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

4 smileless, all but lifeless: even hard trie
J minister could find no encouragement.
1 After dinner they adjourned to the pa
lor. Arabella was hemming crasl
e towels. If she could have found anythin
, more ugly to hem, she would hay
hemmed it with pleasure But the It
: sources of the parish were limited.
Under these circumstances, Cornell
found the children a little burdensomt
g! will let you play with Miranda" sh
said sweetly 1--WE have so little need C
her in summer, that 1 fear she is nc
dressed for company; but you can d
what you like with her" Poor Miranda
| Then Cornelia went into the mex
room, opened the closet-door, took on
the meditation-b box, and proceeded
to resuscitate Miranda. A short silence
then cry of distress, 40 Arabella,"
Arabella came out of her shell, ant
rushed to her sisters assistance. Cor
nelia, pale and speechless, pointed to TIN
box with a trembling hand.
The box was empty; Miranda had dis
| appeared.
The family and guests came to view
the spot and eaet 0oS9ave-hi lis sopinion
! No" said sArabeila, tit is useless tt
| look for her in the house. l know wha
has become of her. Polly has eloped witt
her.
One of the sweet uses of adversely is
that it softens our hearts. Arabella's
| heart, or at least, her demeanor, was
softened by the loss of Miranda Mr.
Brinsley's profession made it perfectly
proper and seemly for him to sympathize
| with sorrow, and endeavor to speak words
of consolation; and he did do so to the
| best of his ability: indeed, he almost
seemed to rejoice in Arabella's affiiction
She grieved for Polly, not for herself, be
it understood; and on this neutral ground
she was willing to meet Mr.. Brinsley, and
to accept his sympathy.
| 1t was decided that it would be best to
/ interfere with Providence, and search for
Polly again. She deserved to be found.
Everybody had agreed to that proposition,
and unanimity had brought peace, when a
knock was heard at the frontdoOr.
The pastor went to open it, and returned
soon, looking little mysterious. "Cor-
nelia" he said, "sOme one wants to see you
in the study"
Cornelia turned pink, then white: she
stood near the window for a minute or
two, then she went to the study.
She remained there a long while, so it
appeared to one person in the parlor; and
at the end of that long while she opened
the parlor door just Il little, and sald,," Ar
abella, will you please come here for a
moment?" s--.-.
Arabella was graciously pleased to
come. She entered the study like an an
cient ghost, and said like grandmother,
We are very glad to see you, Philip"
The words, "my boy" trembled visibly
upon her lips; but she RETAINED from
speaking them Philip Dean was only
two years younger than Arabella; and, on
account of these two years, she chose to
regard him as an infant, and calmly asked
him juvenile questions.
This made Philip very uncomfortable;
and he found quite as little comfort in re-
newing his acquaintance with the rest of
the family. They were all glad to see
him; but they looked as if they wished
he was not there to be seen-all but one,
and that one was sufficient
The next day Philip returned, and heard
all about Miranda. The news of her dis
appearance had spread far and near; and
there was mourning and wailing in many
a household.
1--WE must find her." said Cornelia with |
unwonted decision. I'VE must offer a re-
ward for her.
yes said Arabella, whoever finds
her shall keep her | want Polly"
People do not always get what they |
want in this world. Some people at the
parsonage got the opposite of what they |
wanted. Arabella very nearly snubbed her |
sister, and went about the house like a |
lark cloud asking herself all manner of |
sad questions: Had the end come? Could |
it be that their happy life together was to
seem only as moonlight night, when |
to the sunshine of Philips pres
ence?
Cornelia did not dare to bask in the |
sunshine openly. She, too, had her fears |
md her questionings, and followed her |
lister everywhere. And, as Arabella did I
lot often condescend to cheer the Rev. |
iIr. Brinsley by her presence, the gentle |
men were left to themselves, and free to I
court each other if they liked. But they
lid not like: it was not what they |
wanted -..ss4- n we 3 8 -L- a.
MI. Brinsley communed with the pas
or, and Philip comnuned with Nature
n the daytime. In they evenings, they all
at together on the porch, or in the par
or, which, it is to be feared, was not what
wanted.
AT three O'Clock on the afternoon of the
ourth day, Philip came to the parsonage
With joyful countenance- Can you
walk as far as the north woods?" he ask
d, '"because, if you can, want to show
'eu something worth seeing. But you
must not ask me what it ISL
Miss Arabclla and Cornelia were sure
hat they could; and Mr.. Brinsley .ex-
ressed the same assurance.
So they started together; and the ladies
managed so well, that they kept together,
nd bore it with great cheerfulness.
Whether it was the heat of the sun, or the
Warmth of charity, certain it is that the
ce of stiffness melted very fast.
Now we must march in single file,
lake as little noise as possible, and say
ever word l will lead the way" said
'hilip, when they had reached the thick
st part of the wood
They obeyed, and followed him in 81
ence, till he stopped, and pointed to "A
arrow opening on the left.
And this is what they saw: on a throne
f moss and cedar branches sat the
eautiful Miranda, robed in
,hite; and on the fragrant pine
eedless at her feet reclined the sinful
oily. A hammock of brown linen hung
rom neighbOring tree; and u few starch
oXes stood about in picturesque disorder.
Polly was gazing at Miranda; but she
Don became aware of IA presence, and I
uickly jumped to her feet. :
Law! | declare, Miss Arabeila, if we
int real glad to see youl Me and Miriam
Y was getting kind of lonesome, we was.
gu see, we have eat up all the blackber-
les round here; and our crackers and
hings is all gone, mostly: so we was a
linking of going home Tomorrow"
All this she said with frank smile, and
,ithout a shadow of fear or shame
Polly, am amazed at your said Miss
sternly.
:. BE you, maame / don't know what
nazed is /; but don't you fret about us.
Iere we be. all right, and had all we want
d, didn't we, Mirandy? Law! wasn't
'e happy, thought
But, Polly, don't you know it was ,