The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-13

alone con produce, inviting the heart
to. reflection: and selfeommunings.
The lovers, for such they now were,
though they had not yet owned it to
each other, were silent but not sad.
1t was the pause of youthful, hope
full and loving hearts, too full of hap
piness for utterance. Harry was the
first to break the silence. Looking
over the landscape, then up into the
skies, as if he would count the my
riads Of stars that, twinkled there,
and then into his companion's beau
tiful face, he said, with emotion,
"Ellen, I need not tell you what
you already know-that I love you
fondly and truly; and I believe you
love me. Will you consent to be my
wife, when circumstances will admit
Of our union?'
There was another pause, and to
Harry it seemed an age, during which
the tumult Of his emotions can be
better imagined than described; for
it is not in the nature of things for
the most sanguine lover to be entire
ly free from doubts, and the very
whole-souled character of the matter
ut issue makes him tremble in sus-
pense.
81 cannot deny, Harry" said Ell
len, ut length, 'that I love you; and
if father will consent, l will be yours,
fondly hoping you will be as noble
| and generous in the future rs YOU
have been in the past
And she put both hands in his. He
co1 4 L., 81 t.. l.
and scaled their mutual vows with
''the first kiss of love" But we must
not intrude further. No third party
should listen to the sweetest prattle
of plighted hearts. There is IN inner
chamber in the temple of love into
which none but those received and
commissioned by the presiding priest
ess should ever enter.
But would the father give his con-
sent? Could he resign his darling
daughter, and permit her to we'd the
young Carolinian, whose home was
far away? It did not look very pro-
bable; and that would perhaps be the
sorest and most difficult job of al.
Their happiness could not be com
plete until that matter was settled,
and all doubts removed; and deter
mining to decide it at once, Harry
led Ellen, who little suspected his
object, into the parlor, and before
she conld put her little hand over his
mouth, or rrn away, he had asked
the old gentleman to consent to their
marriage at some future day. NJ"
Early was not unprepared for the
question; he had noticed the init
macy between them. and satisfied
himself by inquiries of those who
were acquainted with the young Of
ficer as to his character, social stand
ing, and prospects in life. He could
not put any obstacle in the way Of
their happiness; but as the kind old
gentleman gave his consent, his feel
ings overcame him, and he burst into
tears. Ellen flew 10 his side, wound
her arms around his neck, and min
gled her tears with his 1t was al
affecting scene. Harry was greatly
moved by this unexpected turn of
matters, and stood by completely
nonplussed, and for once in his life,
at q loss what to do. His own eyes
were beginning to moistcn, though
he never felt less like crying in his
life.
There, now, that will do, said Mr..
Early, unclasping his daughters
arms, and placing her on chair.
excuse me, my. children; i could
not help it. May God bless you, and
he went ont to walk on the veranda,
and regain his composurc.
care you satisfied now, you
naughty boy?" said Ellen, smiling.
with a bright tear trembling on each
dark cye-lash
The rapturous terms of ende.,r-
ment in which the happy fellow re-
piled, and how he felt, can only be
imagined by those who have had
like experience; and we hope all
others who are curious to know will
be gratifed some day. Again must
the tender scene be vcilcd and shut
from the vulgar gaze.
Cesar, with Romc's imperial tenn
pies and palaces in sight, and the des-
tiny OF his country in his hands, was
not happier than Harry vas after
that momentons evening. He had
crossed the Rubicon, that formidable
barrier in the lovers path, and all
was right. A future Of unbounded
Joy and happiness spread itself out
before him. Nor was Ellen less
happy. A realization of loves sweet
young dream was hers; and her spot