The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-31

to ME 10 put under her, pillow till, her
lawyer should arrive. She would herself
give them to. him, whom she had ap-
pointed her executor. -, ~,
s'They are to be put in my coffin md
buried with me-. she said, in conclusion.
II fancy I can rest better with those
dear faces beside me; and there is no one
living would prize them as would wish" I"
"Ah, Aunt Abigail!" said Miss Are
thusa, reproachfully, and lifting her
pooket-handkerchief to her eyes
"Dear Aunt Abigail" said Mr.. Simon,
eagerly, "don't be so unjust to me, at
least. This is tho portrait of my own
dear uncle, and these of my darling little
cousins. I remember them as if it were
yesterday. Dear aunt. give them to me.
You must know how dearly should
prize them for both your sake and
THEIRS
AS lie spoke he took tho lockets from
my hand, and turned to the window, as
if to examine the paintings, though I
saw that he was looking closely 1T the
setting. This was of white brillian is,
which in the light shone dazzlingly.
"No, Simon," answered the old lady
faces must be buried with me. cit will
in DEATH"
"What, just as they are, aunt?" asked
Miss Arethusa, hesitatingly, and also
glancing at the setting.
"Just as they are,' she repeated,
feebly. cit is the only portion of my
wealth that I shall take with me, and
surely none of you would grudge me this
little"
'"They are very valuable diamonds"
said DR.. Hurdle. solemnly, sand-excuse
me, Mrs. Vail, my dear madame, but
many poor people would bless you for
the comforts these could bring them"
II have not forgotten the poor" re-
piled the old lady, little sharply, I
thought, ''as you will see from my will.
These diamonds were my husbands
wedding-g gift to me. had them set in
these Iockets on that account. They are
to be buried with me Exactly as they dre."
"Certainly-certainlyp said the doc
tor hastily. Any wish of yours. my dear
madame, is, as you must be aware, sacred
to us ALL"
But as I looked around I saw some
queer glances exchanged; and Mrs.
Hurdle, pale, delicate, nervous woman,
whispered to Miss Arethusa:
'Isn't it shame? Real diamonds,
that cost old Vail thousands of pounds,
as I've been told by my mother" And
Miss Arethusa, in reply, cast up her eyes
and shook her head dolefully.
That night the old lady died-very
suddenly. with only gasp and quiver
to mark the last change; and before noon
the next day and Miss Grace had de-
Gently laid her out, and Miss Grace, with
tears falling quietly, had crossed the
poor withered hands, md placed in them
q few white flowers, which she had
gathered from her own fower-pots Up
stairs.
"Poor Aunt Abigail, she said, ga sad
and lonely lot wns hers. I trust that she
is now happy with the husband and
children whom she so loved"
AS for the rest of thcm-Dr. Hurdle,
and MI. Simon, and young Captain
Findley. and Mr.. Podgers, (which two
last had come post upon hearing the
news )-only came in once to see that oil
was right; and Miss Arethusa just peeped
in at the door with her scented hand
kerchief to her face; whilst Mrs. Hurdle
kept away altogether, because, she said.
her nerves were so delicate that she
couldn't bear the sight of corpse.
Well, they had decided to have the
puIlui Oh Gne uay lOllOWlnB, ana Inat
night I, and Miss Grace, and Mr.. Simon
were to take turns in watching the corpse,
which was laid in coffin, the lid being
already screwed down. BY the old lady's
own desire, the funeral was to be very
quiet and plain one, only we, and the
servants, and few invited neighbors
attending.
Miss Grace had the first watch, and
then, at 10 o'clock, it came to my turn.
For two hours sat there watching alone
beside the closed coffin, for didn't care
to have any one with me, and then, at
IL, Mr.. Simon came in and whispered
that might now retire, and he would
watch till day-break. asked: "Would
he have some one with him?" but he
answered "No;" so went out, closing
the door softly behind me and left him
there alone.
1 felt very tired with the exertions of
the day, and so thirsty that thought I
would go to the kitchen and get cup of
tea before retiring. There I found the
cook sitting up with two or three friends
who had dropped in to keep her company.
"Sich doings!" exclaimed she. as L
made my appearance "There they oil
be up stairs, in the dining-room, a-eating