The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-19

from the little child I used to love so
dearly; and L claim the right still to
be the sharer of all that pleases, all
that grieves her. / shall never give
it up till one comes between us with
better, and that can only be hus-
band"
''No husband will ever come be-
tween us, Frank, dear, 1 shall never
marry-never, said Beatty, with much
energy, through her tears; and be-
yond reiterating this presently, when
she sat up and dried her eyes, I could
extract nothing % all from my cousin
on the subject that moved her. L
have loved this little girl very dearly.
had been accustomed to think of
her as mine by a peculiarly near aud
familiar tie. was wounded to think
the woman could have secret, when
the child had conided ALL [ was
hurt, and [ supposed I showed it; for,
with faitering smile, Beatrice put
her arms round my neck as she said:
"Ihere are some things some
troubles-that are best never told,
dear Frank, think, and this is one
of them. 1t could do no no good,
and would, perhaps, be wrong also,
since another person is engaged in
it. You could not help me, dear
no, not if it were possible to wish to
do more than you do-which could
not be, [ know-and-and it's nothing
new-and I don't often think of It
now-only, last night, it all seemed
to come back SO freshly. am afraid
I have been very silly, and panied
you heedlessly. Don't speak or think
OF 1T any more, and [ will try and
forget it Also
Zone word, Beatrice Do you
know that Mr.. Mortimer is our near
neighbor and constant visitor? Tell
me, my dear, would you rather not
see him any more, while you remain
here?"
"Oh I don't know; don't care,
Frank; let that be as he likes" again
with that burning color; ''don't say
any more about it, and with this [
was obliged to be content.
Feign to be SO, [ mean, for content
l certainly was not.
A horrible, haunting idea that Jack
Mortimer, whom [ had hitherto sworn
to, as the worthiest, kindest, most
chivalrous of men, had fallen short
somehow of right-doing where my
little cousin was concerned, bcset me
painfully.
[ could not rest, so laying the reins
upon the neck Of my inclination, they
straightway led me in the direction of
The Wild.
Mr.. Mortimer was at hone-ves-
would 1 walkinto the study or dining
room, while Binks went in search of
his master, who was somewhere out
of doors?
''Out of doors? No-I would not
come in then. Iwould prefer finding
Mr.. Mortimer myself" and being
pretty we'll acquainted with Jacks
habits, 1 turned confidently down the
shrubbery walk that led towards the
stables. The responsible-looking
head groom was standing at the door
Of the harness-room. He touched his
forelock in answer to my inquiry.
''Mr. Mortimer? Yes, sir, in the
loose box, sir, along of Ajax-mostly
there at this time. This way, sir"
In the loose box, accordingly-an
apartment as spacious and much more
neatly kept than the dwelling-room
of many family-I found my friend
seated, pipe in mouth, and in q very
easy position, on one corner of the
manger, out of which black Ajax was
leisurely partaking of his midday
meal, yet lifting his head ever and
anon, to look into his masters face,
with that pensive kindness we see in
the eyes of the horse or dog that
loves us. Close at Jacks feet, too,
lay an animal of the last-named spe-
cies, q splendid kangaroo dog, that,
too noble for jealousy, watched yet,
with certain wistfulness, the hand
so often withdrawn from its resting
place, in the sort Of sash that Jack
wore, in place of belt or braces, to
fondle the horses short velvet ears
or shining crest
The man, the horse, and the dog,
all powerful and beautiful of their
kind, made a pretty picture, and,
verify, Jacks frank face and kind
eyes were not those of man who
could wilfully wrong any of Gods
creatures, great or small
The doubt lying heavy at my heart
vanished somehow, when my hand
was griped in that friendly one; but
curiosity and interest, deep and over
powering. remained
Jack duly inquired after Mrs.
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