The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-01
HALL oWE'EN4
sophy Lang sha,n,s Din
CONCLUDED.

CHe lmpOStOr dictated an oath so
dreadful that [ shudder now at the
bare recollection of it.
''And now, Miss Sophy," he said,
when my pale lips had faltercd it
out, ''we will go home. You have
been sowing hemp-seed, and / (sus-
pecting your intention) followed you
for joke, and frightened You great
ly. Come, take hold OF my arm, and
recollect that that is the story for
Aunt Langham."
/ obeyed in stunned despair, and
we left the church-yard.
AS we asccnded the few steps from
the gate to the park, we met Anthony
Langham Fastening toward them.
He said they had been alarmed at nv
long absence, and Miss Langham had
sent him to look for me.
O'Halloran at once related how he
had followed me for joke, and how
L had been so frightened by his sha-
dow that had nearly tainted, and
was only just able to walk home.
This story my pale looks certainly
confirmed
Anthony looked very vexed, L
thought, and said, "Such jokes are
foolish and dangerous. I feared to
watch over your safety, Miss Sophy,"
he continued, cas- I wished to have
done, lest might involuntarily alarm
you, should you see me; and 1 did
not think any one would take the
liberty Of really following you
This was said with glance of de-
tiance at O'Halloran. I interposed to
prevent quarrel.
ooh, it is nothing" I said; 'snon-
sense appears to belong to Hallow-
cen; and my fee- vas too absurd to
be anything but ridiculous"
How ashamed felt of this false
hood, especially as O'Halloran ac-
tualiy pressed my hand with his arm,
as if to acknowledge the good faith
with which 1 kept my VOW.
Everything that followed seems
confused to my memory. / know
that Anthony blamed Miss Langham
for her folly, and said her age was
her only excuse for permitting such a
thing; and that O'Halloran agreed
with him, and (quite truthfully, [
doubt not,) regretted that I had
undertaken the adventure.
And then we reached home; and
there We're idle lests from the young
people, upon Mr.. O'Halloran's hav-
ing narrowed my hemp-seed!" The
wretch had the cffrontery to say 'he
had rather narrowed my feelings, as
he had given me much alarm"
l fancicd that both Margerv and
Anthony Langham We're very silent,
and even appeared displeased; but
then my mind was too disturbed for
me to be capable Of clearly Judging
of anything. Certainly, Margery'
"Good-night' was colder than usual.
NOVEMBER 2. 2.-When [ awoke this
morning, [ cannot describe the acute
mental pain that came with the recol-
lection of my discovery and my oath.
All the cruel wrong done to Anthony
Langham, the imposition practiced
on Miss Langham, the horrible asso-
clatlon with low London thief
forced upon rs, rushed on my mind
at once
l scarcely know how I have got
through the day. / am sure / have
been absent, pre-occupied, miserable,
with n frightful headache, which
served for IN cXcnse for my depres
sion.
AS if instinctively aware of my
completely in the wrong done him,
Anthony Langham has been cold and
distant all day.
That horrid O'Halloran began by
paying me great attention, but was
SO utterly incapable of concealing my
disgust, that he perceived it, and
prudently left my side.
Alas! Ell my days, this hateful Sc
cret viii weigh upon my sonl.
NOVEMBER 81 had far better
have died-far better! Death is IL
boon in comparison with my life
now. What shall I do? What shall
/ do? Heaven have pity!
He-the wretch! the monster! the
possible murderer, has proposed to
Margery-has been accepted.
have knelt at her feet-I have
implored her not to marry him.
She denies that it is for his wealth
she accepted him; she says she loves
him! She answers my tears, nay
agonized entreatios-angrily. She
accuses me of q mean jealousy-a
silly pride. Oh, Margery, my own
sister darling, if you could but
know
They have written to tell mamma
Of the proposed marriage Will she
consent? [ have also written to i'm