The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-16

depths-an inward serenity, which made
| it impossible to associate anything akin
to sorrow with their possessor-I know
not-and must proceed with my, story.
Mr.. Linden's house was situated on o
crest of rising ground, about mile disl
tant from an old seaport town. It COM
manded d variety of scenery, WHICH must
have satisfied the most difficult taste.
The house faced the North. fronting the
broad bay, which swept into the open
sea. Between tho bay and the house, n
broad expense Of level ground extended
fot miles.along the coast. On the South.
ern side were richly wooded slopes, with
stretches Of meadow between, where, in
the season, the ripened, grain waved like
billowy sea-. The East side command
ed view Of the town; here distance lent
its usual enchantment to the picture.
| Midway between the, town and Mr..
Linden's honse stood the gray church
which Mr.. Linden, with his wife and
daughter, always attended, and where
two or three generations of Mrs. Lin
J den's family We're buried. The white
columns which marked the graves Of Mrs
linden's parents, and one daughter, who
had died young were on n clear day
distinctly visible from the house.
The month passed rapidly. as the
months always do when people are alb
sorbed. Marie was to marry the man of
her own choosing, and man that her
parents would have chosen for her, could
their choice have comprehended the
world. The love of Marie Linden and
George Percival was fat contradiction to
the Id saying, that "the course of true
love never runs smooth" During the
| two-years' engagement, no shadow had
ever darkened their paradise-it had been
clear sky, bright sunshine, from first
to last.
| The 29th arrived, and the first part of
the programme, which had long been ar-
ranged, was carried out. The ceremony
took place at 4 o'clock in the after
noon, only o few intimate friends being
present; but there was to be bridal
party in the evening, and on the follow
ing day the bride and groom were to
start on their bridal tour.
Nine O'Clock soon caiue, when the
rooms were filed with the beauty and
aristocracy of both town and country
Never was there more beautiful bride
than Marie Percival. Never was there
happier groom than her husband. Never
was there gayer company than was as
sembled that night under Mr.. Ginden's
roof. Yet most of the guests have proba-
bly, retained only such recollection of the
evening as an unusually pleasant party
might leave upon the mind.
But for me, it is branded on my me-
mory with g strength which years have
had no power to dim. The almost sum-
without O cloud, the stars, the full moon
which lit up the old gray church, and
the two white columns. Within there
was the bewildering light, the perfume
of the flowers, the music of the waltz,
and the rapid whirl of the waltzers, as
they hoated past tho open window,
where 1 stood gazing attentively upon
the two PICTURESQUE without and one
within. It was there that Marie Joined
me. chiding mo, in her pretty girlish
way, for not joining in the waltz. 1 told
her that had been better entertained;
then, putting the lace curtains further
back, I drew her close to the window,
and we stood there. hand clasped in
hand, for at least five minutes; she gaz-
ing out upon beautiful night, talking of
George and of her expected trip, with
sometimes n loving word for myself; /
gazing upon her, thinking how we'll her
bridal robe became, when saw the color
slowly fading out from her sweet face. l
thought it was the moonlight, and was
BolnB 10 uraW inc curtains, when she
stopped me. Pointing to the monuments
III the church yard, which we're as visible
as at midday, GLOW many are there?"
she said.
Two, DEAR" 1 answered you
know there never were more"
Il count three" she said.
turned my eyes upon the monu.
ments, almost expecting to see II third
but to me there were only two. Yet l
felt the hand which was casped in
mine grow cold and rigid, while her face
had become like tho marble upon which
her eyes were so intently fixed. 1
strove to draw her from the window-it
was impossible. Ientreated her to speak
to met was of no avail. Thoroughly
alarmed, | said 1 would call Mr.. Perci-
val.
mo, no, not him." she answered.
while perceptible shudder ran through
her frame.
But his name had reused her from her
strange lethargy, or trance, or whatever
it might have been.
Il was reading tho Words" sho said