The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-29
FIRST AND LAST LOVE.

Fkno+ ARp %+RC& AQHE+
It is an old story I am about to
tell, that story which, thank heaven I.
people never tire of listening to any
more than we do Of scoing the buds
swell and the leaves unfolding, and
the world made young again by the
coming Of spring-the story, to which
as we listen, our own youth comes
back, and once moro the flowers
bloom, aud the skies are blue, and
our hearts are beating joyously, and
it is May.
1 am not young now, neither is
the day on which / am soberly writ
ing this littlo record of long past
period balmy one Of spring, or any
thing like it; and yet May comes
freshly back to me rs 1 recall that
day of which L am going to speak.
A lark was singing far up i'll the
blue sky, few sheep was pasturing
IN the green distance, and tall
figure dressed in gray, with gun on
Its arm, and ono or two dogs frisking
about it, was coming leisurely along
the sea wall. had been fully intent
but tho minute before upon the
sketch of an old boat I was making:
but now I felt the beating of nv
heart, and saw nothing but Mark
Sutherland coming leisurely along
the sen wall, with his dogs playing
around him.
The little picture was never finish
ed, for at the instant 1 became con-
scious of the advancing figure; 1
dropped my brush, and hopelessly
ruined my distance by great smear
Of vandyke brown. It was never
finished, no-but L have it vet, and
mean it shall be laid beside me in
q coffin.
He was long way of when 1 first
saw him, and yet it seemed almost
the next instant that he was standing
beside me speaking. My heart had
not left off beating, and L could feel
the color hot in my face as 1 looked
up; but my fiery little terrier took
exception to his dogs, and flew at
them with tumultuous disapproval,
taking his attention from me for the
moment.
When this little fracas was ouieted.
he put his gun OH the bank, made
his rotrievers lie beside it, and sat
down himself by me.
"Havo you had good sport?" I
asked, by way of saying something
anything.
mo-" he answered, "but don't
complain. L didn't expect any. I
came out here because 1 thought |
should sec you, and [ wanted to tell
you piece Of ncws, and ask Ques-
tion."
"News is Il precious commoditv.
indeed, III these wilds; but please
remember my Scotch blood, in cx.
pcctlng an answer 10 the question"
He did not seem 10 be attending
to what said; he had taken up one
OF my brushes, and was abscntlv
playing with 1t, and he threw it down
the next minute. and said softly:
Hester, | have got an appoint
ment that | have been irving for.
and | shall leave for India, next
montii-that's my news"
My heart, which had been beating
so wildly, seemed to Stand suddenly
still and drop down-down. The
water ana green marsh rocked,
i"Aiiy llliO each Other and
the sky, and then a voice that sound.
cd dim and far off, but was my own.
too' SAID, ut is good news, I sup
posc?'
Good news. Welt, YES, I hope
lie stopped minute here. His
voice was a very deep one, for lie
was large, broad-chcsted man; but
when he spoke again it had soft
undor-tone iii it that tried to ring in
my ears aftcrwards-it does now.
Il thought it gooG news this morn
lng' Tor without it L could not think
OF wife. That troubled me little
enough TIL latcly-till, nh till knew
nave guessed my question: <
Guessed it! ALI, yes. But my
face was down upoa my hands: he
could not bear the cry that was
sitting in my heart, and he went ON
gently, pityingly-
"Bnt [ shall not get an answer to Il
SO. Will you 60 with me to India?"
did not answer-I could not
Ah! those who have had deliberation
to kill their own happiness, to raise
up themselves the barrier that shuts
them out from hope, and love, and