The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-21

:. Benz says she, and then tainted ?
off dead in her chair. ~
''I took some water out of the
basin, and sprinkled her face a bit;
undid the top hooks of her gown,
and took off her bit of velvet round
the neck. She came to, and broke
out:
"sOh! Ben, Ben! I've done wrong,
I know it, but I've suffered the pun
ishment. I've not seen him now for
four months, come Wednesday, and
the child's a month old tomorrow.
Oh, Ben! I know I've done wrong!
You must forgive me; he was such q
handsome man and so fond of me.
know he didn't mean to wrong me.
8" Tt was queer notion of hers,
that I should forgive her cause he
was such handsome chap. [ was
rather, till the smallpox spoilt my
phiz. I says to her:
Esther, you've done wrong, 1
know, but it's not for me to punish
you. God has begun that, and there
ain't wanting them as will be willing
enough to help Him punish woman,
if they amt willing to help Him any
Esther. I'm not going to blame you,
1 want you to go home again.
"sNo, no, Ben! I can't do that.
Why all the girls of the place will
mock me-
ssSays I, 4 can't help it, Esther;
but think of the old man and the old
woman at home. I came home three
months ago, and have been looking
for you ever since. saw them not
two weeks back, and, if you'd have
heard him ask if I'd found you, you'd
go back
"sI can't-they'n curse me! I
know they will. I can't go back.
Father was so looked up to like
amongst them all. No, Ben! I can't
go back.
Esther, they won't curse you, I
know. I found 'em just mad when /
went to them first, but I went to the
new curate, who was just come to the
place instead of old jenkins, and
told him about it, and he came down
to see them, and read them that
chapter about the prodigal son and
about the lost sheep, and talked tc
'em, and old mother cried-l saw him
wipe his eyes, too-so they Wont
curse you. Come, Esther, go back
with me-do now
"sBack with you, Ben? No, MOI
that. Why, they'd speak against me
Ben-say I was soon suited again.
"sGo back, then, anyhow, vii
you? I tell you, if you don't, you'll
kill the old folks.
s s'She began to hesitate at this, so
left her to herself bit, for know
@ enough of womankind to KIN Ia
when they hesitate it's best to N
4 alone-let 'em seem to choos )
themselves.
tsWell, she agreed to go at last
# then came another difficulty; she wa
!. a fortnight behind in rent. toll
q her I would lend her some money.
d knew she would not take it as a gift
,r so I made her sign a paper for on
Ie pound, and she paid, and next da
we came home. I took her to tn
old folks, and then left them all te
a gether. I was not one Of the family
,; you knaw., aAat "rueu 7lney were a
t. gratitude to me. I took it all a
y naatter-of-fact as possible, though
r could have blubbered my eyes out
>. Then came another hitch; they ha
J. inquired, and no one would emplo
d her. I hadn't thought of this, but
didn't say anything about it then
u but when left, went to the curat
again.
It 81 don't know what made me tax
n fancy to him, for was not regu
a Lar pious man, never could see
that way as some people do; sup
: pose we amt made all alike; but on
r day saw him pick up child tina
had tumbled down in the road jus
u outside the village; pull out his whit
t handkerchief and wipe the mud Of
g its knees and hands, then find clear
:, place to wipe its eyes with, give it
a penny, [ suppose, and then walk
r little way with it back, holding hi
s hand. I didn't know then he was tn
e curate, for his clothes were not black
s but a suit of reddish gray; no whit
t choker either, but just sailors kno
t and the ends flying. Well, thinks I
Q when I heard who it was, that beat
j, me-his white handkerchief, too
J. he's the sort of Christian like, so
= went to hear him at church, and
t liked him there, too Well, as I wa.
saying, went to him next day abou
Y II o'clock; he asked me in, and hi