The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-30

eff I thought there was anything
wrong between them," murmured
my poor sister do not mean real
~ wrong," she added, interrupting
herself, "of course I do not, and
could not, suspect that; but if I
thought there was any positive at
tachment, that he loved her as he
once loved me, L think it would kill
me. / have lain here, when I was at
the worst, conjuring up picture
myself gone and forgotten, and she
the second mother of my children.
''Now, Mary, you are going from
one extreme to the other,' I rcmon-
strated But what more [ would
have said was interrupted by the en-
trance of the sick nurse, Mrs. Gill.
who came to take my place, and [
went down stairs to find my brother
in-law.
I had heard him come in not long
before, and supposed L should find
him in the surgery. This surgery
had two entrances to it-onc leading
from the passage just past the door
of the dining parlor, the other from
the garden at the back of the house.
The passage door, 10y which L was
about to enter. was pushed to, but
not closed, and as I was going to
push it open, / heard the voice Of
Miss Howard inside. I have. all my
life, endcavorcd to be honorable in
my actions, and L hope 1 have shun-
ned everything mean; but I thought
it my duty to listen then.
81 shall soon become q chemist. if
you bcstow these pains upon me, >"
She was saying, with her soft, :asinu-
atlng accent, false as she was. s'And
what is this?"
ooh, that's very common place arti-
Gle, " responded the merry voice of my
Observation-Disclosures castor oil. -
ooh dear! And this next?"
''That's more common still. 1t is
distilled water
"That little bottle, up there, Ia
bclcd 'poison'-it is always by itself
in that same place, L Observes it
prussic acid?"
''No; but a poison quite as deadly.
1t is preparation of strychnia.
GLOW is it administered"
"a very minute portion in water
would destroy life. Shall I try it
upon yours?'
JVou1d you?" she murmdred, with
an atfectation of submissive tender
ness. 81 will give you leave to do
SO, if you wish"
MY darling girl, )" hercplicd. svou
know L would rather try it upon my
own"
Then came a silence, and 1 pushed
open the door; but may [ never speak
truth again, if l did not first hear a
sound like Il kiss. Matthew Gorinc
had got her hand in his, and was
whispering, as stood there, pas
sivcly, her hand passively resting
there, her countenance and her ewes
cast down IN passive attitude of lis
tenlng. 1t was evident that, if he was
ready to court, she was more than
willing to be courted. On his side
L believe so, even now-it was proba-
bly, only the passing amusement of an
idle moment; her conduct wore an
aspect far deeper and more rcprehen-
slble. L have asked myself. since.
whether was blinded by prejudice
in thus Judging her to be worse than
he, and cannot bring myself to think
SO. What business had she out of
her own proper place, the school or
dra awing-room? What business had
she to go hunting, to his professional
apartments, after him, with her wick
ed excuse of wanting to learn che
mistry, and her soft voice, subdued
to chlld-ike innocence?
l think we all looked rather foolish.
The governess drew her hand away,
and was the first to break the silence.
which she did with the utmost equa-
nimity.
CDR. Goring is willing to give me
a little insight into the matter of
drugs and chemistry" she began,
so L endeavor, in my few leisure
moments, to profit by his kindness.
A woman, as instrcctrcss OF youth,
cannot know too much; do you think
she can, Miss Halliwell?"
81 think a woman may ACQUIRE an
insight into things entirely untitled
for her, unless she takes care what
she is about" I answered, quite sa-
vagely. GA knowledge of drugs is
not necessary for the instruction of
DR.. Goring's daughters.
She said no more to me, but turned
away and thanked him in d modest,
retiring tone, perfectly charming-to
any one who had not seen her with
her hand lying in his, and heard his
1,icc Tpnn Iay- Inc