American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-10-03
SPONGE-CAkE.

den border. When the time for summer
boarders came Lottie had TO be g SECOND
girl" and very piquant little house
maid she looked, with her black curl
pushed into net, and her bright Gallo,
skirt fastened back. She was hummins
in low tone, and listening between
times to the gay laughter of the group or
the front piazza, where three young la
dies were embroidering with Berlin
woods and two gentlemen lounged on tho
steps smoking.
The air she was humming was a sac
one, but she felt merry enough. 1t is
true that she was little tired with heI
mornings work, and little indolent
with the heat of the day. 1t is true, too
that she was conscious of "a faint twinge
of envy when Mr. Davenport's barouche
was drawn up to the house by a pair OF
painting horses, and its owner, leaping to
the ground, assisted a lady companion to
alight-
Lottie would have liked to 20 riding in
barouche with-well, with some one
who was not Mr.. Davenport 1t is a
pity the some one" in question could
not have seen the crimson deepen in her
cheeks as she pulled the basket of peas
toward her and commenced the song over
again:
Ye banks and braes o. bonnie Doom.
How can We bloom sac fresh and fair:''
the next words on her lips. Turning,
she saw Mr.. Davenport, who had come
through the hall, and stood looking down
on her, with his hat in one hand and a
half finished cigar in the other.
"All the birds seem to be singing on
this side the house, Miss Lottie."
Yes" was the demure reply. "Silas
says there are two oriole nests in those
elms. They're very pretty singers"
Mr. Davenport did not see the mischief
in Lottie's downcast eyes. He was more
amused than vexcd by her literal re-
sponse-
viii you allow me to sit down here
awhile? Perhaps they may go on sing
ing"
Lottie made no objection, only shelled
peas very vigorously. When Mi Daven.
port had seated himself, thus bringing
his hair, which was already beginning to
be streaked with gray, on a level with
the top of the basket, She did cast sly
glance of admiration at the heavy gold
chain at his side and the rings that
adorned the hand with which he was
wIping his heated face.
It's excessively warm. Can't help
you with those peas, Miss Lottie? 1t is a
pity TO stain such pretty fingers as
yours"
Lottie blushed more at his glance than
his words and replied hastily:
Oh, no, certainly not. I'm used to
it,"
But you don't like Homework, do
you2 You'd as lief somebody else would
shell the peas, etc? Eh."
''Why, yes. That's of course"
All, I'm glad you're frank with me-
Do you know I've been curious about
you often when we've all been enjoying
ourselves, and you've been working away
hard like good little Cinderella? Do
you know I've actually worn a path I'M
der the kitchen windows trying to get a
peep at you?"
NO" said Lottie, with a frank look
of surprise; but something in Mr.. Daven-
ports answering gaze suddenly caused
her to bend over the basket to hide the
vexed color that burned on her checks.
Miss Lottier'
The voice was almost whisper and
hand softly tried to draw away the
basket of peas.
"Well, sir?"
Put these away. awhile and let me
talk to you"
why, I'm listeningl I sha'n't have the
peas ready for dinner"
Nevertheless, she let him put the
basket one side, only saying, with
nervous attempt at laugh,
There! now are you satisfied"
Mr.. Davenport deliberately took the
baskets place at her side, and, bending
his dark, bearded face very near her own,
answered:
mo, not yet. How can be satisfied.
Miss Lottie, when you show SO plainly
that you don't like me?"
His nearer confusedly disclaimed this
conclusion.
Why, Mr.. Davenport, IL Of
course | do!''
well, don't want you to like me. l
don't like you"
Her puzzled and somewhat resentful
glance made him smile. He continued,
bending so near that a fringe of hair
brushed Lottie's curls:
believe you know already what l
mean. You little. coy, black-eyed sprite,
l Lore you: Didn't you guess it before l
told you?"
The garden, the overhanging vines,
and the SKY whirled before Lottie's eyes.
Love her?-the rich Mr.. Davenport, who
had more money than he knew what to
do with, Love her. She was too much
amazed to resist when he took her hands
in his, or to comprehend the disconnected
sentence which confirmed his declaration.
The first words which she heard distinct
ly were uttered by lips that almost
touched her cheek:
Mil you marry me?'
"I-I-- Somebody will see us" she
said, struggling in vain to free herself.
That isn't answering my question.
Poor little stained fingers, they shall
never do any more hard work How
would you like to be rich lady, Lotticg"
He saw the quick sparkle in her eyes.
All, how beautiful To dress, to drive,
to dance, to see a thousand things she
had heard of. She let the clasping arm
draw her closer and closer. and the
bearded lips touch hers once. The clump
oil marigolds in the garden cleaned like
"a prophecy OF the wealth she might pos
sess If she would. No more caIicoes and
kitchen-work but, instead
Are you never gong to tell me yes?"
Some answer that Lottie managed to
utter earned her so many kisses that she
struggled again to rise.
Let me go, please"' she entreated
scarlet with shame
well, want to put this ring on your
finger There, and now"
An approaching footstep startled them
Mr.. Davenport rose hastily, and Lottic
too sprang to her feet Susan the house
maid, appeared in the doorway, and Mr.
Davenport turned abruptly down the
garden path.
BE them peas shelled. MISS Lottie?"
"No, but almost. What time is it:'
eleven and quarter"
LOttie went to work in serious earnest,
despite her excitement; but she was
fated to have another interruption in the
shape of tall, blue-eyed youth, who
came up the garden path with several
fish dangling from rod.
"Therer' he said, dropping these on
the piazza, and throwing himself down
in the place Mr.. Davenport had just va