The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-03-08
mn III 1c.A Ivy.
..ts;s.ss .iar, -, 80 tOriginal.
FORTUNES OF JULIET CLAYBURN.
,cONfiNUED.

a"Ihefe lS seVelV objection to the
arrapgeu1ent. father" and Juliet raised
to him her white face and impioring lips.
'I do not love. Frank we'll enough to
accept him for q husband"
snow, Juliet" said Mr. Clayburn, ''if
you do not want to sioken me, pray do
not begin with all that mawkish senti-
mentality about love and such trashy
nonsense. Frank has qualities calcu-
lated to command the respect and esteem
Of any girl, and that is sufficient. The
love will come in time. If that is your
only objection, 1 consider it equivalent
to none"
''But TINT is not the only one." said
Juliet.
"What are the others?"
sIt would not be right" faltered
Juliet, t'to marry Frank, when I love
some one else"
"Whatl Have you been fool enough
to give your love unsought?"
Juliet was silent.
tsCrush the feeling" said her father,
mpassionately. eff you do not. your
peace is destroyed. Marry Frank, my
child, and strive to make him good
wife. It will be the best thing for you.
My child-who-bu no, will not ask.
You will marry Frank, Juliet?"
II cannot, father-oh! I cannot. Spare
me. for Gods sakel spare mel"
He was surprised at her vehemence.
He looked at her keeply.
"It is incomprehensible to me why
you are SO averse to the step. You must
really agree to it, my daughter. My
heart is set on the match, and I cannot
break my word to Frank"
''But, father, it was unkind in you to
promise my hand away without consult
ing me-"
i.''Not in the least" answered her
father; ''you do not dislike Frank. You
have heard me say, when you were both
children, that intended you for each
other. For what else did rear and
educate the boy? and now that you are
old enough, 1 wish the marriage no
longer delayed. Laying all this aside,
Juliet" he continued, 'I possess the
right to dispose of my own child-to
dictate whom she shall marry. You,
who have been reared up to observe and
respect the laws of parental authority,
cannot question this pre-eminent right.
You havs never faltered in obedience be-
fore, Juliet-you will not falter now,
when my own happiness is at stake?"
II will obey you in anything else, my
father; but I cannot marry Frank. It
impossible"
''It is not impossible" exclaimed her
father, angrily. "and gou shall do it.
Why do you say it is impossible?"
"For the simple reason. father, that I
have plighted my hand to another"
Mr.. Clay yburn's face became livid with
mingled astonishment and rage. He
could scarcely speak, from the intensity
Of his emotions.
'.And you have dared to do this?" he
said. "You have been dishonorabe
enough to enter into a secret engage
ment without my knowledge? Juliet
Clayburn! do not believe you"
ut is true, father" said poor Jnliet,
sadly.
He gazed at her long time, with an
attitude denoting doubt, perplexity, in
dignation. He was trying to collect his
scattered senses, for it seemed to him
his faculties were in q state of stupifac-
tion.
"Do you mean me to understand. Ju-
liet, that you are engaged to other than
Frank Clayburn?"
eyes, father, am"
"How long have you been engaged?"
Nearly two years"
A deep cry of pain burst from his
lips. He sat down near table, hid his
face in his hands and uttered heavy
groans. Juliet left her seat and ran to
him, striving to encircle his neck with
her arms. He repulsed her harshly.
'.Do not come near me-" he said; "I
would consider your touch contamina-
ton. Only one child" he murmured,
''and she to deceive me 80 cruelly-her
poor old father, who lived only for her
You must have wicked heart, girl, or
you never could have breathed in such n
pestilential atmosphere of deceit and
treachery."
':1t has made me wretched, father,
ever since 1 came home," and Juliet's s
tone was consoience.st stricken, and wretch
ed indeed she looked. =.
s'And who is this gallant knight-this
mirror If chivalry and honor" said Mr..
Claybdrn, in merciless irony, "who has
persuaded ayoung girl into deceiving
Boots, Shoes and T.
a r. THE MA A|if/