The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-24
THE GARTER.
CONCLUDED.

They had not been long on the hill,
when two gentlemen came up to and ac-
costed her friend, who foolishly encou-
ragged the firtations of men whose inten-
tiona she knew could not be correct.
They quickly recognized Mary, and with
the effrontery and usual small talk which
men of fashion know how to employ un-
der such circumstances, continued to
walk by their side, and to edo the agree
able" The situation soon became an
irksome one to Mary; she felt confused
and panied, as she remarked the une-
quivocal looks of surprise and scorn of
many Of her own rank in life. Not 80
her companion; she was perfectly at her
ease, and maintained with spirit trifing
conversation with the intruders, who had
insensibly led them to retired spot be-
hind the castle. There, an attempt was
manifested on the part of the gentlemen
to separate them. TO Mary's unsophis-
ticated heart, this proceeding appeared
in all its glaring improperly; and when
one of the ibertines ventured to put his
arm around her slender waist, and draw
ing her nearer to him, to whisper some
insulting nonsense in her ear, her heart
swelled within her, and unabled any
longer to suppress her feelings, she burst
into food Of tears.
'Let US Co." said Mary, in ON agony;
''let us go home" The gallants mean
while stood puzzled and irresolute.
Prudence had left the safeguard of
modesty and virtue, but innocence re-
mained to defeat their overthrow; and
there is sacredness in the heartfelt ap-
peal and fearful imagination of alarmed
innocency, that cannot fail to check the
advances Of the most prohigate roue
Shortly afterward, Mary missed her gar
ter, and looking round for it, beheld it
in the hands of the gentleman with whom
she had been walking! Blushing and
confused, she hurried her companion
down the hill, and mingled in the crowd
congregated at its base. AS they pro.
ceeded homeward, her friend remarked
her continued detection, and inquired
the reason.
II cannot tell" said Mary; "but I
have fearful foreboding in my mind,
and the terror of some coming evil op-
presses my spirit.
"Why, Mary, what's the matter with
you? How foolish Your eyes are red
and swollen. You must not go home in
this plight; your husband will wonder
what I've been doing with you. Come
come home with me, and we'll soon
get rid of these vapors."
her compliance with this reasonable
request contributed to the misfortunes of
the day; for the evening was 80 far ad-
vanced ere she reached hor own house,
that she found it deserted, and silence
which seemed doubly dreary to O. mind
pre-occupied by melancholy thoughts,
reigned throughout it. She was ut no
loss to conjecture the cause. It was her
husbands habit, of late, when much dis
pleased, to betake himself to neigh
boring public house, and there to remain
till late. During her absence, displea-
sure stronger than ho had ever before
harbored against her, disturbed her hus-
bands peace. "This can never come to
any good" muttcred he. He was suf-
fering the anguish which he endures who
"do"ts, yet doubfs-suspects, yet strong
ly loves"
Oh, jealousy! thou fever-fret Of care!
vexation's sore vicissitudel demon, that
plantest thy hell and revelcst in the
breast where love reposed, to what excess