The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-25
A]NGE]LI[CA'S .BETROTHAL !:
f:;:-ss,;;;s s., .-5.r:ti.- :Es
:t- I.
A CHRISTMAS STORY
t:-:. # i, ,. q.
+. OF THE
,'.'..': :oLD \. ! '..t= p y p y s.
CHAPTER l..

Remember our conversation, my dearY
The young girl to whom these words
were addressed by her mother, stood cloak
ed, softly. and warm, in the hall of her rec
tory home, waiting for tie carriage which
was 70 convey the family party, consisting
Of herself and her father and mother, to the
scene of Christmas festivisy at the cold
Court e The baronial residence Of Lord and
Lady :Hautain, who held their Christmas
revels in the fashion Of the good old times
They were: = childless couple, and this
fact had been the only cross which: their
tranquil lives hsd Known Y t:.-:si:t; .:.:@
+ The poor relations, however, who sprang
with rapid offshoot growth from the origin
al parent tree, and who, if NOT coming ex-
+ factly under the head Of sFthe blind, the
halt, and the Lame, ?: mightIstill have been
summed up under the expressive modern
adjective Of aseedy, pro1ted considerably
BY the absence Of nearer and ,dearer ties,
and more legitimate objects Of affection, in in
The case Of the Representatives,. NE house
|of Hautain, in whose breast hospitality was
4 rampant virtue; delighting in an excuse
for excess. Z .:f's. 80 z:l s :fes.c W y
WeaselIlike Old bachelors, who, looked ill
at home in their creased dress-coats, and
thin; H. bird-h old maids, some of them with
sshonofablle" atsarhed to. their names; a
make; Up for the miserable pittance, the
portion Of the younger scions Of ST.: many .
noble house, giving the mysterious privilege
Of position" dear 10. the heart Of honor
able women Of 4 certain age; /: and young
married couples struggling with the gaunt
wolf Of poverty, and the annual addition Of
another little Hautain to the family circle;
these we're the Bort Of guests which the
worthy Old couple delighted to see assem-;
bled aS the Old Court Oh each returning;
1oelebration of our highest and Hottest feast.
f. M. Temple, the rector Of the parish,
was an eaay going clergyman Of the Old
school; and his wife Yvas : busting. world
1ly-minded woman, Che daughter Of neigh
boring baronet, who had Just made the
browning success Of hei life, 81 iinjntroduc-
ling into society the really beautiful girl,
whom, BY master stroke Of diplomacy, not
often practiced bjy mothers 1nro1w-a-days, she
had kept strictly immuiired II. tie school
roon, until the chyysaIis Was ready Is BE
cast, and The butterfly wings to spread IN
e sheir glory e ths gaas s. a'd1tniring
+ A1gelica, or 5 xAngei Temple, ,a as she
had been christened dn her frss appearance; /;
! ii the county was no common Character;
bnt With much that was ! really noble, she
haa imbibed deep strain III of worl ldlineas
from the sducation she had received from from
her mother; aid tie remark! !o Of fhe latter
with which this chapter opened, va. was Til,
result Of conversation, which I viii quote
here for the beneftSof the reader, and 'to
explain the footing on which mother and
daughter stood ai. ..i:s . as.i, Y.
wish You would not be 80 reserved 11as
With me, Angel began Mrs. Temple, who
had adopted the popular abbreviiation of
her daughter name; you Will meet MI.
Hautain sgain Y tonight, and It Is quite
InecssRary that Tshtodld be infformed inff wheth
|er this growing Intimacy between you is
fliEeg to lead to any thing Or not inoat'': stfa ..
stI thinks1 am able! t0 take. care ;off ny
self, mother; and E do noosE. exactly kifow
what So9 soa mean, by Tending ko an thing
OF course You know that i could marry
Reginald to!fdor row if:I liked; is far al fie
d concerded ii the matter, there, would BE-
80 & saia7cat II sbfi i sny at
As SIZE sud tbsss words VIII. II Is s l air 81