The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-23
SMoWED UP >

tnl.l, peeV1Sh voice from the depths OF
his luxurious armchair. 81 did not
see him 60 down the garden. Where
has he put himself, eh?' I'm sure
I don't know sir" answered the foot
man, looking out Of the study Win
dow with a great show of earnest
ness. 81 turned him away, and
didn't take no more particular
notice Of him." "Then why did YOU
not take particular notice of him,
Banks?' said his master, snappishly.
"You ought to have taken particular
notice Of him. What do I have you
for but to take particular notice of
things? A pretty thing, indeed, that
you think you may do just as you
like, and take notice or not rs it suits
you. [ shall soon have to pay
another servant to do your work,
and take notice for you, if this kind
of carelessness is to go on" Here
Banks gave an almost imperceptiblc
smile. Il beg you will go round and
see If that man is gone. 1 do not
Like ill-looking tramps prowling
about the premises, especially just at
the time when Carlo has been found
dead SO mysteriously. Go, tell YOU
don't you hear?-and see at once. !"
eyes, sir, replied Banks, respect
fully enough as to outside manner
never mind his thoughts andvoiceless
words; and he left the room, calmly
Indifferent to the shrill cries calling
him back to give him a thousand
minute instructions as what he was
to do and whero he was to go, until
obliged to return by the violent ring
ing OF the bell, when he was rated
for ten lninutes without pause.
And then it was of no use to look
after the Unlocking tramp who had
disturbed Smith Buffers nerves.
The worst tempered, most selfish.
peevlsh, irritable man in the world
was this samef NTH Butler, of Gully
stone. Humorcd and spoilt as an
only child, suffered to tyrannize and
domineer rs q husband, always
absolute, always selfish, he was one
of those men who recognizen no rights
save'their own, and who makes of
their own wishes and desires the sole
laws regulating their lives. He was
in poor health, being Of the miserable
race of the dyspeptic, which tended
to render him more irritable; and his
fortune had been suddenly doubled
by u lucky Investment, which tended
to render him more arbitrary. Per
haps there could not have been found
anywhere moro unpleasant com
panion or Al more tyrannical master
than Smith Butler, Of Gullystonc, or
one less respected and less beloved.
His poor afflicted wife had been dead
some years now, and had fortunately
left no children to bear the weight OF
his ill-tcmpcr in her stead; but he
had an orphan niece, Carry Whis-
ton, his wifc's brothers child, who
lived with him, and was the sole
relation or legal connection he had.
She was dependent on him, too,
which made the bond between them
the. strictcr, if not the pleasanter;
tor, having no money OF her own,
(her father had died insolvent,) and
Smith Batter designing to make her
his heiress if she pleased him, he
claimed to have absolute right over
her-soul, mind and life to .bc sub
Ject to him without reserve. Carry
thought differently, and struggled
gallantly against her commandant;
but Smith Butler had the rcins, rid
ing with martingale, which rendered
kicking difficult, and the girls indie
pendent spirit went for little in the
contest forever going on between
them. One other person shared in
Carrys instinct OF revolt; this was
Walter Lechmerc, the son of Carry's
fathers nearest friend, and now con
tlnuing the family tradition by being
the nearest friend of Carry herself.
But unfortunately for the Girl,
Walter was specially obnoxious to
smith Butler, partly or account Of IL
bad habit he had of speaking his
mlnd, and being difficult to put
down by the mere force Of assertions:
and partly because having but small
means and moderate prospects. he
had dared to raise his eyes to Carry.
with aspirations more prcsumptuons
than fratcrnal. And her uncle would
not have overlooked this kind Of
thing even i'll lord, without per
mission first demanded of him
self; so that, in mere nobody
like Walter Lechmere, unauthorized
lovc-maklng was sin past
forgiveness. Wherefore the hand
some, dashing, good-tempered en-