American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-05-17

Now" thought Philip. What he con
templated was simply to propose IA fail
exchange. He wanted to give up thu
Parish Doll, and receive in its stead wha
had always been to him the flower of the
parish. But when he began to speak
Cornelia began to laugh. Philip, holding
the doll in his arms like baby, and try
ing to look sentimental, was too much fol
her. Then he put Miranda under his
arm, like a stick; but still Cornelia
laughed.
a few moments later Miranda was lying
on the dewy grass, her blue eyes staring
| at the solemn stars. Philip and Cornelia
- But starlight is an indefinite light, apt
to deceive people: otherwise it might
have been affirmed that-no, nothing
1t is fact or several facts, however,
that Miranda spent the whole night on
her grassy bed, studying astronomy; that
when Cornelia came home, rather later
than Arabella, there was upon her happy
face a look of such intense innocence,
that Arabella understood it at once.
Miss Arabella was sitting in her own
| room, in the dark, when Cornelia came
in, and, putting her arms around her, gave
her a kiss. For little while they did
not speak; then the elder sister said Il
am very glad, my dear, and 1. shall be
more glad every day; but l must get over
my mourning first
Cornelia began to mourn, too, on hear
ing this. But presently she frightened
up, and began to show reasons why they
would have had to part, even if she had
remained at the parsonage.
"Neverr' said Arabe1la with energy
II do not blame you, Cornelia; indeed, l
think you have done perfectly right But
for me it would be utterly impossible. 1
disapprove of second marriages"
Impudent little Cornelia ventured to
think that perhaps it was first mar
riages to which her sister objected; but
she only said, Father and mother would
be pleased
it all my dear: | am not blind. And it is
a grief and a sorrow to me, that a woman
at my time of life, woman of sound
mind and delicate feelings, should be ex-
pected by her whole family to jump down
mans throat do not understand it."
If Miss Arabella had reflected little,
she would have know that her whole fam
lily would have been much distressed at
seeing her jump down a mans throat, and
that Mr.. Brinsley himself might have OBJ
jected to that form of devotion; but she
was too much excited to reflect.
You KNOW said Cornelia soothingly,
that it is not as if he were a stranger:
you have known him SO long"
That has nothing to do with it, my
dear, and, if you please, we will not speak
of it again"
yet some one must have spoken of it
again; for it was soon rumored that Mr..
Brinsley had accepted the call from South
Parish, and that the parsonage was to be
fitted up to suit Miss Arabella's taste.
And any one who might have happened |
to be listening at the study-doOr on a GER |
tain afternoon would have heard Arabella |
herself say, whenever you think best" |
with such an air of, IF it were done when |
It's done, then 'twere well it were done |
quickly" that a tragical termination
might have been apprehended.
But Mr.. Brinsley was not afraid. He |
was a pugnacious man, who enjoyed fight
ng for his rights; and he was perfectly |
satisfied.
When people tried to congratulate Miss
Arabella, they were utterly defeated. She
,ristled all over with dignified astonish-
nent, and struck them dumb. II must
lave been great nuisance in the parish"
he thought, they all seem SO glad to get
id of me-"
AS it is not customary to end story
With wedding-much less with two we'd
lings-the word wedding" will not be
mentioned in these pages.
But dolls are not forbidden subject
Early in the morning following a certain
previous evening, Miranda, limp and pale,
vas picked up by Philip Dean, and by him
,iven to Cornelia who gave her to Ara
,ella who gave her to Polly, who peni-
emily restored her to her proper sphere.
She is still the admired Miranda the
op of admiration" Better yet, in her old
ge and growing weakness, she is sur
ounded by faithful friends, who forget
he faults, and remember only the virtues,
f their beloved Parish Doll.-Old and
Vslp |