American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-12-05
VOL. XXIN.

eral background of welldressed youn:
men, with what heard Capt Aymer de
scribe as "a very fair show of youn.
women" but he was not there Luckily
had so much to do in acting AS Aun
Hetherington's aide-de-camp, and goin,
round to eighboring friends, that Imam
aged TO avoid thinking Gerry much abou
unpleasant things.
Certainly croquet is not an exercise
calculated to induce oblivion Some
people like it, l suppose, but persouall,
i hold II in adherence; and therefore
when, going to spend an afternoon Al
Oakleigh House. | was induced to take q
mallet, i prepared myself for suffering
feeling sure that the game, played with
a number of comparative strangers
one forget disagreeable subjects.
Will you join this set, dear Miss
Hetheringtonr" gushed Lucy Faulkner
Isn't it delightful to have such charm
ing weather? l feared my poor croquel
things were all put by for months"
did not catch the name of the part
nsr to whom she introduced me, and
bowed, really without looking into his
face; but directly { caught sight Of his
boots KNOW 80 SKg, Tor I should
know the least bit of him anywhere
w &ucSS INV QulChl1 1OOhCN
into his face then,
"Ka-Miss Hetheringfonr
"Gu-Mr. Wreyl" l said, only jusi
checking myself in time, Tor he was Guy
always when thought or him, though
of course never called him SO.
l did not tell him how surprised was
to see him, because | could not, for he
had said something about going abroad
when last had seen him in town; and
did not like to confess, even to myself
how pleased | was, or by how many de
grees my satisfaction was increased
when he presently said that he had seen
Sir Edward, who had asked HIM to stay
at the Hall, and that he was comm 9
next week. The whole aspect of the
lawn changed at once, and was Obliged
to confess that had been very unjust to
croquet, which was an exceedingly inter-
esting game. But | was not quite con-
tented, or pleased either. Guy was
everything that is polite and kind,
but l did not think he was act
ing quite fairly with me; for
although he had never said or limited
anything about liking ME, l felt quite
certain that he did. More than once in
town l had caught his eyes fixed on me
with such a sad expression that had
been perfectly happy for twenty-four
hours afterward; and on this afternoon
he had more than half said i" Kate"
when he saw me. No! 1 was not salts
fed about it bit, for if l had not
thought that he liked me first 1 should
never have dreamed of liking him. How
ever, l consoled myself as we drove
home with the reflection that he would
perhaps be more agreeable at the Hall.
Tuesday came, and he came TOO, and
soon settled down comfortably, finding
aRVQral no EnaW 10 oil
most kind; and on learning my admira-
ton for Sir Harry's picture promised to
make me little copy of it, and passed
nearly all his time in the gallery, hardly
ever shooting or riding with the riding
parties.
strOlled out one day across the lawn,
and on to the long grass terrace which
runs at the bottom of the grounds. Al
one end of it there is an old summer
house, the sides of which are made, ac-
cOrding to tradition, of an old oaken bed
stead in which Queen Elizabeth slept one
night ut Hetherington. This was a very
favorite resort of mine, and l went in to
be alone and think of Guy and his un-
kindness and Indifference. 1t is not at
all nice to speak about such things; but
after the chances had refused last sea-
son of brilliant establishments, all for
Guy, it was hard that he didn't seem to
care, in spite of all the little things
which had made me think that he did
care. don't like saying it bit; but
when girl actually has a coronet laid
her feet-and a handsome, good. tempered
wearer there too-it's pity she should
refuse them because she is stupid
enough to think that some one else likes
her
Twas just beginning to wonder whether
any of the by-gone Hetherington women
had felt such a disagreeable twitching at
the corners of their mouth without abso-
lutely crying, when l heard voices near
my summer-house. did not rise, think
ing they would pass by; but instead of
that the speakers seated themselves on
low, dwarf, ivy-colored wall which
bounded the terrace. One of them was
Guy; and was glad to notice that he
spoke in very melancholy tone, and
seemed unhappy.
Il wish l could persuade you to stay,
old fellow" said Capt. Aymer, who was
his companion. "Going now is like leav-
ing the theater at the end of the opening
farce. or boiling away from the grand
stand after the preliminary canter.
There's the ball at the Crawfords' on
Wednesday, shooting at the Earl's on
Friday, and next week Hetherington
gives a dance; the hounds meet here,
and there's the county ball, and all sorts
of things"
81 must gol' said Guy, firmly.
"Cupid's dart has-you don't like
chaff All, that's one of the symptoms
of tine complaint. 1 can't think why
you go moping about like a jolly old
lunatic. You haven't said anything to
her, have your"
"Not . word and have tried hard mol
to let her guess anything" Guy an.
swered.
You don't expect her to propose to
you, do your" Capt. Aymer asked ! felt
sure they must be talking of me. Why
don't you speak,"
:. Because I'm a poor beggar with bare
ly e300 year, ard she's a girl with
something over e2,OOO She, her people,
every one, would think / wanted heI
money. No! I'd rather lose her alto
gether than have her think me a mer
cenary brute. She may marry Lord
with sob in his voice. which brought
the tears to my eyes, II don't think he'll
love her as do"
Wiped away two tears, and got rid
somehow of great, big, sympathetic
sob which threatened to betray my hid
ing place. l ought, of course, not t.
have remained without letting then
know; only l did, and rising quietly
looked through the diamond-shapet
woodwork covered with ivy in the direc
ton from which the voices came Gu,
dear, handsome Guy!-was sitting OF
the low wall, resting his arms on hi
knees, looking at the ground. Capt
Aymer had chosen seat where he cOult
lean back, and was slowly blowing tn
smoke from his cigar into the air
Il am not a poet, old fellow" contin
ued the Captain. with the exception
of a version of How doth the it'll