The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-22

|
uuaintances came forward to greet him.
"Phil, this is my fsthsEE Mr.. Morton, father"
said my companion; and the next instant q
iovial-looking old gentleman, with gray hair
and smiling counSshanee, was shaking me
warmly by the hand.
There seemed to be something familiar in
that benevolent face stbae attracted my atten-i
tion, and could ndthelp scrutinizing 1t studiI l.
ousIy for moment, But concluded that IT
was freak of my imagination, inasmuch as IT
was hardly probable4h had ever before met
Squire ire. LACY 1,:E;na mo sconainted with few of
the chief persons present, Fred whispered in
nv ear. seThere, Phil, rush in among em, and
choose partner. cantsll by their looks that
those ladies are waiting anxiously for you to
make selection from among them. Quick
the ouadrilles are already sforming."
"No," I returned, shaking my head, "I wish
to be let alone white. will dance the next
set ;"-and turning away from him, l repaired
to a corner of the room, There to gaze at the
different parties the fupm contained.
From my seat wahhel the handsome form;
of Fred, as he moved among his happy guests,
with pleasant word for every one, and won
dered which of the maayfair beings he would
select for partner IN the dance. was not,
kept long in doubt. 49, - :,
| He led forward young lady-led her with
| in a few feet of me-to fill the set at the lower
| extremity of the roonarT and as my eyes rested
upon her, 1 fairly startled and could hardly
suppress an exclamation of astonishment.
| She was o beautiful Woman, not tall and
oueenly, vet with fsfHisthat was faultless in
symmetry and graceful .if motion. A wealth
| of silky hair, goldensin hhe, amid the folds of,
which was twinod assingle white lily, was an
adornment to the shape1y head it covered,
! whilst the great yearni1gSeyes, OF soft ethe-
real blue, reflected in their liquid depths the
soul of their fair owner. The lips, full and
pouting, and rivalling ihphue the ripe apricot,
seemed to invite kisses and her delicate cheeks
| were an index to the state of her mind, as the
rich carnation surged back and forth beneath
| the transparent ss-xHsr ornaments were few
| and simple, and her AressRas of spotless white,
| sweeping back in rustling folds from her pretty
waist to the gaudy carpet
But it was not her.beauty that caused me to
| start and almost exclaim with amazement; it
was not that, dear reider,for there were others
present, perhaps, whorwere no less prepossess-
| ing than the blonde beauty who claimed my at
| tention. -
This it was that caused my surprise There
was that in the fair face before me, that, like
strange to me- Morsemg mental decision at
first sight of her wassthat this was Lillian, with
whom I had, just five years ago, leaped from
the burning steamer YictQy!
| But second thought ITas that it could not
be; and then laughed ak the idea rs perfect
| ly ridiculous. Howvcodld it be Lllian-she
with whom had parted years ago, never to
meet again in this wprfd=4the with whom had
leaped into the fath6wie@ sea, and whose gol-
den hair had seen f0zting on the dark waters
for single instant, aadthen disappear beneath
the rolling pillows? No, it could scarcely be
the lost love of mysb6yHood, unless the AL
mighty had seen fit to w6fk miracle in this
modern time. s=as-.s
"And yet it must be sbe!" was my next ex-
cited conclusion, as Ilooked up and saw her
again.
The music was playing now, and she, with
flushed and smiling face, Was gliding hither and
thither to its liquid-notes, murmuring some
jesting word, as it Appeared, every time she
came opposite Fred. 1eeuzs
| Surely, it must beshe,. and yet how could it
be? How pretty she vas how sylph-like and
bewitching howl 6egal to grow restless, and
my cheeks and forehead Began to burn with
kind of dry, feverisE heat as continued to
gaze, enchanted and bewildercd at the dancing
fairy. -
Ha! that laugh that sweet, rippling laugh!
1t was hers exactly; and if this is not Lillian
of the ill-fated steamer, it must be near rela-
ton. Unable to bear longer the torturing sus. s.
Rsass Etaf1edte fguPle q atla@en sTho Na
SatsSsos .yNSpGha Ns1G .IaSsy partner & AZ =
II should judge that it is Miss Bell Gordon,
since they seem very familiar" said one.
"Ah, Belle Gordon!" I unused. "She is
Fred's betrothed. She is the adored lady of
whom he has so often spoken to me as his fu-
ture wife, and in praise of whom he always
waxed eloquent"
How like she is to. that, one. who sleeps be-
meath the ocean.waVe / us her sister.
II never learned her s6rnaine,- and Consequent
tly could not tell whether it was Gordon or not.
Forgetful of my position, and forgetful of the
brilliant throng around me, reclined my head
Ewearily upon my hand, and allowed my thoughts
Ito drift back over my past life. l was living
tover again those happy days spent with her
upon. the open sea l wa9 living over again
Ethose few briefmoments when we stood togeth-
Wrapped in flames, when in the midst of my
Iwild fright she sent thrill of joy to my heart,
Hand I folded her in my arms, and pressed
lpassionate kiss upon her quivering lips-all
Hthis was living over again, when the CHEEKY
livoice cf Fred Lacy aroused me from the pro-
Hound reverie into which had fallen.
i "Miss Gordon, allow pesto present my old
|ifriend AMI schoolmate, Nh Mort6n, who is to
Ibe our chief groomsman on New Years Day.
|! arose half-mechanically, and confronted my
chum and his betrothed. A small, gloved hand
was extended to me in acknowledgment of the
introduction and l looked up with the expec-
tation of encountering pair of soft blue eyes.
What was my surprise on seeing tall, queen
lly brunette standing before me, With great lus-
trous black eyes mxuriant black hair, and
rich, h,iosy ,;alfse tinted, complexion. !;
i This was Miss Bell Gordon, Freds afianced,
and yet was not the charming little fairy whom
he had just been whirling through the mazes of
the dance.
i "And this is the lady Of whom you have SO
| often snnken in such highlY complimeptary