The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-17
THR1InASIP OF 81. JUST. !
CONfuITDED BttItl

Aisss Ane bunVWaS SINKING In the West \
The spring sky was pale and clear,
with broad delicate bands os oooioT col ois IN
the. Western horizon. It was the
hour when the flow rs breathe their
richest odors, and the lanRuid air
vas so hushed, that Jean and Rosse-
linde gradually became silent, happy
beyond expression. For them there
was no world but that of their own
hearts, and in the selfishness cf hap
Ply love they had, not even thought
for the dreadful ravages of the plague
which for some months had ragged in
the Languedoc. ,N
This evening was to the lovers one
OF those pauses in life when all our
happiness seems to lie in the hollow
OF the hand, our very own. At such
moments youth, however rash, in
conslderate, or poor, is better worth
having than all the riches and wisdom
of the earth, if shackled with the
slow pulses md prudent misgivings
of age.
Just then, the door of the Gothic
saloon was thrown open, and O tall
female figure, draped in black
cloak, and wearing thick black
veil, was seen standing motionless in
the doorway. Jean sprang to his
feet Displeased at the unweloome
interruption of his happy thoughts,
he asked sharply what brought her
there, and who she was.
Jean de Lille-Jourdain," she
said, not needing his question, sis
not that beautiful child, Rosselinde,
thy betrothed?"
The voice was so solemn and
nournful. that the young girl trem-
blnd. She foresaw dimly some sad
story of former love, betrayed and
deserted for her sake, and she cast
terrified glance at Jeans troubled
face, and seemed to see the fabric of
her happiness crumbling into ruins
ut her feet.
"Answer her, Jean," she said, her
voice broken by tears.
The young man shook his head
with defiant movement, as though to
rid himself Of the uneasiness which
he could not define, but which,
nevertheless, made him feel guilty
and awe-strickcn in the presence of
the unknown and unbidden guest.
Eyes" he said, curtly, "she is my
betrothed."
"Good," answered the woman,
who, descending the two steps which
led into the apartment, closed the
door carefully, and advanced close
to Rosselinde, who, covering like
frightened dove, saw the stranger
bend over, and through the veil two
burning eyes, which seemed to read
her inmost thoughts.
No one spoke till the stranger, let
ting fall her words one by one, as
though she we're thinking aloud,
said: Eyes, she is in truth beautiful
more beautiful than I could have
hoped"
"What concern is it of yours?"
cried Jean, angry and impatient.
'What concern is it of mine?"
answered the woman. "Ah, much!
When 1 see her so lovely, so pure, SO
gentle, [ feel that the love which
she must inspire in your heart is no
frivolous fancy, the destruction of
which would cause but q passing
pang. My concern with her beauty"
she continued, turning suddenly on
Jean, ''is that know what fearful
torments You will endure in quitting
her forever"
Quitting her forever!" cried
Jean. "Who has admitted this wo-
man? What does she want with us?"
81 come," she replied, "to warn
you and your lovely bride of great
danger which threatens you. An
implacable enemy has matured plot
against your happiness, and the end
OF this plot is to separate you from
her you love-"
''No enemy can reach me here"
said Jean, proudly. Behind these
well-proved ramparts, and with my
good sword in my hand, I fear no
man, not the Count de la Folk, nor
Armagnac-nay, not the King of
France himself"
"Your enemy is none of these"
returned the woman; ''it is but a
poor weak Il woman, whose life you
have destroyed, and who yet. despite
your ramparts and your sword, holds
i'll her hands vengeance as certain
and inevitable as that of God him
self"
In saying these words, she again
approached Rosselinde, but jean,
clutching his poignard, flung himself
tbo,o, :