The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-31

q pretty wood at some distance, The
COO, Z green fragrance y of Athe Ieafy
shadows was grateful otter the glar.
ing sunshine, and sat down to rest
where they felt coolest. But sud-
den sound of laughter and merry
voices close at hand startled me, and
not willing to see who the speakers
were, got up and fled swiftly down
the darkest and most tangled paths
that branched away into the heart of
the wood. / soon left the merry
voices far behind me, and slackening
my walk, wandered on, dreamy and
absorbed rs ever, till suddenly turn
ing into another path, I saw what
caused me to stand still and forget
everything but what my eyes looked
upon. Sutherland! Yes, Mark
older, darker, thinner; but Mark
himself. All, how the green marshes
and the winding sea wall and the lark
singing far up in the sky, all floatcd
before my eyes, as / saw the down
ward bend of his stately head look
into the face beside him-the face
that looked up into his, with those
soft, candid blue eyes, and smile
upon the soft-partcd lips. The smile
seemed to reflect itself upon Marks
grave face for an instant, and then he
took up little hand lying OH his
arm, and kissed it tcnderly. l looked
no longer; L crept away; stricken
with dumb anguish-a dreadful
sullen dcspair-I crert away and went
home. For L knew tho candid blue
eyes, the sweet smile, and the floating
golden hair-thoy were my sister
Milly's. Oh, had not done enough?
Had not sacrificed enough? Was
my cup not yet so full but that this
bitter drop must be added to its over
flow?
So cried in my anguish, and it
was long before better thoughts como
to me, or that coming, L could hold
them firmly and take comfort But
by-and-by / rose from where I had
flung myself down, and sat by the
window to watch for Milly. She
came along presently, in the quiet
evening light, and L looked at her
with my cycr freshly opened. L had
never yet ceased to think of her rs n
child. | realized in one moment how
that child was woman. looked at
the beautiful, fresh young face, and
involuntarily glanced ut the reflection
OF my own in the mirror opposite. 1
never could have been, in my best
days, what Milly was; and now-I
turned away with sigh from the
image Of that faded woman, with pale
lips and weary darl, eyes.
Milly came in the next instant.
threw off her hat, and coming l,p be-
SIDE me. took my face between hcr
two soft hands, looked into it ten
derly for minute, then kissed me
and sat down with her arms around
me.
"But, my dear, 1 have something
to tell, she began, with strange
tremble i'll her voice, though she was
smiling, too; ga wonderful thing"
Don't YOU think [ would cvo.,
guess it, Nlilly dear?' | asked, press
ing the little one to my breast.
"1ou never could; and yct how
your heart is bcating.n' She said. look
ing up at me timidly; 4 believe Won
really do" Then sinking her face TO
my shoulder once moro, she added,
almost in whisper, chester. he toll
me to ask you whether you would sec
him tomorrow"
"He means Mr.. Sutherland, OF
course"
"Of course, Hester; do YOU mean
to say yes?" asked NIilly, stealing
another of those timid glances at me.
My yes will go with yours,
Milly, dear"
Good bless you, Hester! my dar-
ling, my dear, dear sistcrv' cried
Miily, fervently; and, for long
while, we were both silent. Nor, in.
deed, did she mention Mr.. Suther-
lands name again, or recur in any
way to the subject, till, about the
middle of the next day, she suddenly
sprung up from her place by the win
dow, and glancing at me with vivid
glance and Il smile, ran out Of the
room, and [ heard her fly up stairs.
Then / knew what was coming. and
| sat still, because to move was en-
tirely out of my power. So, when
he entered the room, 1 sat, and
though L held out my hand and tried
to utter greeting, 1 knew that my
lips only murmured inarticulately.
He looked at me, rs he held my hand
IN momentary grasp, and 1 thought
there was both pain and shock of
surprise in his face. Then he began:
Il have not come unexpected, l