The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-24

sorfoH, ana oil my old love came
back upon me with o passionate i'm
'sosIipity, TO which my heart had long
been o stranger.
How did she come to know the
/ sDees? She he'd not been acquainted
with them in the. days when first
knew her; but how thankful I was
that I had accepted Mr.. Lees invita-
tion. ~ -
When she rose from the piano,
Mrs. Lee went up to her and said,
."1Now, dear, you must be tired; come
and sit by me-" and they came and
sat down close to my hidingiplace.
It seemed SO strange to be sitting
there within a. yard Of her, and not
to have the right to approach her, MS
in olden times. I could not escape
without disturbing them, so I sat
still. E'' .
Suddenly Mrs. Lee exclaimed,
e'Dear me, where is Mr.. Raymond?
I'have never seen him since he came
in from the dining-room; want to
make him dance;" and then growing
confidential she added, she is q
client Of my hut oand's, Nelly, and as
he is young and wen-off, feel it my
duty to find him a wife; and if he
stays in town long enough, I dare say
I shall manage il"
+ "Who did you say was here? said
Ellen, family.
ga Mr.. Raymond, Fred. Ray
mond; perhaps you never heard Of
him. I didn't know you before he
left England. But what is the mat
ter, Nellyp" she added, seeing Ellen
look deadly pale. s'My poor child,
are you i'll? let me get you some
wine or sal-volatile."
ono, thank you, no wine; but I am
not very well. I think, if I can find
my cousin, I will go home"
"Well, dear, sit where you are, I"
said Mrs. Lee, "and I'll go and bring
her."
She hustled off into the next room.
L went forward and looked at Ellen.
She sat quite still; her face was
death-ike, and her small white
hands were tightly clasped, as il the
nails would be forced into the flesh.
1t was evident she was suffering from
some strong emotion. I could not
bear to see it, and ut the risk of O
second repulse, I came forward.
She looked up and slightly started.
MAY I sit herep" I said, taking
Mrs. Lees vacant chair.
She did not speak, although her
lips moved; so I continued:
''L am afraid / startled you, Ellen;
but you must believe that I would
not have annoyed you by my pre-
sence. if I had known you would be
here tonight. I did not know you
knew the Lees; but you must forgive
me for not being able to see You
without speaking to you
She still sat with her hands tightly
pressed together and her head bent
down. / fancied that I was once
more to have no answer, so half
rose and said:
''I am going to leave town to-mor-
row, 80 that you need not be afraid
of meeting me again."
Still she did not speak, and I rose
to go away, quite heart-broken. I
had prepared myself for this, I
thought; but the reality was more
than I could bear. L had made q
step to 60. when heard her say, in
choking voice, "Fred.?"
L turned Immediately, and sat
down again, and then, seeing that
she was almost overcome, I silently
offered her my arm, and we went into
small room off the principal suite.
When we sat down. she was sob
bing violently, and I did not dare
to comfort her till I knew my fate.
At last she grew calmer, and L said,
"Ellen-forgive me, but I cannot
say Miss Mainwaring-I do not want
to trouble You now, but may I call
on Mrs. Mainwaring tomorrow"
Mammal she almost screamed.
go, Fred, didn't you know that
mamma"
And her sobs and black dress told
me the rest.
"My darling" I said, "will you
forgive me? I ought to have known