American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-10-05
VOL. XXII.

oIs "A "A IL
illusion dissipated, to choke the last foun
of feeling. and to put ashes on the last hi
of green. go back to the scenes of early
days. The brook. that lovely brook
alone is fresh and musical as when | frs
heard it ripple over its shadows. Tha
old school is not the same old school thai
| went to; it is smaller and poorer the
playground is nothing; the school moi
what it was. L expect the new proprietary
schools cut out all the old grammar anC
! college schools. And here so many years
of my early life We're pasSed-thirty years
| ago before l went out to India. And
here l first loved Lettice-Lettice, who
Tilted me for another nearer home. widow
of the Opulent brewer deceased. of brazen
face and voice. whose virago tongue is the
terror of halt the country. There are only
quiet and independence left me in this
world. and l must get what passioniess
enjoyment l can out of them. My life has
not been happy one. Successful in APP
pearance, it has been a failure in reality.
My one great task in life. even before
left Haileybury. was for love. Love was
the one absurd dream on which lived
for years amid the heats and colds of
Upper India. And when got the letter
that told me all was over, sank into Il
life more solitary than before; and, save
that l loved my work, and made
sons and daughters of the dusky
people l had to look after, and that
l might study the stars of heaven
and the herbs of the field, most human
feelings died within me, and 1 cared not
for man nor woman either. And then the
government quarreled with me about an
nexatiOn, and declared was more friendly
to the natives than to ministerial interests,
and so they committed all my claims and
I - Il
to drill myself into a machine, eat and
drink as much as l may consistently with
the safety of my liver, live by rule, sleep
by rule-so much time for rest, so much
time for reading-nO duties, no ties. no
ties. no interests the long, set life and
apathetic close 1 don't think 1 should
have gone back to that wretched old place
at home but l suppose that am pretty
well the last of the Canynge line and 1
suppose the only thing on earth l can
claim relationship with is the defaced old
Crusader in the chantry of the parish
church. And he's hardly more dead than
am.''
l do not say that Canynge said all these
things in order as l have put them down.
But do as the cunning playwrights have
ever done-select such parts Of his solil-
Oquy as fling light on his history.
1t was at this point that Canynge saw
what seemed to be ghost. The country
was one of that nature, that long chain
of billOwy downs rose and fell, fell and
rose. for stretch of many, many miles.
the undulatiOns were ex-
tremely gentle, but at others the emil
nences rose to some height and sharpness
of outline. Canynge had come down one
slope, and was passing along sheep-path
above which lowered a down with some
abruptness. On the height Immediately
above him figure presently startled him.
rtr&
wonder. 1t was that of a female form
clothed in perfect white a face clear, cold,
pure, and of so spiritual a complexion
that it required little imagination to con-
ceive an angelic visitant, unless the pro-
fuse diamonds that sparkled on her dress
might betray mundane origin. Her
long golden hair fiOated over her should
ers, and her white neck and bosom glim-
mered through lace embroidery. In spite
Of his establishment Canynge mechanically
Iuickened his pace, and in a few minutes
was brought face to face with the fair |
Toung girl who was descending the path |
which he was mounting. He saw how |
his eye had OWNED at once the
are type of loneliness he had seen, and a |
hundred thoughts at once rushed into his |
mind as to what should account for this |
sudden appearance at two o'clock in the |
in such attire on these far away |
Onely wOlds. Had she run away from |
accident or outrage ? had she escaped from |
! lunatic asylum, or some unfriendly |
lwelling? or what could be the explana- |
ion of this strange event, occurring thus |
'tartlingly in the midst of his complaints |
bout his monOtOnOus and stereotyped ex-
stence? He hardly knew how to act,
to alarm the maiden by ventur-
ng to address her, or to abstain from |
aking any notice, and yet keep her care
ully in view. A man in these circum-
stances falls back on what one might call
his mechanical morality, the instinct of |
he g befitting'' that has gradually grown
Up into an extra sense. Canynge drew
back, and raised his hat, and inquired |
he could be of any service.
She laid her white hand on his arm al
most caressingly. and said, ''Oh yes, in
Iced, if you could get back into the road,
nd help papa. 1t will be a long time be-
ore we can get help from home.''
Presently brilliant burst of laughter
vas heard. and two other ladies came leis-
rely down the slope of an opposite
void.
When they saw strange gentleman in
Capitalization with their companion.
whom they called Eveline, who had just
luitted them, they came up and told their
tory at that dead hour of night.
The party were coming home from a
'all at a great house, and had lett some
what early. The story was very simple
me. They had taken the narrow road
cross the wOlds, and the cOachman was
lot quite sober, and had upset the car
iage on the bank. One horse was decid-
.lly injured, but the difficulty was to set
he carriage straight. The young ladies
lad easily got out of the carriage, and.
hinly clad as they were, they had set off
o walk in their evening costume the most
irect cut home across the downs. In an.
wer to the inquiry of this chance conner.
hey told him he might certainly be of
se if he would strike off into the road,
nd with few hurried polite phrases they
tarted hOmewards to procure assistance.
There were only two gentlemen with
he carriage, and the coachman was lying
y the side of the bank, hardly sensible,
whether from drink or blow. A young
nan, who had evidently been on horse
ack, for his horse was picketed to a tree,
vas busily engaged in repairing damages
With an elderly gentleman, while an old
lady, in state of dismay, was
vas using somewhat incoherent express
ions of horror.
Canynge was able to be of essential
ervice. They made what use they
Ould of the one uninjured horse,
nd both shafts being broken, they
managed to propel the vehicle and to keep
.uard by the window to allay the lady's
ears, which were not altogether destitute
+ foundation, that there might be another
epetitiOn OF the disaster before they
cached home.
II think you must be Sir Henry Hal
ert," said Canynge to the old gentleman
n the pause that ensued after the imme-
late preparations were complete.
''And you" was the answer.
''YOur old schoolfellOw, Canynge, be-
ore went to Haileybury.''
ssCanynUer said Sir Henry warmly |