The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-10-11

III
30 many other poor creatures. On my
arrival in town, I met an old fellow
/! ! ntiicer, t1 =, who insisted upon my dining
with him at his club, and though he
tried hard to persuade me to linger
over the wine, L was not to be enticed;
for, as 1 had told you to expect me
this evening, 6hd taking it for granted
that you would ell miss my society, 1
hestened away as soon as possible;
though had known that my friends
were going to be SO kindly anxious on
my account, / certainly would not
have subjected them to it."
We all congratulated him warmly
on his providential escape: and Law
mia, thinking this favorable moment
for forcing declaration from her di-
latory swain, detained the hand be
held out to her and then went off into
violent Mysteries. Mrs. Primrose ex-
pressed frantic alarm, declaring that
ne one knew what her dear sensitive
child had suffered i'll the last few hours
and she implored the captain to speak
and soothe her, and mot let her lie
there and die"
He looked uncomfortable, and was
beginning to say something expressive
of thanks for SO much interest on his
behalf, when his glance fell upon n
PROSTATE figure in dark corner of
the room. We had all forgotten Hilda
Maitland, and there she lay, pale and
death-iike. With Miss Primrose, I,
too, thought-now is the time to test
his real feelings; 80 1 whispered:
''The shock of seeing you safe, after
the agonizing news, has been too
much for her, poor grill"
lis this really on my account?" he
inquired, with n sudden CLEAN of hap
piness lighting up his manly features.
nodded en- assent. Then, needless
of the wondering eyes fixed upon him,
he folded her in his arms, and laid her
dropping head upon his breast. This
scene, which was not lost upon Lavi-
MIA, made her redouble her shrieks;
and her mother, seeing that the game
was up, became positively abusive.
bring her up to my room, 1 whis-
pered to Captain Vernon, pointing to
the still unconscious Hilda. 'tfor it
will not do for her to hear nil this
abominable language"
"You are very kind, Mrs. NTerton,"
he replied, huskily; and lifting his
precious burden tenderly as an in
FAINT, he carried her up in his strong
arms, and laid her upon my bed.
Mrs. Wilson followed, and begged
him to go back and just say few
words to Lavinia; but he sternly re-
fused, declaring that Miss Primrose
never had been, and never would be,
anything to him. So our good hos
tess was obliged to go away in despair,
saying, eff poor dear Mr.. Wilson
only knew all the troubles and annoy.
ances she had to endure, he wouldn't
rest in his cold grave"
L, in my turn, began to victimize
the poor man, and Immediately we
were alone I said:
Captain Vernon, I take warm
interest in this poor girl, and for her
sake l wish to know how all this is to
end"
"By her becoming my wife," lie
interrupted quickly; cat least" he
added with sudden bitterness, ''if
she be free-a fact which I must
doubt"
re-assured him on this point by
telling him that the story the "Prim-
roses" told that day was oil fabrica-
ton, intended to mislend him, but I
firmly believed that the injured girl
cared only for him. At this moment
she opened her large blue eyes, and
as her glance fell upon Vernon they
lost their terrified expression, and
closed again as if satisfied, while she
mnrmured, with sigh of relief,
"Safe! safe!'
This was stronger proof than any
surmise of mine; and the delighted
lover clasped her to him and ex-
claimed:
"Hilda! My own darling! You
love me in spite of your cruel cold
ness, and now that I knowit, nothing
shall come between us. You are
minew
Perhaps it was against the strict
rules of propriety-but L was not ac-
customed to English society-so my
readers must not Judge my morals
harshly when 1 confess that at this
point became deeply interested in
what was passing without, and al
lowed the lovers to whisper their
mutual tale of doubts and fears, hope
and happiness; while, with my face
glued against the window at the other
pr,l nf tba rnop, T oouobt -