall, where she
stood transfiXed by amazement ut our
appearance, with her hand on the
drawing-room door We turned into
the dining-room, where speedy sum-
mons brought the housekeeper to us.
quivering III black silk, and blooming
in cap like a picked cabbage.
ooh, sir, an I give you my word
it's hardly ever took my eyes for
one blessed minute off the avenue
since mornin'; and to think of your
slipping in unknownst to us ufther
all! An there's Lady Fitzgibbon and
her friends that were drove in for
shelter from the storm, two hours
ago, an her ladyships runnin in aa
out, an thinkin' she'd never get away
before you'd arrive. sir. An the din
ner'll be done to the minute, sir
''And who i, Lady Fitzgibbon?"
ooh, sir, a beautiful lady Il widow
lady, sir-who has taken kilbana CHER
Park and furnished it splendid, so AS
it's fit to dazzle your eyes, sir. An
she's that rich, they say, she'd as lief
eat bank notes rs bread and butter. ;"
/ looked at Tracey and Tracey
looked at me- and we both looked at
the window. 1T Was showing more
heavily than ever. and growing dark
besides. There was only one thing to
do. In a few minutes, ] was in the
drawing-room, and had transformed
the uncomfortable intruders into my
bldden guests, who had promised to
stay the night under mv roof. Lady
FltZglbbon sat on my right at dinner.
How charming she was that even
ing; how her eyes sparlllcd over the
champagne, and how those languish-