American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-29

Sweet. bewitchirg little woman!
Be roguish you viii;
Long watch for me at the window,
Surely mother cannot mean ii.
When she says amid your noise,
That lone little girls more trouble
Than a dozen little boys"
LOST OR WON AT WIMBLEDON.
SHALL look for you at Wimbledon
Those were his last words as he pu
her into the carriage after the Norwood:
pleasant dance; words that dwelt in hel
memory more than she would care, per
haps, to acknowledge. And it was with
undisguised pleasure that she now turned
to answer his eager greeting.
Very pretty she looked in her d ainty
dress and ribbons and SO Ralph Leicester
thought when he met the earnest glance
of her gray eyes uplifted to his. He felt
as though he could then and there have
pledged himself her lifelong slave, in
stead Of pressing on about the heat and
the shooting, and thousand other com
mon-places, which go to make up an or
binary conversation. AS it was, l think
his gaze was sufficiently expressive, and
that Margaret Dene appreciated its silent
eloquence quite as much as she would
have done more outspoken admiration.
They had met for the first time at a
picnic some two years before, and then
not seen each other again till the dance
have referred to: but each held a lively
remembrance of the pleasant day spent
together, and had been glad to renew their
acquaintance. Now they seemed quite
like old friends, and more than one re-
mark was made during the day on tine
attention Leicester was paying to that
pretty Miss Dene; while the men won
dered, as they will do sometimes, what
the latter found in her companion so at
tractive. Handsome young exquisites
looked down upon. him from the superb
GRITTY of their good looks and greater num-
Der of inches, and said that, "by Jove
she'd a funny taste!'' rejecting, perhaps
on her apparent blindness to their perfec-
tons, and evident liking for the "ugly
little barrister." Ugly he was; but in
spite of his plain face and somewhat short
stature there was talent and power in his
strongly-marked features, and an indies
cribable freshness and vigOr about his
character which Margaret Dene at once
recognized and admired.
No luncheon party could be merrier
than that which gath cred in the tent of
Charlie Dene, captain of the - rifles.
His own spirits were overlooking, and his
guests seemed to have caught the infec-
"WhofzlsWa 1hefker the report is true
that Clara Rivers has gone off with Tom
LighNoot Of the Engineers ?" asked some
body.
II do" answered Charlie "Old Rivers
toll me about it himself this morning.
He's furious, and says they shall neither
of them ever touch a penny of his money.
By the bye, Travers,'' he added, turning
round suddenly upon conceited, foolish
looking young man at his side, 1--WE ought
to condole with you, 1 fancy; were you
not rather sweet in that quarter?"
Not at all, answered Travers, trying
vainly to look unconcerned. "I-aw-we
were only amusing ourselves"
"Oh, l see, said a voice from the end of
the table; attention without intention,
as somebody has defined flirting. Very
kind of you though, old fellow. to let her
use you as a blind. Or perhaps she de-
SPARED of your ever coming to the point,
and it's pique after all, that has led her
into this marriage?"
Such roar of laughter followed this
sally that Charlie called for order, and
begged to know the cause of it.
Ibid you never hear that story?" said
Bob Lambert, fixing his merciless eyes on
poor Travers, who was becoming more
and more uncomfortable under all this
chaf Zone evening, the lovely Clara
threw over our friend here for waltz
with troistemps Charlie, and when he call
ed her to order for her faithlessness she
only laughed. Travers could not under
stand such Indifference, until at last the
happy thought occurred to him that he
had himself danced three times with a
certain young lady in blue. 4 know why
you did it, he said, inspired with this
new idea; it was pique.' 'Pique? Mr.
Travers,' replied Flora; and they said her
face was quite sublime in its innocence;
L don't know the word; what does it
mean% BY the bye, l never heard your
answer" he added, across the table, to
the unhappy youth; ''rather difficult to
find one, was it not:'
How charmingl Quite a situation"
chlmed in another voice, with such an
exact imitation of Travers' speech and
manner, that Charlie, in his character of
host, began to feel things had gone far
enough; and to turn the tide of CONVEX
sation he broke in with a question on his
cousin Margaret's long tete-a-tete with
Ralph Leicester.
who do you think saw to-day, Meg?
Your old friend, Cecil Collins; he made
most particular inquiries after you'
"DO you know Collins:" said Ralph.
looking up.
For moment Margaret hesitated, and
her companions quick eye detected the
strange expression which fitted across
her countenance; but she recovered her
selfpossession almost Immediately as she
"We were near neighbOrs and great
friends as children, but have not seen
him now for several years"
oh" said Charlie, "you would scarce
ly know him again; he is handsome still,
but a mere wreck of his former self He's
not forgotten how to shoot though; by
George, his scores are something won
derful. I'm beginning to tremble al
ready, Leicester, for I've backed you for
the queens prize against all the ladies l
know; Froment's whole stock couldn't
clear me if you lost"
take my advice, and hedge at once,
then" answered Ralph, laughing, then
lowering his voice he added:
Miss Dene, will you wish me sue
cess?'
"With all my heart, Mr.. Leicester"
Il think l shall succeed, them" he said,
in his odd, cool way. "Do you know |
can understand now how those old
knights used to perform such prodigies of
valor, inspired by their fair lady's scarf
as talisman2 May l be equally IA
vored?" and he laid a meaning hand on
the rose at her side.
II fear the days of chivalry are over"
answered Margaret but as she did not at |
tempt to repossess herself of the flower, | |
think she was quite willing he should |
prove its talismanic powers.
Not at all, fair lady and when l bring
the trophy of victory to lay at your feet.
/ shall expect the reward of my prowess"
Marparet looked m not anita |, ,ou,;,. |