The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-15
THE COUNTESS MEL uslNE.
BY MRS. Il. WOOD.
CHAPTER II.

heated, having run all the way home
in the hope Of overtaking that
gracious form gliding so swiftly be-
fore him; and he had been disap-
pointed.
GLOW did you know it was taken
at alI?' said Rachel stif1y. She was
displeased at his abrupt entrance and
moro abrupt manner.
''Never mind that, but tell me the
name of the person" said Anthony,
still more impatiently.
"When yon address ,aa with be-
coming respect, [ may reply to you;
not before" was Rachel's angry an
swer
"Pshaw. I meant nothing disre-
spectful, sister. I only want to know
the lady's name.'
Chow do you know it is q lady?"
asked Rachel again, with q quick sus-
picion in her glance. "You are very
odd to-day, Anthony"
''Why, sister," he answered, fore
ing laugh, and putting on caress-
ing manner that was as false and
strained as the rest, 'sWhat is there
odd in asking the name of new
tenant Of the % Hall? I heard it
was let, and [ simply wished to know
TO whom, as any one else would wish
to know. 1t was piece of ordinary
gossip, surely not surprising"
"Well, there, that's enough about
it, boy. I don't know her name, and
L don't want to know it. She has no
name at all, dare say. Very likely
she is al adventures, and thinks it
best to leave her old address behind
her" And Rachel smiled grimly, for
her gruff wit pleased her.
''Rachel, you are absurd" cried
Anthony angrily, s'and uncharitable
beyond bounds. It is really too bad
a stranger whom you have never
even seen-to at once conclude evil;
1t IS 100 revolting-too unwomanlvr'
Rachel opened her eyes. In all the
years Of her young brothers life.
during whici. he had submitted to
her uncomfortable authority like the
most dutiful son, he had never spoken
to her so disrespectfully as now. She
turned upon him savagely, and while
rolling out her deep-mouthcd pero-
ration, the door-bell rang, and Nelly
Blair entered.
Vapid and unmeaninc.: with those
abrupt decided manners which nave
no element of grace in them, and
dressed In the singularly unbecom-
ing fashion delighted in bv staid
young ladies in the country, to whom
beauty of toilette is sin, and who
cannot, for the life Of them, divorce
elegance and frivolity, fashion and
worthlessness, Nelly offered such
painful contrast to the beautiful
stranger he had just met, that An
thony felt like one, blind or crazed,
whose senses were that momont re-
stored. Had he ever really loved
Nelly, thought her lovely or found
her loveable? Was that the portion
which life had meted ont to him? and
was he to accept it with thankful
ness? Surely it was all dream-a
hldeous dreanl-from which his guard
ian angel had awakened him before
too late, by the golden gorse in the
bcech-wood copsc. Nelly was not
sensitive. and her heart gave her no
revelations. She shook her lovers
hand just as usual; looked into his
pale face with her usual smile; caught
the earnest, piercing eyes upon her
own Just as placidly as ever; then
turned to Rachel amiably, and brush
ed her cork-screw curls by way of a
kiss
"Well, the HALF is taken at last, ("
said Nelly, sitting down and unfas-
tenlng her bonnet. "Queer, tumble
down, old place! I am sure wonder
at any one living there; don't you.
Rachel?"
"Who has taken it?" asked Antho-
ny, quickly.
"Oh! foreign woman-the Coun-
tess Meluslne, or some such name.
Who she is [ don't know; but father
drew the agreement, and she signed
herself the Countess Melusine. Such
q heathenish name, too! Oh, Rachel.
amt it good thing?"
'sFor how long is the agreement
made, Nelly?" asked Anthony.
"With Joe Styles?'
"No, no, Nelly! I mean the
lady's-the Countess Melusine's-for
the Hall"
ooh! don't know, I'm sure. An
thony. But how she runs in your
head! What is it to us how long She
stays? She will very likely be too
proud to notice us.
Anthony, I cannot understand
you, said Rachel, very sternly. She