Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-01
TEN BALL OF FIRE.
[rrom Dickens Once Wcck.l

in SHADY walk in Hyde Park Ono was
soldier, young good looking and apparently
in the strongest health; and his companion
neatiy-dresscd woman, younger than him.
self, with gentle, pleasing sprossion of coun-
tenance, fair hair, and a good, though some
what pale complexion. They were walking
quickly, and it was evident from the snatchos
of their conversation which q passer.by might
have caught, that she was anxious to be home
by certain hour, while he endeavored to
prolong the walk, and the pleasure which it
gave him.
Their conversation turned chiefly on the
tuture-thc future which they hoped to spend
toogcthcr--for they were cngagcd-and though
the period of their marriage was uncertain,
neither OF them entertained doubt or fear upon
the subject, 80 constant, so deep, and sincere
was the affection which subsistcd between
them. Their walk was not SO hurried but
what they had time to appoint an hour on the
morrow, on which to resume their walk and
conversation on the subject of their arrange.
mcnts and plans for the future; so when they
parted, it was with that feeling of temporary
sorrow which is called up by separation of
few hours only, with q certainty, humanity
speaking, of q speedy meeting again.
Truly they but little know how uncertain
that meeting was The young man was
private in the -,th regiment, where he bore
the highest character for stcadiness md rcpu.
lar conduct and in short time he was to OBJ
tain step in rank, which he trusted would
enable him to maintain as his wife this girl to
whom he had long been attached They wore
natives OF the same country village, and chance
had brought them into close contact in Lon
don, for she lived as maid to an excellent mis-
tress in Bryanstonc Square, and his barracks
hiDf EtrN IL
acquaintance was gladly renewed, and soon
rpencd into the warlnest love, and with the
full consent Of her mistress and her relations.
she engaged hcrself to him.
She hurried home now to attend her min
trcss' dressing, and to be ready to resume her
accustomed occupation Of reading aloud to her
OF an evening; for Mrs. Toward was an inya-
lid, and the careful attention &c hn- ,,oi4
Jauc Irvine, had indune'i ,r,7r o'r many months
to treat her more as a corupaaion than as
scrvant--a distinction which her good cduca-
tion fully warranted
We'll, Jane" said Mrs Howard 70 her,
soon after she came in, "I hope you had a
pleasant walk with James; aud have you set
tied anything definitely with him ?"
No, ma'am; we can arrange nothing with
certainty till he knows when he shall get his
promotion; and he has advised nlo to ask you
w NC SooN ChouSil 10 itl nc remain WlCtl you
for some little time yet, az we can hardly MAY
ry, so as to be comfortable for some weeks
after that"
"Dy all moans," was Mrs. IIowacd's ready
answer, shall be very glad for you to stay
as long as it suits you. Nov, give me nv
handkerchief and after dinner, toward ten
o'clock, come to the drawing room and read
to me-"
Mrs. Howard went to dinner; Jane, no
doubt, to supper
Meantime, the sun had SCI with brlliancy,
and tonight there was no apparent signs Of
the thunder storms which had been SO frc-
quent of late. The sky was clear and cloud
less, and the rich, golden light which cleaned
over it, tempted one to quarrel with Byrop's q
depreciation of English sunsets as compared
with those of more southern lands:
Slow sinks moro lovely ere his race bs run,
Along Morca's hills tho setting sun -
Not, as in Northern omes obscurely bright.
But one uncloudod blaze Of living light.
But it sank down and was gone and with il
went, though as yet they knew il not the
happiness of those loving hoarfs
Tho hour came at which ,Jahc was to bring
her book, and continue the history which 90
much interested Mrs. Howard When she
came down she found, as was often the case.
s'i"1 INC party was joined by a young man,
her mistress son, who, having bis home in
another part of London, often came to dino
and spend the evening with his mother.
However, the reading was not on that account
abandoned, but tue young man, VIM. How.
ard, sitting doyn in an arm chair on one side
of the rcplace, proposed 80 listen to it with
as much attention as his mother, who sat op.
posto to him; while Jane Irvine took her
place at the table, having tho door of the room
on her right hand, and hor mistress on her
lett, between herself and the fire place whero,
Of course, being summer time, there was no
fire; but the two arm-chairs retained their
position all the year round, and from force of