The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-11

u8Qs GOLn4s ousJ cIB9bAuS feA0y 9OuSuS -
found;it was deserted: ~ was not sorry.
i would. by no smeans,f fhave disliked an
other peep at the beautiful brunette;
but, at the same time, I had no ambition
to inspire tho couple with the notion
that I was Watching them.
had got to the top of the hill, and
was passing between row of thick
bushes, making a sort of natural hedge
for broad area of trees. like O gigantic
park, when was suddenly startled by
report of o pistol discharged to my left
At the same moment, heard the hollow
sound of ball striking my hat. and that
article of dress rolled on the ground. I
looked round with pale face. The at-
tack was horribly sudden. Who, in the
name of Heaven, wanted my life? For
what crime was my blood demanded?
What had done? I saw the blue smoke
curling up from the densest portion of
the bushes, and heard the cracking of
the furze and twigs caused by the hasty
flight of some one. I picked up my
Had It struck two inches lower, it would
have entered my skull. I hastencd to-
ward the town, possessed with much the
same sort Of enviable feelings rs you
might imagine Tipperary landlord or
agent would feel who sees threats of his
life carved on every other tree. Bravery in
situation of this sort was quite out of
the question. OF what use is pluck,
when you have to deal with invisible
foes? I might also confess to having
broken into downright fight as I neared
the town-so extremely anxious was to
escape every sheltering bush, tree or
hedge in the neighborhood. On gain
ing my hotel, I began to reflect on my
narrow escape. I had been too much
excited to attach to it the significance it
demanded. But the hole in my hat con-
veyed the most shuddering information
on my narrow escape. Beyond all rea-
sonahle doubt, my life within that hour
had only been worth two paltry inches
I repeated the question to myself: "Who
wants my life? And, if anybody wants
it., what are their claims? What have I
done to merit assassination" Being
wholly unable to answer these queries, I
the hotel-keeper. I called him to my
room, and told him what had happened
he shrugged his shoulders and ex-
claimed:
Monsieur. like the rest of mankind,
must pay the penalty of loveT'
"But," said I, shocked at his sang
froid, 81 have not made love. Since I
have been here, 1 am not conscious of
even having looked at a woman-much
less spoken to one."
"Then it is ON enigma" he replied.
'"The only solution I can offer you is
that you have been mistaken for some
one else.''
"Bon Dieu" I exclaimed. "You have
undoubtedly hit the mark. have been
mistaken-and I know for whom. Have
you not seen man in this town bearing
striking resemblance to me?"
mo" was the answer.
"Well, my friend, I have. The mo-
ment saw him, felt uncomfortable. I
had presentiment of evil. You will
oblige me by letting me have your bill
[ shall go to Paris tonight. If I stop
here another day, my life, which I left
England to fortify, will be snuffed out
like candle"
The hotel-keeper, seeing matters come
to point that affected his interests, en-
deavored to laugh down my thoughts
He argued that the ball had received
in my hat might have been destined for
O bird; that it was the shot of some
wretched marksmnn, who had mistaken
my hat for crow"
''That may all be very well," an
swered; "but suffer me to tell you that
your excuse only makes me more reso-
lutte to leave this place; for of what value
is mans life in district Astounding
with sportsmen who con mistake hat
for crow?"
A train left for Paris ut 2:35. It was
an express, and found it to be due at
8 o'clock. despatched my portman-
teau by porter to the station, and
having twenty minutes before me. sat
down to slight repast of cold fowl and
uin ordinai'e. The position of my table
enabled me to get view Of the street.
AS the porter strobe away with my lug
gage, observed n man cross the road
and accost him. In reply to what was
obviously q question, the porter, with
the gesticulations of q Frenchman. point
ed with his thumb to the hotel, and vi
gorously nodded his head. The man
crossed over again to the pavement, came
on until he was opposite the hotel,
caught sight of me through the window,
and abruptly turning OH his heel, walked
off in the direction taken by the porter.
T thought nothing of this. The man, I
conjectured, probably wanted the job I
L. ) r.