The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-12
NGI@O:@IaEANK
ENELtNE'S INSTANT.
lCONTINUED.I |


I was much disturbed by the idea
of this strangers intrusion on my
wife's solitude; and I went straight
to the village to inquire if any
stranger had been seen there. ]
could hear of no one. I questioned
the servant closely, but without re-
suit. Then 1 determined to accom-
pany my wife in her walk, and to
judge for myself of the rank of the
For week, I devoted my evenings
to rustic rambles with Eveline ia the
park and the woods; and in all that
week we saw no one but an occa:
sional peasant in sabots, or one of
our own household returning from q
neighboripg farm.
I was man of studious habits,
and those rambles disturbed the even
current of my life. My wife per-
cejved this, and entreated me to
trouble myself no further.
81 will spend my mornings in the
pleasaunce, Hector" she said; @'the
stranger cannot intrude upon me
there"
+. 81 begin to think the stranger is
only o phantasm of your own ro-
mantle brain," I replied, smiling at
the earnest face lifted to mine. ga
chatelaine who is always reading
romances may we'll meet handsome
cavaliers in the woodlands. I dare
say 1 have Mile. Scuderi to thank for
this noble stranger, and that he is
only the Cyprus in modern costume. "
"Ah! that is the point which mysti-
fes me, Hector" she said; "the
strangers costume is not modern.
He looks as an old picture might
look if it could descend from its
frame"
Her words panied me, for they
reminded me of that hidden picture
in the library and the quaint hunt
ing costume of orange and purple
which Andre de Brissac wore at the
Regents ball.
After this, my wife confined her
walks to the pleasaunce; and for many
weeks heard no more of the name
less stranger. I dismissed oil further
thought Of him from my mind, for a
graver, and heavier care came upon
me. My wife's health began to
droop. The change in her was SO
gradual as to be almost impercepti-
bic to those who watched her from
day to day, It was only when she
put on q rich gala dress which she
had not worn for many years, that ]
saw how wasted the form must be on
which the embroidered bodice hung
SO loosely and how wan and dim were
the eyes which had once been bril-
liant as the jewels she wore in hel
hair.
I sent a messenger to Paris tc
summon one of the court physicians
but I knew that many days must
elapse before he could arrive ut Puy
Verdum.
In the interval I watched my wife
with unutterable fear.
It was not her health only that
had declined. The change was more
painful than any physical alteration.
The bright and sunny spirit had
vanished, and in the place of my
joyous young bride, I beheld wo
man weighed down by q deeply
rooted melancholy. In vain, I sought
to fathom the cause of my darling's
sadness. She assured me that there
was no reason for sorrow or discon
tent, and that if she seemed sad
without motive, I must forgive hel
sadness, and must consider it as {
misfortune rather than as q fault.
L told her the court physician
would speedily find some cure fol
her dependency, which must need.
arise from physical causes, since she
had no real ground for sorrow. Bu
although she said nothing, I could
see she had no hope or belief in the
healing powers of medicine.
CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT.