The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-26

u do net think we need feel
Il should like TO go out on the
sands
But I cannot venture to take You
there, Emily
They stood silently watching the
scene; then flash OF lightning was
succeeded by q tremendous peal of
thunder, that seemed to shake the
ground beneath their feet.
''That was spleDdid!"
They waited for another flash, an
other peal of Heavens artillery, and
then returned to the ballroom.
Some Of the ladies, especially the
dowagers, who were acting rs chape-
rons, had begun to feel uneasy; buta
little Reinsurance quoted their fears,
and made them hope that the storm
would cease before they need brave
its force. Dancing continued with
much spirit; the party adjourned to
the supper-room, and then, ut
o'clock in the morning, came back to
the ballroom for Il parting dance.
81 claim this one also, Emily
said Frank, smiling, and she re-
sponded with u smile and blush.
In the midst of the giddy maze.
hands clasped in hands, with shelter
ing arms around them, those bright
young girls were fated to meet their
doom. Gaily played the musicians,
still more gaily rose the ringing
music of women's laughter, when a
dreadful crash was heard, breaking
III like some strange, awful discord;
heads were raised, to behold, fast
falling upon them, the tottering cliff
shrouded by festive flags and drape-
ries, but coming still. and faster,
faster, with every added moment of
velocity. Frank claspcd his partner
to his breast, and, like many another
mani y form that night, looked down
IN tenderest pity on the white lips he
had SO loved to kiss
Emily, darling, death is coming
upon us. BE calm; our only hope is
that door: and the cliff will fall so
much III one mass, that our hope is
bnt despair"
Before he finished speaking, there
was dreadful rush to that one door;
too often men forget to be generous,
women to De unselhsh; each strug-
gled for the dear life that was their
own; but Ill most cases the gallant
young hosts won Drawer names that
awful night than they ever merited in
the fierce, unholy battle field. Frank
bore the trembling Emily in his arms.
dearest, l. must save you,' he said,
with painting breath, as he encircled
her in = close embrace
''Saye yourself, Frank" she muir
INJURED; kiss me, and let me die.
May God have pity on my poor
father. Where is Esther?"
81 cannot tell you, darling. Oh!
1t were sweeter to meet death thus
with you, than to live as L have some
times pictured life, alone and desc
late. But | want to save you, Emily;
| cling to me, dearest; we will die to-
gether'
That blessed word seemed 70
! strengthen the young man, and he
pressed forward
''lt is Of 10 use, said an officer,
who had opened the door, 'sthe cliff
has fallen outside also; we are baried
in living grave"
1t was an awful sentence, that
blanched many cheeks and moistened
eyes unused TO weeping.
Can we not make u way OF es-
cape?' suggested Frank; ''cut through
the fallen rock?'
':How?"
Frank could not tell. Sat least"
he continued, I'VE may hope that
help may come ere it is too late. Tt
IS known there is a ball here tonight:
the carriages will soon arrive"
But we shall be dead before an
other hour, Frank Cluham," said a
dcspairing voice.
The last hour OF life How awful
it looked to them ALL How few had
lived for that hour; how few had
guessed that they should meet it
amongst the festivities of the Cliff
ball.
And now the fragments OF rock
came rushing down upon them, break
ing the lustres, extingnishing the
lights, threatening to add the horror
Of ''thick darkness" to their terror,
bruising fair heads and delicate arms,
and, at last, bringing death.
A large fragment fell upon Frank
and Emily, as they stood together in
the dim light beside IL gay pennant
that he bad hung there so joyously
only thirty hours before, and they
never spoke again, only with trem-