The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-14
| From Lippincon's Magazine. |
THE PRICE OF A DREAM.
CONTINUED.

:s THE PRICE OF DREAM.
-Ht CONTINUED.
She never analyzed her feelings-she did
not try to think; she just followed that voice
out into her new world. His soul had call
ed hers-she was his: whether he would
come to claim her, she could not tell or won
der. 1t was the beginning either of O new
existence, or it was the spell which must
wear the last bodily link away, and send her
spirit to wait beyond until he had finished
his work here and could join her.
You shall not say that it is absurd. I am
telling you the exact truth; I have no need
to exaggerate.
Oh, the days! the days!
Never day when she did not expect him
to appear; no one entered the room sudden
~ during class that she did not stop breath
ing; she never walked out that her heart did
not rush on to such expectancy that she
was as tired as if she had taken weeks
march.
Life and strength waste rapidly in such
fevers. 1t is possible to pass through state
of feeling like that-to live beyond ito be
80 changed that one looks back on the old
self with wondering pity, perhaps genuine
laughter; but when it came upon poor little
Dolores. she had been like dropping lily
that only needed one more strong gust to
break it down.
The Raleighs had guests at their house;
other people who had country-seats in the
neighborhood were established therein, and
had brought troops of friends to enliven
their solitude; and the village itself was
iaVorlte resort during the summer months
for persons fond of making wandering no.
mads of themselves at that season.
Gayeties of all sorts were naturally the
result of these combinations, and the reports
thereof came up the hill into the quiet OF
Minerals halls, in spite of the precautions
employed by the Abbess to prevent any
murmur from the frivolous world penetrat-
ing the cold dignity of those classic shades,
and sorely distracted the young birds whom
she and her attendant owls were endeavor-
ing to train into chanting the notes of their
wisdom.
More than that; an invitation to pic
mic for the Lady Abbess. She was to bring
three or four of her elder charges. who
would study all the better after little
amusement Miss Raleigh said; and, above
all, the little Cuban teacher; she must come
at any hazard, for everybody was wild about
her
Whereat the Abbess shook her stately
head, in doubt as to the propriety of a
teacher of hers performing such extraordi-
nary feats with peoples brains; still she
was 10th to offend Miss Raleigh, and in her
grand, high-priestess way rather enjoyed
occasional relaxation upon her own account.
She would reflect. All! the party was for
the next day, an impromptu affair, and,
therefore, certain to be pleasant, Miss
Raleigh said. Should she consult Miss
FROST as to her choice among the girls to be
honoredP Miss Frost, better known as
Cerberus among the pupils; but the Abbess.
not being aware of that, thought of her by
her chilly patronymic. On the whole, she
would not; the girls who were most certain
to deserve the pleasure by their application
and regard for their duties were sure to be
among the ugly, awkward squad, and the
Abbess felt that on an occasion like this,
she ought to present her choicest, as far as
appearance went.
While she was shaking her head. and
looking up for counsel to the bust of Pallas.
which decorated her study, rumor of what
was IN store crept--no mortal could have
told how-into the class rooms, and, as it
made its way along like an increasing wind.
drove every girl who caught it out of her
senses on the instant. Who would be Sc
iected? That was the question, and for
tunately an hours respite from lessons gave
the eager creatures an opportunity to dis
cuss the matter. Discussion became ami
mated, and conflicting opinions were ex-
pressed In tones equivalent to what would
nave taken the form of "stand up and a
ring" among boys. The ugly girls tried to
Deieve that diligence and subordination
would come out triumphant, but were
laughed to scorn by all the beauties; they
were not going to be asked to repeat Latin
verses or explain geological formations.
AS II goodnesss would count here, indeed!
And what would? was the angry cry from
among, the group of the hatchet-faced.
linen the beauties looked at each other, and
tossed their beads and said: ''Never mind
what-not any musty old 'ologies, at all
events"
AT last the Abbess sent for four of her
queen roses and the Cuban, and then all
knew that the fiat was pronounced From