The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-22
OUGHT NOT TO HAVE DONE 1T ,

OUGHT NOV To HAVE DONE 1T?
Concluded.
When they finally descended, Susie's
face was fushed-by the heat Of the
place, she said-while Dick looked un-
commonly grave. and gnawcd his mus
tache with nervous, dissatisfied air.
Had he been any one else-the Rev.
Mr.. Smiley, for example, should have
believed that he had offered himself to
Susie and been rejected; but, being
simply the penniless vagabond that he
was, the idea of any such conduct on his
part was too ridiculous to be entertained
for O moment.
At last, we turned to descend the roof,
and I saw that the moment for me to
express my intentions toward Susie had
arrived. Lingering dexterously in the
rear until the widow and the clergyman
were safely out Of sight, led Susie out
upon the gallery, under the pretext of
showing her a part of the landscape
which she had not noticed. AS we
leaned over the railing, I looked around
to make sure that Dick was out of sight,
and then began: "My dear Miss Susan,
I have something to say to you"
She looked at me q moment with
startled eyes, and then, putting her
hands together, with an imploring little
gesture, cried, "Oh, please DON'T
''Don't what?" asked I, quite puzzled
by her conduct
'Don't please say anything; I mean
don'tl Oh, just look what pretty
flower. How wish I had it,
The child was evidently confused and
frightened. T was about to explain my
self more fully, when Dick appeared
upon the scene, carrying upon his arm
shawl belonging to some Of the party,
and asked what was the matter.
''That beautiful little pink flower,
there on the dome" she answered.; "if
I could only reach it,"
'You shall have it," he replied; and
then, tossing one end of the shawl to me,
with the request that would hold on to
it, he seized the other end, and was over
the railing and sliding down the slippery
surface of the dome before I we'll knew
what was his intention.
The flower was growing on little pro-
lection not more than twelve feet below
US. Dick, however, bad placed himself
in horribly dangerous position; for,
although he could remain for time rest
ing with one foot on this projection, it
was impossible for him to regain the gal
lery without the aid of the shawl to
which he was clinging. He paid not
particle of attention to my peremptory
demand that he should come back at
once, but, quietly seizing the flower and
putting it temporarily in his bosom, he
looked up at Susie, who was watching
him, silent with terror, and said: "You
know what asked you just now. Will
you promise?"
She only replied: 'Come back, Mr..
Farrell, do. please; you frighten mo to
DEATH
''Susie," returned the scoundrel, with
the utmost solemnity, "unless you give
me your promise this moment, I will let
go the shawl, for don't cure straw for
my lie" ,. a;u..,. J., ,
''or I'll let go the shawl myself! Don't
you sec how you alarm Miss Scott with
your confounded nonsense?"
The villain never needed my existence
"Promise me, SUSIE" lie repeated, cor
I swear I'll let CO."
"Yes. yes, Dick, promise" she cried.
"Dear Dick, do come back. will mar
ry you.
This, then, was tho result of my
months of devotion to that shameless
girl. This was what came of my conde-
scension toward miserable, unprinci-
pied painter. Before my very eyes, in
my very hearing, he gained promise of
marriage from the lady whom intended
to marry myself.
Before I could fully realize his as
founding villainy, he had climbed back
again, and had Susie in his arms. I
blush for human nature when mention
the fact that he actually kissed her in my
presence.
+ tossed the shawl down. and turned
away without speaking. Before I had
gone many steps, Susie overlook me and
said "Pleaso forgive me, if have given
you any pain. Mamma wouldn't let me
see Dick unless you were by, and so I
had to be civil to you. Besides, I do
like you ever 30 much, and if you
would only marry mamma, it would be SO
nice"
Il really think you'd better" chimed
in Dick. ''There's clergyman here, you
know, and it could be done at once"
There! have told tho whole story,
and the facts have been stated precisely
as they occurred. It only remains for
me to ask the question, would not have
been perfectly justified in letting go the
shawl, and thus putting sudden and
atfeotuol. end to NV frao ch aroItc y; vo L q.