The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-31


I had said n,yself that I would
write to Mark Sutherland when, morn
ling came, and tell-liim -Ifhad chosen
once more between the two I loved,
and chosen differently. Therefore, I
hoped that I was mad; but I went up
stairs quite resolved and quiet; I mn
dressed without ever once glancing
toward the bed where my little sister
luy; meant to lie down on my pill
low without doing SO; but, oh, I could
not say my prayers md leave Milly
without the kiss I always gave her
before L slept.
So 1 went up to the bed, and draw
ing back tho curtain, looked down
upon what had for years been my
sole earthly treasure. The child
looked pale in tho cold gray dawn;
her golden hair was tossed Wildly
back from her face and covered the
pillow, and while L stood and gazed,
my sadness dying away, my old self
coming back, she stirred in her
sleep; two great tears welled out
from the closed eyes, and, with a
heavy sob, she murmured, "Hester."
Then knelt down in the gray
dawning, and thanked God that my
madness was passed, and prayed that
as He had given me strength to make
the sacrifice, SO He would help me
never to regret it.
1 did not see Mark Sutherland
again; but the next time that NTilly
went up to the Hollies, she told me,
on her return, that "he had left the
Hollies, gone away to that dreadful
India, and was never coming back
again" My heart echoed the words.
but drew Milly to me and kissed
her, and tried to be patient and for
get.
could not forget; my nature was
tenacious Of what had once taken
hold upon it, III the course of our
lives was too monotonous to permit
change and variety. 1 scarcely knew,
after Mark went away, how the days
and years glided away, their course
was so unmarked, and everything
seemed SO unchanged. At first, I
used to shrink and shiver at the
chance mention of Mark Suther-
lands name at the Hollies; that
passed, and L pined to hear of him
with weary, anxious longing, sell
dom satisfied. They ceased t. speak
of him after awhile, as people do
after long-abscnt friend, and by de-
grees it seemed as if he was only
remembered in one poor woman's
heart. who almost came 10 think of
him as if he had been removed by
death. So that, one day, NIilly came
back from the Hollics, and said, rs
she united her hat and threw it down.
Chester, gucss-who in the world do
you think came to the Holl;es last
night?" Not even my thoughts sug-
gested the right person. .
''No, no, said NIilly, as I named
one or two, ''no; who but Cousin
Mark, who went to India years ago!
/ WAS mcrc child at that time, but
remembered him instantly-a COM
pliment he did not return, by-thc-by;
though, when he found who L was,
he asked after you"
Years ago, WAS it, since Mark went
away? All as NIilly spoke, il seemed
only yesterday; the JOY, the sorrow,
the old pains, so freshly now, were
throbbing so wildly once more in nv
heart. He had not quite forgotten
me, then? But did he remember me
as l remembered him?
81 do believe you have forgotten
all about him." N[illy went on; "and
let me tell you, L wonder at that, for
l remember he used to be so fond of
talking to you, Hetty, and he is the
kind of q man that women may be
proud of attracting, none the less
because he cares very little, I should
say, for women in general"
"Really, Milly, you seem to have
studied Mr.. Sutherland very closely,
considering this may be your first
acquaintance with him.
She laughed, blushed, and threw
back her beautiful golden hair.
"No, [ don't know as I have; he
devoted himself to me good deal
this evening, and I couldn't help
forming my opinion, you know.
There Is to be n croquet party to
morrow at the Hollies, and Mr.. Suth
erland made me promise to come MP
and bring you, if you would come;
but L told him beforehand that |
knew you would not, knowing yonr
dislike to that delectable means for
the promotion of flirting"
And after this, it happened that
Nlilly either went or was sent for
nearly every day up to the Hollies-
where, indeed, she was very much in
thn habit of o,O;,,c,. ,,.l,;I + ~,