The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-19
plaintive passion of wondrous sweet

ness.
''Einsdna bin Lch."
think we both held our breaths
as that inspiration of Carl Maria Won
Wcber's, breathing sorrowful regret,
passionate yearning, came borne to
us on rich young voice; and when,
Ill few minutes, it sank and faItered
into silence, Jack rose from his chair
and leaned out of the window, with
out speaking. Come" said 1, pre-
sently, ''let us join the ladies. 'Mu-
sic hath charms especially onsan
evening like this"
The sudden change from the dark
ling atmosphere Of the room we had
left, to the radiance of that which
enshrincd the ladies Of my house
hold, was little dazzling and bewil-
dering. Was it only that, or did
see, as Jack Mortimer turned from
his friendly greeting to Mrs. March
mont, to bow in response to my intro
duction Of 'Mr. Mortimer" to ''Nliss
Francis" a sudden start, followed by
utter confusion on Jacks part, vivid
blush, and an exceedingly naughty
up-rearing of the head, on that of
my pretty little cousin, Beatty Francis?
$50, Miss Beatty, my introduction
of my friend, John Mortimer, last
night, was altogether superfuous, it
seems. You are already well acquaint-
ed?"
81 have seen the-the gentleman
before, Cousin Frank" answered
Miss Francis, loftily, but with that
faltering, tell-tale color rushing over
her face nevertheless.
Dignity is not my consiA's forte;
she can be saucy and loving, and
pettish and tender, charming always,
but she cannot be digniied nor awe
inspiring; consequently, I pursued
the subject, in no wise daunted by the
little lady's displcasurc.
"What, in the name of wonder, did
you mean by that awful pause before
gentlemen, my dear? What demo
mination did it take the place of?''
''Squatter, perhaps" was the pert
answer. is not that what the crea-
lures are called who live in the out
landish place your friend comes
from?"
"Certainly not, NIiss;..the term is
not cuphonious, [ admit, but it is
neither one of ignominy nor reproach,
as you in your ignorance would i'm
ply, being only another name for a
landed proprietor, and signifying the
same thing. My friend was merely a
cattle dealer, and I own it puzzles
me to imagine when your high
mightiness could have met an indivi-
dual in 50 lamentably an inferior con-
dition of life
"What does it matter where I met
him?' my cousin burst out with We
hemence that quite startled and over
whelmed me, her sweet face crimson,
her eyes filling with tears-of anger,
of pain, of mortifcation-of what?
81 never wanted to see him; I wish
I never had; oh, how often I have
wished 1 never, never, had Why
did he not stay out at the other side
of the world? [ thought he was gone
forever"
These sentences, full of 'ever" and
"never," came in jerks from lips that
quivered pitifully, and when they
were ended, two great tears fought
their way through restraining lashes,
and rolled heavily down her face.
If I was utterly surprised, I was
moved also. My little cousin was
very dear to me; she had been my
pet and play-thing ever since the day
when [, q rough school-boy, used to
steal away from companions of my
own sex and age, to play with q pref
ty toddling baby in white frock and
blue shoes.
1 took her two hands and drew her
up beside me.
my DEAR" said I, 'I ask your
pardon if have jested on subject
that really touch you in any way. I
never dreamed of your having any
special interest in Jack Mortimer
How could -"
Hard is it for the mind masculine
to follow the twist and twinings of
the one feminine. [ had touched
the wrong string again. Up went
my cousins head, whsle hot flush
came to dry up the two great tears
"And I have no interest special
or otherwise-in Mr. Mortimer. He
is nothing to me, nor ever will be. [
beg you to believe that once for all,
Frank"
"Cf course, DEAR" said T. soothing
ly, but taking leave, at the same
time, to doubt that assertion under
the circumstances. "Any one could
see from your meeting last night that