American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-27
4 LOTOS OF THE NILE.

been intense, and all the guests OF Til,
Willows were assembled on the lawn, in
tent upon the effort of keeping cool, il
such thing were at all possible.
Everybody had been silent for some
time when Mrs. Lancaster's voice hrpk,
the stiffness. Suppose we get up d
party for the White Sulphur? Who will
join it.''
Il am not going to the White Sulphur
this year." answered Eleanor Melbourne
Not going to the White Sulphur
repeated Mrs. Lancaster in IA tone
of surprise. "Of course l might
have known that the temptation to
break the pledge of total abstinence from,
filtration would be too great in that para
disc Of filtration. Besides, Mr.. Brent's
yacht is homeward bound, is it not?''
81 am not aware that there is any con
nection between Mr.. Brent's yacht and
my decision about the White Sulphur
answered Miss Milbourne haughtily
Then she turned to the person next her, a
recumbent figure lying at full length on
the grass. Il don't know anything OF
place life, when one has seen much of it, "
she said. don't think l shall ever go to
a watering-place again.
"Take carer said the recumbent
Don't make an abstinence pledge of that
kind: what will you do with yourself in
summer?''
Il should like to travel"
"Wilh yacht such a desire would be
easily gratified."
But have no yacht" said She
Mr.. Brent has, however, and l am sure
he will be happy to place it at your SER
vice"
You are very kind to answer for Mr..
Brent
IL answer for him because I judge him
by myself. If l had fleet it should be
subject to your command"
You are very generous" said she.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Lancaster was calling
over the roll of the company like an or
| derby sergeant, intent upon beating up
recruits for the White Sulphur. Major
ClareI" she said at last; "where is Major
Clare?' Then, when the gentleman who
had just offered Miss Milbourne his airy
fleet responded lazily, "Herel'' she added,
you will go, will you not?"
II regret to say that it is impossible -
he answered. II have danced my last
galop at the White Sulphur This time
next month 1 shall probably be en- route
for Egypt"
For Egypt" she repeated; and a cho-
| rus of voices instantly echoed the excla-
nation. "For Egypt! Nonsensel You
are jesting."
NO, l am not jesting," said Victor
1 L
am in earnest l received letter from
- naming a distinguished officer
| to-day, offering me position if would
| join him in Cairo. 1 say nothing about
what the position is, because my mind is
not yet made up 10 accept it; and even if
j it were, such things should not be pub
lished on the house-tops. But if nybody
here has fancy for joining the army of
the Khedive, l may be able to give him a
| few imDOrtant particulars"
| Nobody responded. Victor Glare sank
back in the grass and addressed himself
to Miss Melbourne.
There is nothing else for me to do" he
said in an argumentative tone. Il only
waste money on the impoverished acres
| of that old place of mine"
For a minute Eleanor Milbourne did
not speak. But at last she spoke in a very
| low tone: Yet you said you had not
| decided"
mo, l have not decided 1 cannot
| bring myself to think of selling Clare
mont, If were in Egypt it would not
matter to me that some upstart speculator
owned the old place.
Il think it would" said Miss Milbourne
| mo, it would net" was the obstinate
reply. II should take care to find a lotos
as soon as reached the Nile. Whoever
eats of that forgets his past life, you know.
l have scant reason for wishing to remem-
Der mine," he added, little bitterly.
Memory is certainly more often sting
than a pleasure" said Miss Milbourne
ut is strange" she added that we should
both have thought of obtaining forgetfal-
| ness through the same means When Mr.
Brent asked me what he should bring me
from Egypt, said lotos of the Nile. If
he fulfills his promise 1 will share it with
you.''
Il am not sure that 1 care even to be
| indebted even to forgetiulness to Mr..
Brent" said Victor Glare, ungratefully.
Mrs. Lancaster rose and sauntered
round the group to where Victor Glare
was lying.
Come, Monsieur Incidence, and take a
walk" she said. II think the policeman's
motto is right: Keep moving'''
Now, however comfortable a man
may be, if he is hidden to rise by a
pretty woman who stands imperiously
| over him, the chances are that he obeys
So it was with Glare. He most assuredly
did not want to go with Mrs. Lancaster,
and quite as assuredly he did want to stay
| just where he was.
81 know you are not obliged to me-"
she said wien they had gone some dis
| lance. 81 want to know if that was a
| mere assertion for effect minute ago, or
| if you are in earnest in thinking of going
to Egypt?"
81 never talk for effect,'' said Victor.
81 always mean what l say, and certain
ly am in earnest in thinking of going to
Egypt"
II am surprised that you should need
to ask. Everybody VINO knows me knows
| that am poor man."
Not so poor that you need go to Egypt
in search of fortune, however" said
she, stopping short and looking at him
keenly. Confess" she added, ''ihat you
are about to expatriate yourself in this
| absurd fashion because Eleanor Mil
bourne means to marry Marston Brent"
"Your acuteness has carried you 100
| far" said he laughing, but not quite nat
urally. "Miss Milbourne's matrimonial
choice is nothing to me. l have thought
of this step for some time. IS letter
is a reply to my application forwarded
months ago. Yet now that the answer
has come" he went on, 81 scarcely care
to grasp the advantage it offers. In
difference has infected me like a
poison. | feel more inclined to rust
out on the old place than to sound Boots
and saddle again.
But why rust out?" she asked impetu
ously. Then, after minute, Are there
not other women in the world besides
Eleanor Milbourne:''
"Perhaps So" a little doggedIy ''Thcre
are other stars in the heavens beside We
nus, but who sees them when she is above
the horiZon?"
"How kind and complimentary you
| are," said Mrs. Lancaster with IL slight
tone of bitterness in her voice.
Forgive me-" said he after a minute
| 81 am a fool on this subject, and, like a