The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-21

his wife q most worthy woman. It was
ia the midst Of winter, and the season
unusually severe, when one night, after
the peasants had retired to rest, they
were awakened by knock on their hut
door. 1T is only the rowling wind, said
the peasant Franz, but his good Frau
assured him to the contrary. So. strik-
ing light and opening the door, Franz
peheld an old, white-haired man, trem-
bling with cold and bowed with age. He
begged, in trembling voice, for food
and shelter, and, notwithstanding their
poverty, they took him i'll. The good
wife rubbed his almost frozen limbs, and
put him in her own bed-moreover, they
gave him the last morsel OF food in the
house. He remained in the peasants hut
ahtii we'll again. One night, Franz and
his wife were awakened again, at the dead
hour Of the night. The old man stood
before them. Il bid you adieu! he said,
and thank you for your kindness to
poor beggar. You have taken food from
your own mouths to give to me-you
shall be rewarded. Here, take this and
be handed them a dark looking stone
;take this-it will bring you wealth and
power and prosperity. You shall be the
founder OF q large family, and in gene
Nations to come, children shall arise and
call you blessed. Let your motto be
Never forget the poor!' SO runs the
legend, and to this day, Won Open
helm never turns Off beggar from his
door. So remember, Julie-remember
rhy betrothed. if, in the years to come,
years which may elapse before our mar
riage becomes practicable, if you should
ever prove false 10 your solemn VOWS,
and desire to recant your plighted word,
this ring, only, can do it, II the whole
world were to swear to me that you were
false, would not believe it, unless /
held this token of your broken faith in
my hand"
!tAnd that you will never do, Karl"
replied Juliet. 81 can never be untrue
t3 you. Such q thing is simply impossi-
BILE; for, laying aside my feelings, I could
never be so dishonorable as to break the
sacred VOWS pledged to you. Is it kind
in you to doubt me?"
"You mistake, Julie. do not doubt
you. was merely explaining to you the
significance attached to this ring. If I
did not believe you the soul of nobility,
truth and honor, as lovely as you are, 1
could never have enshrinei your image
in the wermest niche of my heart. But
Ifully appreciate the difficulties which
lilo in our path-which will surround you
especially. As I have said, years may
elapse before our union may be consum-
mated, for, if possible, I should like to
secure your father sanction beforehand; !;
to marry without will be our last alter
native. In this I consider myself mira.
Gle of magnanimity, for 7 sacrifice my
individual wishes and happiness to what
I'm sure will be conducive to yours.
Julie, wish You to believe--I beg you
to believe-the highest aim, the one para
mount object Of my life is to make you
happy" , ;. ),
with tender glow about the eyes, which
made them more lustrous in their depths.
Though 1 am not sanguine concern
ing the matter of obtaining your fathers
consent" continued Karl, stranger
things have happened. Judging from
the influence exerted on myself, I should
say my beauteous 'Fdirie Queen could
remove mountains of obstacles, and a
of her magic wand"
course, from what cause. will he disco
vered from his next remark.
''Julie," he said. laughing. "please re-
move your hand from my mouth. 1t is
sufficiently spi,ituel in the way of hand,
but something of On impediment in the
matter of distinct articulation"
well, if you don't fancy it's prox-
Unity" laughed Juliet. "why do You per-
sisi in holding it in the way?"
question which Karl did not see the
necessity of answering-in words
| "Do proceed with your remarks" said
juliet
Certainly, If you will be considerate
en'ugh not to interrupt me again 80 un-
tremendously. I believe I was saying
there was no telling what wonders you
might effect, after your return hom from
school. Tt is worth the trial, anyhow;
so nstead Of being married, as I first
proposed, as soon as you have finished
yo1r course at the seminary, must try
andreconcile myself to yonr return home
for few months, for the purpose of try
| ing what may be accomplished by diplo-
macy. 1 will go to Orkney and propose
formally for your hand. If your father
approves, will truly rejoice for your
sake, for 1 think his appreciation would
promote your happiness. If he disap.
proves, then he loses his daughter and
you, become my wife. The two charac-
ters are not incompatible unless lie makes
them so. If he will not yield precedence
to the divine law Of love, then ho must
suffer the consequences, however unfor-
tunste they may be-"
"But there is higher law than the
divine law of love" remarked Juliet, ab-
straftedly.
"What is it?" said Karl, in qnirk tone
DUTY" she replied, sadly
klrl's face reddened with 1t feeling
which resembled displeasure
Julie" he asked, in an impassioned
voice, "wonld you not be happy with me.
Independent of your father?"
She struggled to conceal her rising
emotion and to evade his question. He
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