The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-22
ACTED 10 THE LIFE.

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How delicious, after the crowd and
hustle Of the city, are the first few
hours of walking trip in the coun-
try. N.Y. heart, had been mouldy
and sloheiy lptf .; long time, Until
one sultry day in September, I re-
ceived note from Markham, asking
me to take holiday and visit him
at his mothers villa. I persuaded
myself that 7 was oyer-workrd and
wanted rest, and determined to take
Markhah ut his word. I sat down
and wrote two lines, telling him that
Should walk down, starting that
very n8ht3 antf. that he: might eN
pect me as soon rs twenty miles n
day and q. lzig-zag road would bring
me. In ten minutes, I put n few
things to send Oh before me, packed
knapsack, and then shouldered nv
traps and rushed from the horrible
gloom Of my chambers, and in nm
other hour found myself on coun-
try road, doing my FIRST stage in the
bright moonlight.
1 absolutely danced with delight.
1t was so glorious to be free once
more. I was walking through
woody country, and felt pleasure
L cannot describe in "reminiscences
of childish terrors awakened by the
strange forms that moonlight showed
among the trees. When 1 came to
break. in the woods, 1 leaned over
. gate opening into meadows that
stretched far away, all cleaning in
the light which lends beauty, deli
cate but mysterious, and almost un-
earthly, to tho most common objects.
AS L leaned, / listened; not sound,
except the tinllling of a sheep bell;
now and then the bark of a dog,
baying the moon, or village church
bell striking the hour.
But soon l saw, breaking over the
horizon, distant lightning, which
warned mo that q storm was ap-
preaching. I had still some miles
to 60 before could reach tho end
Of my first stage: so I pressed on
again. Before IN hour had pass
ed, the wind had risen and was
swayipg the tree tops overhead in
the aarrbw arched lanes, and soon
the moon was hidden, and I felt the
tirstN slow, heavy drops of rain.
Half dazzled at times by vivid
flashes, and splashing through pud-
dies already formed in the cart ruts,
fastened onward, but it was nearly
midnight when, drenched to the skin,
reached the little town of D
1t did not take mo long to hunt
up the market-place and to find out
the Red Lion, which knew to be
the, best inn. It was not quite SO
easy, however, to gain admittance;
but OF last suspicious porter. after
parley from the window, leisurely
descended, 'and having narrowly exa-
mined me, admitted my claim to o
nights lodging, and set about show
ing me to O room, / followed him
as he went along the passage, past
rooms with their names painted over
the door-ways, upstairs and along
the gallery which overlooked the
courtyard
you've gotta theatre here, thcn?'
L said, as my eye fell on n bill wafer.
ed to the wall.
eyes, sir" said the porter. Eyes
sir, they do say, sir, rs how Miss
Barry is ON uncommon good actress
She has only been here week. and
the company won't stop long, fol
there amt many people to fill 9
theatre, except the Young chaps from
G-T-, likewise some gents from
the university"
I Istopped to look at the biIl-a lone
narrow document, which announced
the appearance of Miss Barry in til,
Thrilling melo-drama of the Yam
pire." I smiled as I read the bill
which not only set forth the per
formers names, but gave in a fey
words tho leading characteristics O
the personages of the drama. "Sir
Grcville Liburne, (he is swartl,
baronet, of ancient, lineage, poor
but naughty, proud and revcngeful;
Marksden, the Vampire, Ia dcmol
who renews his life by drinking tn
blood of mailens.
"That's her father" interpose,
the officious porter.
lisa "a lovely girD -"
"That's true enough" cut in tn,
porter. "She's fit for a bette
theayter nor this here. There's