The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-14

THE COUNTESS MEL uslME.
BY MRS. II. WOOD.
CHAPTER T..


very dreary to young Anthony Car
thew; and all sorts Of strange un-
answered questions gathered heavily
upon his heart, like sad dreams
which oppress the mournful. For
what was he living?-to what aim,
end, purpose, or intention? For
pleasure?- pleasure III the dullest of
society, and the most uninteresting
Of countries? For mbition?-what
ambition was there for daily tutor
in Stonelelgh. Fora pleasant home
life Of love and sweet affection?-bu5
his possessions in that way were not
ricl enough for the needs of the
poorest heart. With u half-sistcr,
much older tiian himself who
usurped the domination without
granting the tenderness of Il mother,
and who thought that the fitguidance
of youth meant the suppression of
its instincts, and the annihilation of
all its joys-with only such com
panion as this, there could not be
much love shut up for him within
those four walls called by courtesy
his home SO that, turn which way
ren and his very existence a mistake.
Anthony was not unreasonable in
his discomfort; for in truth never was
there q more comfortless life than
that which Rachel Carthew provided
for her young brother in that miser
able house Of theirs. Anthony's
home was all gloom and narrowness,
both moral and actual; and it was in
such Il melancholy dungeon as this.
that Rachel thought to forge the
links and grappling-irons which were
to save her youthful brother from
external evil, and anchor him to the
safety lying in the calm of home af-
fectlons. Can you wonder, then.
that Anthony was weary of q life
which gave him only such a stagnant
pool as this for the bay which held
his choicest pearls?
Fifty at the Youngest, stiff-bacl1e d,
lean, bony, and inexpressibly sour
tempered, Rachael Carthew was a
living protest against every grace
of womanhood, every suave delight
of life. No one had been ever
known to love her-not even when
she was young, and what peoa
pie, who measure beauty by length
of inches and weight of bone. call q
Cline woman;" and now, of course,
such feeling was out of the question
she was as far removed from love in
any Of its forms as if she had been
one Of the Gorgon sisterhood un-
earthed. But the hardest have soft
place somewhere; and even Rachel
had her preferences. So she opened
her heart to certain little Nelly
Blair, the daughter Of the Stoneleigh
attorney.
Nelly Blair was pretty little crea
ture, of the apple-cheek order, with
large light-blue eyes, well-shaped,
but Inexpensive; a fair, round, fat
face; Il short, blunt, positive nose;
red lips, neither full nor wide; figure
made up of succession of circles;
and with temper as even as q bowl
OF fresh milk. Such as she was, she
was Rachel Carthew's chosen friend;
and Rachel had her designs on the
friends future fortunes. Now, An
thony well knew what those designs
Were. and 9ove way to them, accord
ing 10 the habitual Incidence of his
character, according to the Difference
he always paid his sister, and accord
ing to the pliancy of the discontented
and unhappy. The suit went by Ra-
chefs ruling; and, in due time, An
thony, cheated, by the crying need of
sympathy, into the belief that he
loved Nelly Blair, (who, by the way,
was the only girl OF his own age and
condition with whom he was ac-
quainted,) made his proposal in pro-
per form, and in proper form was
accepted. For though he was only
the village teacher Of hnmanities, he
was not poor, and though Nelly was
the attorneys daughter, she had no
portion. So that they were equal in
rank and condition, and neither could
despise the belongings of the other.
Anthony was angry with himself
that he was not more contented; for
was he not truly, really, devotedly in
love? Rachel said he was, and Ra-
chel knew everything; and Nelly was
satisfied-and would she be that if
he failed even in the smallest particu-
lar? 1t was said young girls were
exacting, and she was doubtless like
the rest.
More weary and melancholy than
ever, one day, Anthony plunged into
the only square yard Of copse to be
seen FOR miles roun1 Stopalaio,b II