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


put IL, with her whinS.
\ child was coming down the steps o
the van. She turned round when sh
reached the grass to say ''GOod-night'
again. before she ran off. And mademo
iselle. from inside. answered ''Good-ni1h
and then came to watch the child. She cos
ed the lower half of the door in a dreamy
unconscious manner. and resting hel
arms upon it. leaned forward. looking VI
at the sky. She was still in her riding
habit; and the moonlight fell full upOr
her as she stood there, with a weary lOOl
in her upturned face; and great, heavy
tears gathering slowly, and glistenins
down her cheeks.
''Eh Ell. mamzelle,'' broke out Har
man, speaking with more than his ordi-
nary kindness. why, what's the mat.
ter? And after your success tonight
| too.''
The sound of his voice broke her dream
she bent her head and went quickly back
into the van.
From the depths of my armchair. and
behind the smoke of his own cigar, Regi-
maid FOrdyce, captain in the-th Dragon
Guards, was going to deliver lecture.
He and L were cousins we had not met
ior some years,-nOt since was at school;
and the moment he entered my rooms |
was struck by the likeness between us.
We were about the same height, with the
same cOlOred hair. and the same kind of
features altogether very much alike,
though he wore a long mustache, and his
face was tanned to a deep brown hy an
Indian sun, and he had lazy, nonchalant,
individual manner, none of which L had
yet attained. He was home on sick leave,
and had come down to Helstonleigh.
where his old regiment was quartered.
Are you going to Mrs. Cheshunt's
soiree tonight, GeorgeS he had asked.
what is the attraction there Winter
UllathOrne, and all the other fellows are
off,
Good looks, youth and money!
''Quite enough. Mrs. or Miss -
'sTwo misses.''
care you going?'' he had then asked
again.
NO; | am going somewhere else"
1t was the last night of the circus, and
mademoiselle's benefit; and L was going
there.
isn't there a circus down the tOwn:''
he had said, after little pause. 81 heard
the fellows talking about it. Winter told
me they were all hot about one of the
girls, who was awftllly pretty; but that
you had cut them all out, for you had the
say the scenes well, behind the ring. It's
Harman's circus, suppose?''
YES" ] said, sits Harman's circus
He has an awful pretty rider there so |
am fortunate in having the entrce behind
the ring, as you call it,"
You think you are fortunate i'm having
the ent1ee behind the ring. Surely you
have heard the proverb about
burned child fearing the fire. When
was little older than you
are now, 1 burned my fingers badly in
somewhat the same way. have lived to
feel the smart; so L don't want you to do
the same You understand, George:''
| was sobered directly. 1t was not
long lecture but had there been any oc-
casion for lecture at all, it would have
suf1cCd.
Mixed up with his story was a story
about a girl; such things are generally
kept quiet and 1, probably, should never
have heard it but from the circumstance
that | once took a letter to him into our
garden at home 1t was just before he
exchanged and went to India and he was
hiding from his creditors until they could
be pacified, and his difficulties smOothed
over. As matter of fact, his debts were
paid by an uncle; and, often and often. l
had heard him and other members OF the
family wonder what made Reginald leave
his old regiment and hurry out OF Eng
land. l guessed at the time, l remember.
that the letter gave him had something
to do with his going. 1t came in an en-
vclOpc directed to my father, with a short
note. in woman's handwriting, but with
out any rame, begging him to send it on
to Reginald if he knew his address.
happened to be in the room when the
post-bag was opened, and | was hidden to
take the letter to my cousin. After a
short hunt, found him in the garden, ly-
ing laZily on the grass, smoking his meer-
schaum in the sunshine. He didn't look
much like man in difficulty, L thought.
lolling there, humming fragments of
tunes, with the blue smoke curling from
his lips; and, boy-like, l envied his care
less nature. that could take troubles SO
easily.
..Well, young 'un,' he cried out, as l
what's that?''
Another bill. suppose said.
How came it here, then?''
.1In Il letter directed to the governor,
asking him to send it on to you.'
Hand over, then and, without rising,
he took it from me.
l have never forgotten seeing him read
that letter. | was not so very young, as
things go. l had just left school; but it
was the first time saw a man overcome.
He evidently knew the handwriting 3; |
for he gave a low, pleased laugh as he
opened the envelope. AT the first few |
lines. | noticed that his limbs stiffened. |
and his face grew hard but he read it |
without moving. Then his hand
as if he had been stunned, but a
great oath Missed out between his lips /;
and. unmindfIl of my presence. he sprang |
to his feet. and paced up and down the |
grass, clenching his teeth. crushing the |
letter in his hand, and calling out aloud
Ito God,'' that the man had lied. He left |
us that evening: and soon after l heard
that he had gone to India.
| only knew but the barest outlines of
that story; and those, not altogether cor
rect, | learned from friend of Reginald, |
who was with him in his old regiment.
That was why his lecture carrie d such a |
point with it. He had bought his expert
his fingers" rs he said,
land lived to feel the smart; y and, with |
men of the world like him, who could tell
whe: her the pain was not still singing:
..Yes. yes: L understand. Reginald
l said; but l will give you my word that |
| have not burned my fingers at all"
Good am glad of that" he rcjOined, |
with a relieved air. IL fancied from what |
| heard. you had been going it warmly"
The little clock on the mantel-shelf |
struck nine.
is that right.'' he asked, CHANGING up |
ut it. Il suppose you are going to the
circus. Shall | be de trop2 l should like
to see Hartman again..
When our coats were on, the candles
blown out. and the room lighted only by |
the fire. | said,-
did YOU ever find the writer of a let
ter | once brought you in our garden,
Reginald ~
lie turned round quickly, and looked at
me with establishment.
.sWas it you?'' he said. = es; l re-
member was IA little excited about it,
question: Well. no; l have never found
; i, ,-it 1r