The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-01
4 pRAucHT OF PoIsoN4

sitting with Mrs. Goring, when my
eldest niece came into the chambe4:.
'sMamma." she said, ssNIrs. Stone
and Emily have sent for me in haste,
and to take my music. May [ go?"
eyes, if you like, Mary" replied
my sister. 'tWhere's Frances?'
81 think she is in. The nursery,
dressing James doll.'
.''Then where's Miss Howard?"
TT don tknow, mamma, was Mary's
answer. ''I saw her, after tea, in the
garden with papa
That was enough for me, and down
stairs L went. ''There shall be no
private and confidential interviews,
if I can help it, quoth I to myself.
[ went by way of the surgery-not
because / wanted to steal into the
garden by the more private way, but
because l thought that they might be
atthat excuse of their chemicals again.
The surgery was empty. I thought
the garden was, at first; but as 1
stood in the corner, just out the little
surgery door, heard the sound of
subdued voices in the summer-house
SO I went up the narrow side-path,
against the apricot wall, my feet
almost treading on the struggling
strawberry plants. And Miss Frances
by the way was not in the nursery
heard her laughing with the ser
E wants in the kitchen.
They did not see me come. up; the
door of the summer-housc faced the
other side-wall of the garden. The
first words I was near enough to hear
were from her.
s'What right has she to come down,
.and makes these changes, and inter
fere in your household? You must
have the temper of an angel to put
up with it
"The truth is, my dear, lit was his
voice now,) that as I limited to you,
I am drained dry, and ready to catch
at straws. Mrs. Goring has no sus-
picion that my embarrassments are
serious; but if we go on at our present
rate of living we shan't long go on
at all. If we can retrench expenses,
and so patch up matters, exposure
may be avoided. Miss Halliwell's
offer to take Mary is a great help.
now that the most expensive period
of her education is coming on; but
she does this only on condition that
the others shall be put to school,"
''She has taken dislike to me-"
murmured the lady in q sweetly plain
tive tone. "Old maids prejudices
are unfathomable
This was good from her, with her
hve-and-thirty years! I don't know
what answer Matthew made I heard
none.
"You are a little in debt?" she
went on to ask
"Jolly well deep in it," was his
reply. ''It would take some hundreds
to set me free.
Mrs. Gorins has property, Ihave
heard: Can you not make it avail
able
''Mrs. Goring's money is an an
nuity, and it dies with her"
'All of itr'
."Ail. But her life is insured for
93,O0O."
''What a help that would be to
you. 1t would free you, and doubly
free. What a good thing!'
"Why, you speak," laughed Mat
thew, Gas ifit were something coming
to me tomorrow. My ever having it is
the most remote contingency in the
world. She may outlive me; and if
not Mrs. GorinS intends that money TO
go to the children, not to pay off my
eextravasances.' TASre is always a
little corner of thahkfulness in my
heart when think of that sentence,
and Of Matthew's cheering, hearty
expression when he give utterance to
1t. 1t seems to repeat over to nc
that he was not Il guilty man, tie man
with murder on his soul, that some
have since deemed him.
"Mrs. Goring's life seems a pre-.
carlous one" she went on; "she is
always aiiing. [ am sure if the e3, ,00G
you speak of should drop in, it
would be your duty to make use Of it.
Your ease and comfort should be
paramount to every other considera.
ton"
[ fear feeling of positive hatred
rose in my heart when 1 heard hel
thus make light of my dear sister
and his wife. 1 gave great cough
to let them know I was there. and
walked roand to the front of the
arbor.
She came out then, but not before