The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-23
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the matter was hushed up, and that
people were expected to believe, or
to seem as if they believed, that q
burglar had done the mysterious
deed. Many efforts were essayed to
make the day pass off as If nothing
had happened. Peg re-appeared in
the drawing-room, as If scorning to
lie by like one in disgrace. But
need not tell you, Tom. of sudden
silences and strange looks which
greeted her wherever she moved.
She was the theme Of iow-voiced
conversation in every mouth; her
poverty and hardships, her want OF
a mother, her pride, her coveting of
things beyond her reach. Different
people took different views of her
case. And iow-soiced as the talk
was, she knew all about it. Guilty
rs she might be, I could see that the
girls heart wns crushing within her.
That night cried like child upon
my pillow, the first tears I had shed
since the beard grew on my chin. If
tears, ay, or even blood, could wash
Peg clean! tsMy God" / groaned,
"I have done what I could for her.
Why does she not go homer
The next morning I came upon her
by accident, standing alone in the
library, looking over the edges Of n
book into the fire.
"Mr. Humphrey" she said, in :,
painful, unnatural voice, s'you will
wonder. I dare say, why l do not
leave your house at once. I am
waiting only in hopes that this mys-
terry will be cleared up"
One of those crimson bushes of
hers passed over her face as she
spoke. The proud, sorrowful look
in her eyes almost unnamed me. T
had sickening struggle with my
heart, which had set its affections on
q face that looked so true. I loved
this woman, but I could not marry
D; even my thoughts could not
frame the word. But I steeled my
self to make her truthful answer.
'Miss O'Shaughnessy," said,
''the mystery has been hushed up.
Whether It ever can be cleared up,
you, believe, must know better than
Then L turned away from her,
feeling like one who has given him
self mortal wound. A little piteous
vail Of agony reached me as I passed
the door; that lived in my memory
many year after.
That very hour she left Ballyhucka-
moro on foot, without giving notice
to any one; and toiled back through
the snow to the dreariness of Castle
Shaughnessy, bringing her disgrace
to add to the other miseries Of her
home. Tom, Tom! are there any of
mems sins that can never be forgiven
them?
AS soon as decently could, I got
rid Of my guests, consigned Bally-
DAILY, and went abroad Giles Hum
phrey then took up his quarters at
Kilbanagher Park, and German
Tracey also left me to pay visit to
the charming Lady Fitzgibbon.
Ere long, Tracey wrote me that he
had proposed to the lovely widow,
and had been rejected. A year after
wards, I saw, by accident, in an
English paper, the announcement of
her marriage with Giles Humphrey.
For five long years I remained
abroad / need not entertain You,
Tom, with an account of my wander
ing; we have talked them over to-
gether often enough. The sixth
April had come round again when L
found myself on q rainy evening
walking once moro through tho Lon
don streets. The sight of the old
familiar places naturally mado me
meditative, and my thoughts were
busy with the past. I was wonder
ing how it was that I never got over
that shock that Peg had given me,
and congratulating myself on being
so well fitted by my wandering habits
for life of old bachelorh ood. 1t
was the first night of my arrival in
England, and had preferred to take
solitary walk before hunting up any
Of my old friends.
I was passing round one of the
West end squares, when my progress
on the pavement was arrested by one
of those little connections which take
place when lady is about to descend
from her carriage in full ball costume,
and float mp the steps of house
where an entertainment is being
given. The windows of the house
blazed, and the hall door stood open.
A little crowd had gathered, and I
stopped perforce to view respectable