The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-06

and without ever having seen him,
felt pretty we'll acquainted with him
in advance, and waited rather i'm
patiently for October to bring Mrs.
Beverley back to town. L had even
decided how to ''do" my hair, and in
what dress to appear, on my first pre-
sentation; but [ could not help wish
ing that something unforeseen and
romantic would occur to bring
about that first meeting, in way
entirely different from the usual
hackneyed course.
had my wish, rs time will show.
About half OF the two weeks had
worn away, when II very warm day
and night, that called forth experience
and comparisons from al. the ''oidest
inhabitants, came down upon us
with fury; and after -gasping through
the day in some sort Of fashion, I left
my couch at midnight, in utter dis
gust at my folly in supposing that l
could sleep with the thermometer
high up among the nineties, and be-
took myself to the window.
Certain sounds that proceeded
from the next room convinced me
beyond q doubt, that Ben, though
present In body, was absent in mind;
and with the pleasant consciousness
of being the only person in the house
at all alive to the affairs Of this mum
dane sphere, I turned my attention
to the glorious moonlight that, as
Hood enth usiastically says:
''Makes earth's commoncst scenes appear
All poetic, romantic, and tender"
But while engaged in vague specu-
latlons about the moon and stars,
sudden noise brought my thoughts
earthward again; and glancing to-
ward Mrs. Beverley's back premises,
| actually saw a man on the upper
verandah, opening one Of the bed
room windows!
My heart almost stood still with
terror: hut hy . fearful effort, I re-
strained myself from screaming
for Ben. was very hard to awaken,
and both our throats might be cut
before this was accomplished.
Not venturlng q second look,
retreated trembling from the window.
and proceeded to the task of arous-
ing Ben. as quietly as possible.
Having obligingly left his door
unlocked tor my especial comfort,
there was no time lost in effccting an
entrance; and had my brother been
capable of approaching the vision,
he would have seen wild creature
in white drapery, calling his name
IN nightmare whisper of terr, +
but, of course, without producing
the slightest effect
Ben. always slept with revolvers
under his pillow, which made me
chary OF touchin!s hin-for firearms
affected mo rs :, drawn sword did
James the First; but something must
be done speedily, as 1 fancied that
man perhaps loading him
self at that very minute with nova
bleS.
Get up!" shouted, waxing
stronger, ben. Ben. Get up, this |
moment!'
"'Tisn't time yet" gruntcd my
brother, now half awake, |
rs he turned over like sluggard.
L never had any patience with pco-
pie WHO almost require IL charge of
artillery to bring them back to their
sober senses; aud shaking him now
with right good will, / screamed,
Thieves! Robbers! Fire! Get up!'
y head that would have served for
Medusa started from the pillow; and
out came those horrible revolvcrs,
pointing directly ut me. A frantic
yell, that l tried in vain to smother,
Issued from my lips; and Ben, now
quite awake, shouted at me:
sSAl.yio NVhot ~, +l,o -
Heaven, is the matter? DO stop that
confoundcd noisel'
He had quite f~rgottcn to call me
Minnie" as l always insisted on
being called; being terribly earnest,
he had gone back to the humlrum
appe!lation that reused my intense
disgust. | was too much taken up
with the revolvers, just now, to re-
mind him of his omission, and be-
tween my terror Of the weapons, and
his desire to use them immediately
upon somebody, we seemed scarcely
likely to come to an understanding.
Finally, however, Ben. was made
to comprehend whatI I had seen; and |
being requested to retire while he
donned 4 few articles Of clothing, I
waited in breathless suspense for his
re appearance.
'The fellow will not be in hurry"
said he, in answer to my fears that
he would escape; ..he knows the
family are out OF town. l shall get