The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-25


some id annyy ffespsct faaih ahiiiaf, Bat knew
thnE she would not dare to treat ID d
Eudely, and. Watching my opportunity
one Sunday. afternooneE IL addressed her
Las She stood atlthe street. ga1HTof the cot
tsge, land as ] admired some flowers
which grew in o bed near the honse, she
could not escape, politely, from the ne.
cessity Of inviting me to walk through
the yard Accidentally, we met the mo-
ther. I had an invitation to enter the
cottage. OF course, accepted with
pleasure; and finding the mother in
clined to be more communicative than
the daughter, managed to learn they
were French folks, although they both
spoke English remarkably well. The
cottage parlor was furnished plainly but
elegar Fly. There were upon the walls
several pictures, and upon the mantle q
number of delicate works of art, which
I was satisfied could not have been pur-
chased by the limited earnings of an
apple girl.
Why young girl who lived in such
cottage, with so much evident taste and
cultivation, should invariably wear n
pink calico dress, and sell fruits, nuts
and candies on the streets, was to me
pSiPiSAAhS ih4ulIy' IueTo WIS W6D
of romance weaving around the mystic
rious apple girl, which became more and
more interesting, and every day my re-
solution to unravel it became stronger.
There was so much modesty in the girls
bearing at her apple stand-she seemed
80 much afraid of scandal, should any
converse with her longer than was neoes.
sary to make purchases-that there was
no way left for me to solve the mystery
of her life but by visiting the cottage.
Again went without an invitation, and
boldly made known the curiosity which
led me. to force myself upon their ac-
qaintance.
The daughter laughed heartily, and
said gaily, "We have been just as much
at fault to understand your curiosity, as
you were to reconcile our circumstances
with our employment.
"Then we should be mutual conf
dants," observed. ''I have been very
frank with you, and hope you will re-
ciprocate."
'tBut our relations are not similar"
she archly replied. eve are not respon-
sible for your curiosity, but you for
onrs."
"Why so?" I cried.
cit was forced upon u.s."
''1ndeed, and was not mine forced
upon me. in such a manner, too, as left
me no choice but to seek out the mys-
terry? But truce to this bandying of
words; you will not take advantage of
my frankness for any other purpose
than to reward it with full explanations.
She looked at me moment, es if
questioning my apparent honesty, and
then said, pleasantly:
oil
patron of my apple stand. and you have
of my history if you will promise Sc
crecy, I'll tell you"
''I'n accept any condition that [ can
fulfill" 1 answered. eagerly.
"Walk with me into the garden, then
said the girl.
We had pleasant seat under rustic
arbor, when the lady remarked:
'Mother told you that we once lived
in village near Paris
sShe did," answered. "On my first
visit"
'We were not rich, but wa had q
pretty cottage, and an income sufficient
to support u.s. Father died when 7 was
little girl. I had no brothers, but I
had playmate who was dearer to me
than brother. AS we grew older, his
parents, who we're rich, forbade him to
visit our house. We met in the fields
we loved each other, and would not be
separated. His father learned that we
still met, and he was very angry. He
told his son that if he visited me, he
could not live at home. Our fathers had
been bitter enemies, but we could not
understand why that should make us
enemies, when we loved each other
and Emile declared that he would not
neglect mo if his father did shut his
doors against him. One day, he said to
me, I'm going to run away, but not
from you-from father, and You. shall
come to me, and then we shall never be
parted. 1t was hard to consent, but
Emile insisted, and we took leave of
each other, and he did run away. It
was long time before we heard from
him; then we got letter, which told us
he was in America. I had changed very
much in Emila's oheanoo on1 rootbn-