The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-09

! horsets mans.
| | q sT a!n glad glad OF this accidental meet
I ing, "she resumed, .ifer i was inst
thinking how it would be possible to
oftain private interview. ,s18Fa
Philip stared.
| IT believe" continued she, coolly,
i'Sthat there has been some arrange
ment made concerning us by those
two old@I mean, by your much
honored fatherand my highly-respec-
table uncle-a little matrimonial
scheme, if I am net mistaken. Very
kind of them, doubtless, though it
might have been kinder to have left
us to choose for ourselves, and be
happy in our own way"
t. "A faint CLEAN of hope began to
dawn on Philip. tfTN
| "I want to tell you q secret, Mr..
Chester. May I trust you?"
eff you will do me the honor" he
replied, still coldly.
"Ah, I see you don't like me; but
you will after while. This. then,
is my secret. | am in love-pray
don't he alarmed-not with you"
"Thank yen!" said he, almost in
| voluntarily. t-F
''With o very handsome, very
clever, very worthy and deserving
young man." resumed Miss Dash
wood, with unmoved seriousness
s'but poor; And you are in love with
one equally perfect. but suffering
under the same stigma"
She looked at him seriously now,
with her dark eyes, and he met the
gaze frankly.
"Now we understand each other"
she said, resuming her former tone
and manner; 'and now we can act as
seems best to us under the circum-
stances. I want TO rebel openly
against those two old fogies-I beg
their pardons-those wise and vener-
able old gentlemen; but we can ma
mage quietly to circumvent them,
and have our own way-can't we?"
perhaps you have formed some
plan to that effect?" said Philip, half
amused and half Interested.
"You shall hear" she answered.
"I am told that your dear, delightful
father admires 'dashing' ladies'; wants
a dashing daughter-in-law and mis-
1
he will dine tomorrow at Elmwood.
Be sure not to disappoint Mrs. Page,
vino knows all about it, and takes o
tender and motherly interest in the
affair. We will see whether the old
gentleman is satisfied with his chosen
daughter-in-law. But, whatever oc-
ours, you role, remember, it is to be
perfectly charmed. Will you accept
your part, Mr.. Chester?
Half laughing, half wondering, he
agreed.
And so they rode on together
through the shadowy wood-path;
Philip Chester liking his companion
far better than he had previously
thought possible of Miss Eastwood.
Scene second, act first, transports
us to the drawing-room where sat
that good lady, in all the formal dig
nifty of country dinner-dress, en-
deavoring to entertain some half
dozen guests, of whom Squire Ches-
ter was one. Seated near an open
window, he was anxiously awaiting
the appearance of Miss Eastwood,
| WILL u FtSuo 'uope dS 10 Uuo eueCC
which might be thereby produced
upon his undutiful son. That self
willed young man lounged near,
cheerfully conversing with lady.
while Lena Cameron, very pale and
quiet, was bending over q bit of en-
broidery, with fingers that trembled
o little, and eyes that were rarely up
lifted.
! Suddenly, the sharp notes of bu-
gle pierced the ears of the assembled
company.
."There is Joep' said Mrs. Page.
81 am glad that she is come, as now
we can have dinner"
"Joe?" doubtfully inquired one of
the lady guests.
I The squire looked from the win
dow, as invited, and beheld a figure
in mans hat and coat. as he thought,
and woman's skirt, dashing full
speed up the avenue toward the house,
with half dozen dogs accompany
ing. Springing unassisted to the
ground, she proceeded to unloosen
the saddle and throw it upon the
ground; then walked several times
round the horse, evidently examining
into his condition, and discussing the