The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-06

What to her is our world, with it's clouds and
rough weather?
STRANGE MISS DEVONPORT.
1t was the night of the marlborough
hunt ball; and marlborough, as beftted
the occasion, was employed in holding high
festival. The large room of the Egerton
Arms was full, and the company as select rs
the most fastidious conld wish. There
were representatives of all the great families
of the country and the cream of the society
of the town of marlborough itself, not to
who had established themselves in the Eyer
ton Arms and in various lodgings in the
place, for the express purpose of being in
the immediate vicinity of the far-famed
marlborough hounds.
It was to the very best of this society that
Mr.. Oliver Henley belonged-a gentleman
young in point of years, and comfortably
off in the matter of money-a barrister,
member of the Inner Temple, burdened
with no briefs, nor with the necessity or
the intention of getting any. His father
was still living, but he had already come
into very respectable little property, and,
as was natural for q gentleman in the flower
of existence as he was-to wit: seven and
twenty years of age, was bent on enjoying
himself accordingly. With this highly lau-
dable object in view, he had just made his
debut in the marlborough district; and by
his good riding, genial manners and gene
rous habits, which comfortable balance at
ones bankers makes easy enough he had
produced decidedly favorable impression
upon those whose estimation was usually
considered worth having. Henley had had
q day with the hounds, which he had
enjoyed most thoroughly; and he was just
at present engaged in talking over its events
with newly-made acquaintance, and at the
same time passing kind of running COM
mentary upon the dancers as they whirled
past him.
':Now, Mr.. Henley" said the vigorous
ballroom whip, "will you choose your part
ner? I can introduce you to any one you
like"
"Who is that young lady there? She has
just sat down. The one with the wonderful
amount of black hair, and
''Miss Devonport, was the prompt reply.
GA wonderful nice girl-dances capitally.
Let me introduce you"
And after Henley had gone through the
Lancers with Miss Devonport, he was of
the opinion that this account was not exag
gerated. Miss Devonport, he discovered,
was very nice girl-so nice girl, that he
made up his mind to get all the dances with
her that she would give him. If Oliver
Henley had been asked to give an account
of himself, he would, in all probability,
have described himself as the most unim-
pressible fellow in the world. He had
become bored with firtation and his days
of heavy love-making were over. Experts,
however, in the diagnosis of love-making
will tell you that it is precisely persons of
Henley's sef-reliant and defiant nature
who are most apt to fall victims to the ten
der passion; and if Oliver Henley had not
had such a consummate belief in his own
powers, it is probable that it would have
occurred to him more than once in the
course of his conversation with Miss Devon
port, that he was trenching upon dangerous
ground. When gentleman finds himself
telling his partner the history of his life,
interspersed here and there with touches,
half pathetic, half bitterly cynical, it may
be as we'll that he should take heed unto his
ways at once.
According to your own account, Mr..
Henley, you must be terribly rolling
stone," said Miss Devonport.
II feel myself SO, Miss Devonport; roll
ing stone that gathers no moss, but which
longs to do So"
There was certain amount of vagueness
in the latter part of this remark; but some
how or other it had seemed the natural
thing to say, and Henley made it in tone
which was expressive of depth of feeling
rather wonderful in SO cautious and unsenti-
mental man. He was almost astonished
and half angry with himself when the words
had escaped him. He looked confused
why, he did not exactly know. Unfortu-
nstely, however, looks are good deal more
eloquent than speech; still more unfortu-
Miss Devonport. Somehow or other the
rlr 10 ri .