The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-20
THE PRESERVE CLOSET.
CONCLUDED

around the lofty rooms, thinking
they would suit his ambitious little
cousin very well, when suddenly n
portrait hanging over the carved
marble mantel- piece caught his eye.
..Marion Caryll"
He did not articulate the syllables,
but they sounded through his brain
as if thousand silver-tongued bells
had pealed them forthl Yes, it was
Marion Caryl, with the bright golden
ringlets floating away from her fair.
blue-veined temples, and the rosy
mouth ready to break into. smiles
that were answered by the dewy
sparkle of her eyes.
marion Caryl!' he repeated vague
ly to himsf. "And this is Marion's
house, and Marion's husband is lead
ing me through the rooms. How
dream-like it seems"
''I'm afraid you are tired" said
honest BERTHE, looking compassion
ately at Sydney's ashen pale face,
and wondering that he had not be-
fore noticed how colorless it was.
ga little tired, stammered Colonel
Templar, feeling the hot blood rush
to his brow once more. "But no
matter, don't let me detain you. L
believe you said the rent was
fRent? / haven't the least idea. I
believe it's either one hundred, or
eighty, or perhaps sixty. I know we
paid fifty, but the landlord is going
to raise it, and Marion and / are
thinking of q furnished cottage in the
oOnntru qnr,onho,.o
sMarion's husband is not man of
business, !" thought Sydney.
"Marion's husband!' How the
words cut to his heart.
''Well, I'll ask Marion :; she knows"
said Herbert. ''Now, then, I'll take
you down into the lower department..
Oh, BERTHE, BERTHE, had you already
become oblivious of the words of
caution heaped on your luckless ears?
Pretty Marion, screwing on the
top to one Of her spice boxes, heard
the advancement of footsteps with
sudden thrill of apprehension.
'It cannot be possible that that
goose BERTHE has forgotten what I
told him." she thought. ''He has,
though, as sure Us the sun is shining,
aud I'm caught.
Marion dropped her box of fragrant
allspice, and looked with wide-open
eyes of dismay at her bib-apron.
They're coming" she stammered,
turningly alternately red and white.
There's no help for it. T shall
have to hide in the preserve closet. :"
And our little heroine, ignominious-
ly taking refuge in flight, ran lightly
across the kitchen floor, and hid
herself among preserved Strawberries,
East India ginger, and glimmering
jars of cherries.
eff 1 don't lecture Bertie," said
Marion, setting her little white teeth
together like belligerent pearls, as
the two gentlemen came into the
kitchen, and she heard their voices
discussing the relative merits of stoves
and ranges.
"By the way" said Herbert, sud
denly, I believe there are some nice
closets down here; at least Marion
says 80, and hnllo! the door seems to
stick"
He gave it jerk. Marion's two
hands held resolutely on the door
knob on the other side. Another
resolute pull, full of well-directed
energy, and the two little hands sue
cumbed.
The door flew open.
Bertie staggered back into the mid
die OF the room, and Marion stood
there among the preserves, woefully
confused, yet laughing withal, like q
marvellously pretty mouse in novel
species of trap.
so Bertiel Berthe! /"
She stopped suddenly as her shy
glance met the eyes of the tail
stranger. She stopped in the middle
of the floor, checked in her instinct
of flight by some still stronger in
stinct, and blushing like pink moss
rose down to the very tips of her
tapery foury fingers that were so
tightly interlaced, while the blue eyes,
half hidden by their white lids, were
full of sparkling tears, and the mouth
breaking into tumultuous smile;
for Marion did not know whether
she most wanted to laugh or to cry.
Sydney! oh, Sydneyl"
He bowed gravely.
"Until you introduce me to your
husband, Marion, I scarcely know
by what name to address you"
UMv huohon1o oD .aoaofoJ Mor;o,,