The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-25

Rand 1t was ne who Angel Temple :,
irInhea to her mother loved her with his;
whole soul and strength. The acquaintance
between those two .vasnot tRe acquaintancs 4
sc al.day, and The sttadh dhment, which existed
~on:bothsides, had sgfiSown with their growth
and jsEtrebg gthepsd With viii their strength for
they had known known and loved each other as 7
boy and girl He was, ,iil i cayalr
ment, his commiss5ii ion having been s.,
at his own request by thia mod
mony left him his father ssglnaldl
and Stephen Wefaprph soff both boot i1nta
enough being reserved to purchase his cap
taincy, negotiation which had Just been
effected, and he had come down to the aOld
Court" that Christmas for the first time as
Captain Hautain-a penniless captain, for
his last shilling had been swallowed ap in
the purchase, and he would have to per-
form the almost unprecedented feas in
cavalry regiment Of living upon his pay.
No wonder that a world y-minded wo-
man like Mrs. Temple looked upon her
daughters attachment to "Steenie Hau-
tain in the light Of a madness and . dis
grace Angel herself had after a fierce
struggle with her own better self, decided
in favor of the elder brother, who, ay sha
truly remarked to her mother, needed but
the slightest encouragement on her part to
throw himself and his prospects at her feet.
She had not met Steenie since his elder
brother had openly declared himself as her
suffer, and the idea Of the meeting on that
memorable Christmas Eve was full Of fsbit-
terness to her bruised and aching heart
"Oh, Steenie Steenie why were not
you the eldest?" she had said 6ercely, in
the anguish of losing him after the cold
every well" which we have heard her pro-
nounce, had sealed her destiny for lifs; for
Angel was not one to look back when she
had once put her hand to the plough, either
for evil or for good. She had told herself
repeatedly that their mutual attachment
could never lead to happy results. + their
union ever took place at all, it must be
olandestine one, for both her father, and
mother were people violently opposed to the
idea Of their only daughter and heiress ally
ing herself to a young penniless adventurer.
as they called him, with nothing but his
handsome face and chivalrio nature to re-,
commend him, She Thoughts she had count
! ed the .costS before .thNf conv versatiir with
Fer mother which she, had determined
should decide her fate; and she went up t.
the "Old Court" that evening, knowing
that she would leave it the afanced bride
of man whom she detested and loathed,
but who would have it in his power to,
make her eventually baroness, and the
mistress of that stately old home.
She had never, perhaps, looked more
beautiful than she did on that occasion as
she entered the drawing-room Of the "Old
Court" and Lady Hautain looked admir-
ingly and even lovingly upon her, and
thought what a handsome couple she and
her adored nephew Steenie would make.
She had with woman's penetration long
ago discovered their secret, and had made
provisions in her will that her favorite
should not always be penniless captain,
and, under certain provisoes, had generously
remembered Angel herself.
"Come and sit by me, my dear" she
said to our heroine, after having affectionate-
ly kissed her on the cheek. tYou look like
white rose. Steenie has just arrived"
she added in whisper; "you know be Is q
captain now
eyes, I knowit Lady Hautain; Reginald
told me SO the other day"
i, Lady Hautain looked surprised. Stephen
had always been "Steenie" on Angels lips,
who had known him as a boy, but she had
never heard Reginald called anything but
"Mr Hautain" by her before.
"I wish Reginald had only 1.-THE. Of his
good looks,' said the kind aunt, who loved
the younger and more worthy nephew with
her whole heart. II never saw two brothers
so totally unlike, both in person and mind"
"They are great contrast, certainly"
was the young lady's reply; "but il has
passed into proverb, you know, the fasci-
nations of younger sons. Reginald would
scarcely change places With his brother if
he were twice as uncouth and ugly, and
Steenie twice as handsome as he i"
II should not like to be too sure Of that.
Steenie possesses one advantage over bis
brother, for which 1 think Reginald would
giveemuch You know what mean, An
gel, and none better than you."
"On the contrary, know Of mono, dear
Lady Hautain," replied the girl quickly,
blushing over neck, face, and brow at the