The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-13

INTO her mouth, by, degrees She revived,
her eye.lids hnclosedS and she draw j
deep sigh a tATHSG q
"Whefe ana Ip2she murm1fed9t Is
.Safeyith a fEisnd.Y TIGf
tkas yoa, 1hen. VINO kakedeme?'
Rather it was Providence, who was
pleased to employ my hand
.,s"She thgpked him with Q look far more
eloqRent thanS Words;. sardt stkeus with
con1ding simplicity, as she still felt
weak, asked him to let her lean on his
arm as far as her homA.i q was going
to the town. she said. so sell some milk,
when those dreadful wolves attacked me.
upset my pitcher, and but for your time
" aid, and that of your good dog, would
surely have devoured me-
s"The conversation thus commenced
did not flag. Juan soon learned that
Marguerite lived in the hamlet of Cam
pan; that she was an orphan, and had
no property save a small cottage, one
COW, and some hens. She managed 10
support herself with the profits of these
animals and of her spinning. Her per-
charmed the honest heart of Juan. Eo
thought that. were he possessed of all
the treasures in the world. he would like
to lay them at Marguerite's feet. On en-
tering the village, the news of their ad-
venture spread quickly; and it was easy
to see, by the consequent excitement,
how much the young girl was beloved by
her neighbors. Both young and old
rushed forth to meet her; Juan was
overwhelmed with thanks and praises;
nor was poor Cesar by any means for
gotten.
"'Adieu, Marguerite, said Juan, when
he had accompanied her to her cottage
door. May I sometimes come to see
your
"'To whom should my door be open,
if not to my deliverer2 said the young
girl, innocently, at the same time ex-
tending her hand to Juan. He pressed
it to his lips, and fastened away.
"When he reached home, he found
Gertrude very uneasy at his prolonged
absence. oh, my child! she cried,
where have you been, and what are
those stains of blood upon your dress?'
Juan smiled Don't be uneasy, mo-
ther; this blood is not mine, but that of
au enemy killed. And he told her all
that had occurred, not concealing the
feelings of admiration and love which he
felt for her whom he had rescued.
""Thank God, my child, said the old
woman, that your choice has fallen on
so worthy an object. have often heard
the beauty and virtuous industry of Mar
guerite commended. She is called by
her neighbors the Pearl of Campan.'
ut never occurred to the affectionate
grandmother that the fair girl in ques-
ton could possibly be insensible to the
attractions of her boy; and, indeed, the
event proved that she was not for wrong.
Marguerite was of too innocent and frank
q nature to play the coquette with him
who had risked his life for hers and the
preliminaries for their marriage were
speedily arranged.
'.On the morning preceding that on
which their bans were to be published,
the sound OF drum was heard in the
peaceful valley of Campan; and the pre-
feet of the district proclaimed the draw
ing of conscripts for the army. Poor
Juanl his was among the first of the Sc
lected names, and at the moment the
shock nearly stunned him. However,
he had been taught not to shrink from
his duty, and having calmly made the
needful preparations, he drew his be-
trothed aside, and said: Listen to me,
Marguerite. You promised to be mine;
I am going away for some years-per-
haps forever; it is right that you should
be free; I give you back your VOW
"'And 1, said the girl, will not take
it back. Whether our next meeting,
Juan, will be here or in that better world
to which, I trust, we are both looking,
will never marry any one but you.'
"The young man pressed her hand in
silence. But my mother! he said at
length, while two unwonted tears rolled
down his cheek; she is old, infirm, una
BILE to work for her support
"'Your mother. Juan,' interrupted
Marguerite, SIS she not henceforth mine?
So long rs God gives me strength to
work, our mother shall not want q home. ;
"And 30, with mutual blessings and
fond tears, they parted.
"Cesar followed his master to the
wars, and Gertrude, On the day of Juan's
departure, took up her abode in Margue-
rites cottage. The old woman managed
the domestic affairs, while the young
one carried her milk, butter, eggs and
poultry to market In the evenings, as
they both sat at their spinning wheels,
their conversation naturally turned on
Juan: Where is he now? what is he do
ing, while we are speaking of him?'
Sometimes their anxiety was assuaged by
the arrival of letter, filled with hope