The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-05
NV SISTERS

y l.
terest of it TO turn upon the elements
of the unknown. AS much strange
ness and bewilderment came to me
from that source as from the other.
When I returned home, at the age
of seventeen, from the house of an
aunt, where I had been brought up,
I found my sisters tall, beautiful
girls.
Marie, the eldest, was polished,
graceful, intellectual; but there was
something about hef that I could not
fathom. She went into society,
dressed, danced, smiled at admira-
tion, like other girls, but with kind
of indifference through it all, cold
ness not betokened by the warm black
eyes and full red lips. Once, at some
apparently trivial occasion, / saw her
eyes suddenly kindle, and flash upon
my mother o look of boiling rage.
Then she bit her lips till they were
white, her face snatched back her re-
pose, and saw that my beautiful sis
ter possessed power of self-control
which had not dreamed of.
Adele, the younger one, also had n
faculty of secretiveness. Her mask
was gay, whimsical, careless one;
better, perhaps, than the other-for
it not only did not attract, but warded
off suspicion.
My mother was French woman, of
consummate tact, ruling her own
house as far as her sceptre could
reach; and my sisters submitted
willingly to her dictation in their
plans and pleasure, in all matters re-
garding society. and etiquette; but
there was no confidence between
them. My father was gentleman of
the old school, small in stature, of
measured tones and ways, dry, and
matter-of-fact. Here, one would have
said, no passion could ever be-had
ever been.
We lived in large, handsome
house, in q pleasant neighborhood,
furnished with old-fashioned ele-
gance, surrounded by a garden whose
elms had been planted by my fathers
great-grand- father. / was initiated,
Immediately on my arrival, into O
gay, hospitable circle.
One evening, my mother gave q
large party. All the appointments
were elegant. The hespacious hall echoed
to the strains of band of music.
The stately drawing-rooms were
decked with beautiful flowers. The
gardens were lit with colored lamps.
L have seldom seen more beautiful
sight than my two sisters doing the
honors of the scene, Marie in her
usual impassive way. I watched them
closely, to see if [ could detect any
signs of preference for any of the
numerous admirers who thronged
around them; for, rs knew this to
be q general party, including all the
best families of the country, I
thought that L might here find clue
to the mystery that enveloped Marie
and Adele.
AS Marie was bidding adieu to q
Mr.. Eccleston, a gentleman with
whom she had neither danced nor
conversed more than with others, she
said to him, 81 hope you have passed
n pleasant evening, Mr.. Eccleston?"
'"Thank you, Miss Jessop," he re-
piled; 81 have-not"
The last word was inaudible to all,
save to Marie and me, who had ca
gerly turned. 1t was over in q mo-
ment-the look that passed. Then
Marie grew as white as the camille on
her bosom.
1 afterward learnt that one or two
nights in every week, Marie would
wrap herself in a cloak and leave the
room, remaining away an hour or
more. A night or two after the party,
my mother discovered her absence.
When Marie returned, she found nv
father up and ready for her. The
scene that ensued in the adjoining
room, which was my mothers dress.
ing-room, would form, in truth, a
scene for tragedy. Marie, crouch
ing i'll heap on The floor, by the
couch, enveloped in her immense
cloak-my mother, in her white
night-dress, her black hair streaming
almost to her feet, her eyes glowing,
a red spot Of anger in each cheek,
her magnificent arm extended toward
her poor, shrinking daughter, MS she
stood opposite my father, urging him
on. He needed no urging, however.
Never had [ imagined such depth
and concentration of passion such
venom in words and tones. What q
q fearfully violent temper--what an
imperious will lay hidden underneath
that methodical exterior! I did not