The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-02-18
[Original.
o7KNEK.
OR THE
FORTUNES OF JULIET CLAYBURN.

FORTUNES OF JULIET CLAYBURN.
CHAPTER uI-MRs. CIAYBURN AND THE
LEGENDARY RING.
Karl's letter was destined to remain in
Juliet's pocket unopened and unread for
some time longer. When the young girl
was halfway mp the staircase, her mo-
theirs maid called 80 her from the hall
telling her Mrs. Clayburn begged her
daughters immediate presence in her
sitting-room. With q half-suppressed
exclamation of impatience and q Sigh,
Juliet turned back to attend to this re-
quest. She found the invalid, reclining
on her easy chair, looking weary and de-
jected.
"Come and sit with me awhile. my
daughter" said Mrs. Clayburn; ''I am
80 lonely. The overseer came for your
Tell me, who is in the parlor, and why
there was 80 much loud talking and con-
fusion?"
''It is Rudolph Won Oppenheim," said
Juliet, sitting beside her mother and
taking her hand; SO dear little fellow
though not 80 little, either, now, for he
has at last begun to grow and is getting
to be great tall boy. He has just come
from abroad, and has been telling us the
news about Cousin Engenia and the fa.
mily. If you feel strong enough, after
tea, mother, will invite him in here to
talk with you"
"Yes-I would like it,. replied the
invalid; "I remember him as an infant
of three years old, who used nearly to 90
into fits, crying for his mother, when
Eugenia went to Germany and left him
with your aunt"
81 don't see how she ever had the
heart to do such thing" said Juliet;
"Cousin Eugenia must be very cold in
her feelings. could never give up
child Of mine in that way"
"But she had another" said Mrs.
Thurlow, ''and besides, only expected
to be absent few months. When Lud-
wig decided not to return to America,
at your aunt's earnest persuasions, she
gave up the boy to her, and now, since
they have such house full, I suppose
they do not regret the step. No doubt,
Rudolph will receive separate legacy,
in addition to the share which he will
inherit through his mother"
Juliet sat in dreamy abstraction, gaz-
ing into the fire, which, although early
in the season, was already built morning
and evening in the invalid's room. Mrs.
Clayburn looked down at the hand on
her lap"
"How white your hand is, my daugh-
ter" she remarked; "but no wonder, for
you literally live in gloves. Your father
laughs and says. you average n new pair
for every day in the year. While 1 think
of it, my dear, wish to mention to you
that you must discontinue the practice
you have acquired Of wearing your gloves
at the table. Your father does not like
it. He says it looks silly and affected to
see people eat III gloves"
"Of COURSE" said Juliet, embarrassed; ;
eff he dislikes it, must try and break
myself of the habit"
She trembled violently with apprehen-
sion, as her mother continued to look at
her hand, and there was Karl's ring, its
magnificent diamonds flashing jets of
flame and brilliant corruscations of light.
Must she pull away her hand? 1t was too
late!
"Who gave you this beautiful ring,
Juliet?" asked her mother.
If our heroine had been accomplished
in the art of concealment and good
hand at impromptu, she could easily
have escaped detection, for Mrs. Clay
burn had not an iota of suspicion in her
nature-but Juliet's painful embarrass-
m6Db UGGfdScG u6I.> why COulu Suo uOG
say Aunt Thurlow? Cornelia? Anybody?
the matter would have passed from her
mothers mind entirely and she could
explain it at the right time. Juliet did
try to utter some such falsehood, but the
words died on her lips.
"What is this, Juliet? What am to
think?" said Mrs. Clayburn, regarding
her In surprise.
"Spare me-spare me, mother!' i'm
plored the young girl, falling on her
oknees before the invalid and clasping
her around her waist; "spare me! Do
not tell father-it will ruin my happi-
ness, if you do
"Make clean breast to your mother,
my child"
And Juliet poured the whole story into
her mothers ear-her fond, gentle mo-
ther.
"You will not tell father-not until
Karl comes; promise me that, mother, I"
she said, when the hurried revelation,
frequently interrupted by sobs, was
over.
"This concealment from your father is
very wrong" protested the invalid; 'you
nre deceiving him shamefully. Oh, Ju-
lieti you will break your fathers heart,