The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-11-19
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-NsIITH BRoTHnIta.
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49, = 81 !
- sIpoNTNUEB. I, AZ
IT was my place to console 1farga-
ret. She grieved for her mother at
first with an Intensity p Of ngpieh,
which no word could portray, but
after the funeral was oyers she grew
calm amid her sadness. and began,
With serene7patience, to take up again
her burden of lifes ] remniped with
her at Oswego until Iihad completed
the settlement of her mothers af-
faiss.. They had bean badly ma
Daged, and I ifonnd that when they
were reduced to a system, there would
be scarcely enough left for Margaret
to keep gloves on her pretty hands.
Was very s,!s., s,!a5 I made this dis
ooyery,r that Z and no other had the
charge Of this business. Now I could
spare her from any feeling of depen-
dence. Every quarter 1 could give
her an ample provision for her ex-
penses, in such a manner that she
should receive it ias theincome of her
own property. / would not have her
feaa under q feathers weight of obli-
gation to me-.
When all our arrangements were
satisfactorily co coi yicttsG, it / wrote to
apprise my brother of our coming,
and we started for home. Abijah
met us at the depot. 'rs ~
s.My other cousin ?n Margaret said,
pleasantly, as she extended her hand,
removing all restraint with her grace
full, womanly tact. She had called
me Cousin Absalom, y from the first.
NIfound that my brother had work
ed wonders during my absence. Our
oldshome no longer looked gloomy
abode, even for o young girl. Fresh,
bright paper was on the walls. car
pets of warm, rich hues covered the
floors; tasteful furniture was disposed
about the apartments, and a room,
leading from the little parlor, espe-
oially designed for our guest, had
been transformed into conservatory,
and was already gey with flowers.
With one consent we entreated Miss
Chelmsford to assume the Office of
house-keeper, as neither Of us felt
competent to regulate any longer the
affairs Of "a household which was to
number such, o member. She pro-
missed, with her customary sweetness,
to comply with our request, and pre-
sently our domestic arrangements
put on an order and beauty they had
never known before.
When we were fairly settled OF
home, I had leisure to study Manga
ret Chelmsford, the first young lady
with whom I had ever been familiar
ly associated. Until then I had not
observed, what affected me strangely
now, her remarkable resemblance to
my memories of my mother; to the
ideal ! had SO long cherished of my
future wife. Here were the 1.-the,
graceful figure, the brownish blue
eye, the low, sweet voice, the win
ming smile; here, and my hear thrill
ed as it never thrilled before, was
the woman I could love. Thirty
six began to seem very old to
me. Sixteen years between me
and the young life I longed to
link to my own. L did not mention
these thoughts to my brother. For
the first time in our lives there was
shadow between. us; fine indefna-
bic ice of reserve. / think it arose,
onmy part, not from unwillingness
that he. should read my heart, but
from o secret fear, as bitter as secret,
lest he also might recognize in her
the ideal We had both SO long che
rished, and love her as I loved her.
Besides, [ had so little hope, it seem
ed useless TO, talk of it.
CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT.