The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-14

tnat moment, those who had been most ur-
remitting in their efforts; to obey rules and
to be stndious, felt, as, many Of us have
done at times, that though there may be
truth in the old proverb, that "virtue is it's
own reward, "the reward is usually SO very
slight it is not worth having
Poor girls! there was no help for them,
no comfort, except such as their female in
stincts might teach them to find in abusing
the Abbess, and raking up unpleasant me-
mories in regard to the group she had
chosen; and they proved their claims to ap-
proaching womanhood then, for they dis
sected the brazen things in very creditable
style for such young anatomists.
''You will like to go?" the Abbess said to
Dolores, when the triumphant quadriateral
had disappeared sYou will enioy q little
amusement?"
Dolores was coughing, and there was n
bright red spot on her cheek; her pulses
had all started at gallop with the earliest
words. The Abbess noticed for the first
time how delicate she looked, and checked
brief exordium she had contemplated in
regard to the frivolity of amusements in
general A sudden thought pricked her
conscience little; the girl had been over
worked, and day of pleasure would do her
good: Really she must take time to see
that the creature got rest, and had some
thing strengthening administered out of n
OSstaS' u,
calisthenics, and a certain abominable tonic
prepared by physician in whom she had
unlimited faith, would, the Abbess be-
Loved, set right all the ills that flesh or soul
is heir to-
Never anything prettier walked down the
hall to meet the Abbess than Dolores, next
day, In her festal dress of rose-colored mus
I'm floating about her in diaphanous clouds,
half covered by great shawl, which had
been her mothers, of that marvellous lace
work into which the Spanish nuns used to
net the long hours in their gloomy con-
vents
81 don't know how I could have fancied
you had not looked well lately" said the
Abbess, warming into genuine admiration.
IL feel like bird" cried Dolores s'Let
us go; breathe again-I live!'
The Abbess was somewhat shocked at her
exaggerated manner, but luckily none of
the young ladies were near to be contami-
mated; so she only gave her gentle caution
concerning the decorum necessary to be
preserved on every occasion by the sex
above NIL, by such members of it MS held
place in her learned halls
"Let me forget restraints today" plead.
ed Dolores, too wild with excitement to
dread even the Abbess. "Let me live. To
morrow I will come back Let me have
this one day."
Ideally tho Abbess was at loss what to
answer. She eyed her with SURPRISE like
venerable owl looking at cardinal bird {:
then contented herself with admiring her
dress, and requesting her to summon the
young ladies.
The pic-nic was in q delightful wood, and
q, pretty sight the gay groups looked when
the Abbess and her charges appeared among
them. In the depths of her chilly old heart
the Abbess was charmed and flattered at the
sensation which her arrival created, not TAX
ing the four pretty girls and our Cuban into
her consideration of the matter as fully as
another might have done.
Miss Raleigh claimed Dolores Mt once.
''You darling little senorita!" said she,
carrying her off to join her special proup.
eve have all been dying to know YOU since
the day we peeped into the school.room. I
have caught our tropical bird ut lastr" she
exclaimed, as she led Dolores ND to her
friends.
They all surrounded her at once-three
or four women, charming enough to be able
to like other women-elegant, high-bred
women, such as Miss Raleigh had faculty
of gathering about her.
"This is Mrs. Haydon," she went on ra-
pidly; 'and this is my dear Nav Summers.
L can't call you Miss Grafton; we may say
senorita, maynt we?"
Then she presented the men, and Miss
Raleigh had the most charming and original
manner possible, and could do whatever
she liked in the prettiest way; and, besides,
she was great heiress.
1t was very pleasant, and if her manner
was little patronizing. Dolores could not
notice it then; moreover, it was no vulgar
feeling which animated Miss Raleigh; she
only felt as if she had caught some rare,
beautiful bird, and wanted its charms to be
admired.
Everybody was devoted to her, and she
talked and laughed till, between pleasure
and the expectation all the while at her
heart, Dolores flashed into such marvellous
beauty that the very women could have
worshipped her.
"Where can that brother of mine be?"