The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-15

f'determined~ ~face.~-Ehe beautiful eyes had
lost their softened lustre, and shone, with q
passionate light almost cruel. ! The lips
were pale, but rigid as iron, and the beau
tiful nostril dilated with an expression of
| heart-consuming vengeance. II will read
the guilty secret, she said, elf the criminal
is there, however deep in his, heart he may
bury it." q ts,l &s>,1 81 - - @-tfs''.'-s. ~
| Strange as it may appear, 1 made no at
| tempt to dissuade her from her purpose. L
could not. I felt as if tho beautiful crea-
ture exercised over me q magnetic control.
leave, to prepare for the night visit to the
old house and its dangerous Inhabitants.
Those acquainted with the city at that
period, can form some idea of the danger of
the plot we had formed. To us it was
matter of daily occurrence But for the
young girl, inexperienced and tenderly nur-
tured, to thrust herself into the very house
of the unscrupulous and desperate wretches
who were suspected of this crime, was sim
ply appalling. 1t would not do, however,
to go to the place before the hour appointed
for our coming, for that would defeat the
object in view. 1t was, therefore, with
many misgiving, and an uneasiness but
poorly concealed, we bided our time. But
we determined to be there at the very mo-
ment, and the clock was on the stroke of
midnight, when we knocked at the door
The outside of the house gave no signs Of
life within. The shutters were securely fas-
tened, and no ray of light penetrated the
darkness; but the muffled sound of voices
reached our ears, until our knock hushed
them to whisper. There was q momentary
hesitation, rs if of counseling together,
and then the door was opened wide.
1t was long, low room, dusty and brown
from age. About dozen persons were
| seated around, but every eye was turned to
the door. Two men had risen to their feet,
and stood in an attitude, which might
mean defence, before the fire place. but the
object that attracted our attention most
was young girl sitting in the centre of the
apartment. Her face was dark as gipsey's,
and the long hair hung loose on her shoul-
ders Her dress was of poor material,
ragged and unclean. Paches and rents had
almost changed, its hue and disguised its
texture. She seemed too thinly clad for
that cold night, and her slender frame
shivered, as if from cold, as the chill air
from the open door swept in.
"What do you want?" was the stern
question addressed to lis by one of the men
at the fire.
Before had time to reply, the girl sprang
to her feet and spoke instead: ARREST these
men!" Her voice was low. but the face,
flashing in the light of the fire, was that of
the Nemesis I had seen that day.
There was short, fierce struggle, and
the men were in our power. The girl then
walked to place in the floor, and, touching
a concealed spring, raised trap door She
bade Mr.. l. lift the box that lay in the hid
ing-place. The lid was wrenched off, and
in it were the old merchants money, papers
and pocllet-book. With the money was
found the bill, and the word "Canal'' writ
ten across it.
1t was not long before the men confessed
their crime. The old man had been MUIR
dered and his body thrown in the river.
The daughter accomplished her mission.
She had carried out her design, and traced
to their hiding place, the proofs of the muir
derers crime. 1t is useless to realize what
followed. Long years have fled since then,
and the young Nemesis is yet among the
living. Beautiful still, there are many
hearts to grow glad at her smile, and share
with her the joys of the home she charms.
But this strange incident in her life will
never be effaced from her mind, or fade
from the memory of those who saw her
then.