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

} OF lockers on, and alauterlr glared on
their faces. At some distance dark
figure was standing alone, over
against n white fence. This was Peg,
with little hood.~drawn round her
head, and the moon sfiring on her
face.
Hearing that the carriage would
not be ready for some time, 7 gave
my horse i'll charge of one of the
men, and offering myself as escort to
the young lady, asked her to proceed
with me on foot towards Ballyhucka-
more. She WAS most unwilling to do
SO, almost beseeching me- to return as
had come, and leave her to follow
ut the blacksmith's pleasure. :, OF
course, I would not hear of that, and
she consented at last to accompany
me.
l don't know that there was any
thing peculiar. about that Walk, and
yet | have sing'llarly clear recollec-
ton of it. 1 had often travelled the
same road, followed the sahl. paths
and turnings ON the outskirts of the
wood. seen the moon looki~ 2 through
the same riffs among the trees, and
yet, somehow. it all seemed new that
night. [ did not attempt to account
Tor this phenomenon. l tried to draw
ont my companion. She conversed
with naive clevcrncss, all the while
, keeping Il touch of defiant pride in
her manner, as if she felt herself in
the presence of natural enemy, and
was determined! not to be tricked into
/ forgetting it. | h,lmored her in this.
thinking her a child of nature, who
knew nothing of the world.
AS we drew near the Hall, her
, hand began to tremblc on my arm,
and her replies grew vague and
absent; ut last she stopped short. in
trclnor of distress.
Il am bitterly ashamed of myself,
MIR. Humphrey" she said; but L
am terrified at going into your grand
house, among your proud guests
That Is the truth. The poor and un-
happy should keep away from the
llch and gay. Oh, wish l could go
home again
She burst into passionate tears.
Now III her distress / saw how Young
she w;'S-a mere nntutored girl Re
serve had before made her more
w"manly than her years.
My dear child, I said A'pardon
me am so much older than You.
The pride is AL OH your side / do
not want to preach You Il sermon, but
poverty IS not = crime; it is not even
TIE worst of nlisfortnnes.
u; j., ii is, she interrupted. We
hrn,atly. Iii is the cr,,ec,t of all,
til" most utterly killing :t;l crush
ING. I" escape from il. / would -"
Niary :: prince, or turn popular
anthores,?'' said, smiling.
"or rob n poor box. she said, with
y rnrio", lttl" Gri:nncSs Of tone.
The two first alternatives being ont
OF my power.
., Peg, Peg. How those words
afterwards rose mp aud bore witness
against yuu. Was al thu ia artful
!ltt!" scene I" engage Il lich man S
interest: Fears, moonlight. {. sweet
face, all'i passionate Voice! before
:: fortnight. u dozen "f my lady
frlrm.i> wonil lave been ready 10
swear /" your plotting. Yet | do not
se" how roa could have made the
carriage break down, Peg. Lucre-
tia's drop Of poison lurked in my
ear. though I thought had washed
i ""' a dozen times.
After this little burst. she dried her
eyes like child who has had its pas
( SION out: and we wen: on as before.
OF course. it WAS only to give her
time to calm herself that chose the
longest way TO til" Hall, Tor was
Very much on my guard
lCNNTIN INI;I,D DI-R NEYT