American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-25

tractivc in person. And it was hardly
the consolation that perhaps it SHOULD
have been to perceive the unlimited fond
ness that the boy bridegroom had for his
aged companion. For il is really IL com
fort, though small one, to see oul
friends chafe under degradation. Accept
ing slavery with contentment makes tn,
| captive twice II slave.
However, the less the family felt like
| saying sweet things, the more they
pressed the sugarcd cake, the icc-cream
and strawberries upon their new member
But all this time there was something in
| the background waiting TO be brought
| forward, and ii was the bride who had the
courage first to touch it.
| Earnest" she began, with the dOmi
nant air of an elderly aunt, ian explana-
ton is due your father and mother-and
| sister," she added, CHANGING sharply at
Miriam, who was fairly seasick with dis
gust and sorrow and modification.
| "Yes, Lily, tell Them" answered Earn
est, looking at her as though she were
| sugar candy.
The idea of calling that old, black,
greasy thing Lily"
| 1.-The truth is, them" said Lily, turn
ing her withered face away from
| Earnest though it cost her an
effort, "by the will of the uncle
|
| less | married before a certain date | lost
it all. And kinsman, who was heir-at-
law, was very anxious to inherit it,
THE old cur wanted Lily himself" in
terposed Earnest, land he thought if he
got her money he would be sure to get
her At any rate, he was resolved to
have that. This was why we had to be so
secret"
Miriam fairly groaned and even fairy
hearted Mrs. Seacrest dropped her nap
kin-ring on the floor, and came up from
STOPPING for it with wet eyelashes. To
think that Earnest has sold himself for
thisiwoman's gold! So Mrs. Woodcock
down in the Hollow was right after all.
But, as though she suspected the nature
of their thoughts, Lily went on.
q had some trouble in persuading
Earnest" she said, looking at him fondly
through her blue glasses, while she pat
ted her gray curls and settled her cap
c'I knew you had" calculated Miriam,
| inaudibly.) HE had a foolish notion of
waiting till after had lost my property.
But had right to it and | wanted to
keep it,"
I'VE had jolly time, though, dodg-
ing old Drymar. He is about discover
ing now, Lily, that he isn't so smart as
| he thought he was" said Earnest, burst
ing into Il joyous laugh, and nobody felt
the neart 10 JOIN In.
Then he took from his pocket the mar
| riage certificate, dated that very day. 1t
seemed he had telegraphed to his father
| to meet him and his wife at the station
not more than five minutes after she be-
came his wife.
I'VE had to turn pretty sharp corners
to keep out of Drymar's way" continued
Earnest, still chuckling. HE thought
he had Lily safely locked in her room,
while he sent for justice, thinking he
would brighten her into a marriage with
him, or, at any rate, keep her away from
other men till the day had gone by But
Lily was better at picking locks than he
thought; and she came to me, poor
thing, so out of breath and frightened"
Earnests voice grew tenderer and
ptiful at the thought, and he took Lily's
hand in his with IA caressing gesture.
a. loved her ever since l have been in
college, and she knew it, but we had to
keep it to ourselves on old Drvmar's ac-
count. And / was dying to marry her,
but | didn't like the idea of marrying
for money exactly. However, there
wasn't any help for it then, mother, you
see Drymar was her legal guardian
until she married. or was of "a certain
age. So chum and fixed her up in her
bridal dress, and here we arc."
Upon that the irrepressible bridegroom
got up and kissed his bride, then led
her from the room, saying over his
shoulder:
I'VE will be back directly"
When they were gone, a sOrrowful sigh
dubbed out of the mothers soul.
Poor boyt' said she; "his heart is
all right, and | cannot blame him"
Il blame him for falling in love with
his grandmother, in the first place." said
Miriam, severely. "And her having the
money makes it all the more horrible. 1t
seems so sordid, even though we may
know better"
Almost before they had done speaking
they heard Earnest's step on the stairs,
and his voice in such loving, happy tones
that it sent fresh pain through the listen
ers- Then he appeared with his bright,
curling head and his sunny eyes like his
mothers. But with him came, instead
of the wrinkled old bride, a fair-faced,
blushing girl, with a shower of golden
hair, and all the beauty of youth and
happiness on her sweet face. A lily truly,
beautiful and pure.
we had to fix her up that way, chum
and /, for fear old Drymar would meet
us, cried Earnest, with burst of boy
ish delight at the astOnished and relieved
faces of the family; land it has been
such fun to watch Miriam this evening
Father and mother keep in better"
'Mon Dieu! Do you call that little
creature old enough to be Earnest's
grandmother" whispered Mademoiselle
Widger to Mrs. WoOdcock, leaning over
her pew railing on the next Sabbath, as
the Seacrests came into church.
Mrs. WoodcOck looked, took off her
glasses, wiped them, and looked again
Mercy on me. And / sat as near to
her on that day as I am to the minister
now. How IA body's eyes will deceive
thcmr' she cried