American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-10-24
VOL. XNTV.

| It's, loui, Siiiu Briggs, nut yo'
know women are women, and naturall
hate each other. If they catch one o
their own sex out alone, without a pro
tector, they all go for her; and this gil
| seems to be in that fix Just now
"Oh, Tom" with halt-defined sid
motion of the head, at the same tim
pointing mysteriously to his pocket.
As Tom would have said, " y wink t,
blind man is sufficient" and the three
that is, Briggs, Tom and the flask
went quietly into the shadow of thu
| trees.
Uncle Billy looked querulously afte
the departing worthless, and said sadl,
to Tony: THE Colonel wouldn't "A donl
that"
| The servants had erected the Carlton
| tent but did not know if their mistress
would return in time to be present at tn,
festivities.
| During the earlier part of the day
| Fanny sat alone, or wandered about tn,
| grounds, meeting cold looks and averte(
| faces from some; from others that pc
culiar recognition so fraught with mean
| ing. Again and again she wished her
self far away, and only remained hop
ing by chance to meet Mrs. Carlton.
After the ceremonies had concluded
| Just as she had determined to leave the
grounds and go across the fields to hel
own home, apparently by accident sh,
happened upon Tom Brown.
The stage-drivcr, who had never
| spoken to Fanny, touched his hat-a re
markable exhibition of politcncss fol
him-and said
Il beg pardon, miss; I'm plain man
and can't say what want to, but if you
should need anybody to speak word-fol
you, or to take your part, Tom Brown
knows how to do it."
Fanny comprehended the blunt SINGER
ity Of the man, and as she thanked him
the tears which had been all day in her
eyes dropped upon her cheeks.
From that moment Tom was her slave
He followed her at a respectful and un-
observed distance; for her sake he would
have charged and routed the whole
camp. Many a high-born lady has had
less faithful and puissant knight.
This incident served to lift the load
from Fanny's heart. She wandered
down by the tiny lake, and for the mo-
ment was happy. Near at hand several
children were at play, their parents and
the elder ones being elsewhere occupied.
She heard a splash, a scream, and saw
little Benny struggling in the water.
Springing forward, with rare presence of
mind she leaped upon a rock, seized the
child as he was sinking, brought him to
the shore, pacitied him, and taking him
by the hand led him forward to find his
mother. At a distance was a group of
ladies and among them Mrs. Smith. As
Fanny approached the circle she encoun-
tered the frigid stare of Mrs. Smith, who
said with metallic voice-all eyes being
riveted upon the two" Benny, come to
me; do not wish you to associate with
thieves and murderers.'
Not far away, with his hat over his
face, stood the stage-driver, as if waiting
the word of command; but nearest at
hand was another knight, Harry Carlton,
who with his mother had just arrived
upon the grounds and had been near
enough to overhear the words. Stepping
forward, he said to Fanny, who stood
pale and trembling:
"Do not remain here to be insulted by
these people. My mother would like to
speak with you"
And taking her upon his arm he escort
ed her to the tent which had been pre-
pared for them.
One standing near at hand would have
heard words of explanation, interrupted
by broken sobs on the part of Fanny,
with kind and gentle soothings by Mrs.
Carlton; would have seen Harry start
up with a naughty, unOrthOdoX word on
the end of his tongue, saying he would
find out what all this meant, and after a
turning, his hand clenched, and his big,
burly frame bristling all over with indig-
nation; would have heard animated con-
versatiOn for a moment in the tent, fol
lowed by subdued laughter.
Shortly thereafter the family carriage
was ordered, and Harry and Mrs. Carl
ton, accompanied by Fanny, left the
grounds.
The month of vacation was nearly
ended; Fanny had disappeared; the Carl
ton mansion was closed, and occupied
only by servants. Harry and his mother
were, some said, in the city; some said
at the seaside.
Upon the last day of the school vaca-
ton, after the arrival of the mail, an I'M
wOnted something seemed to ruffie the
surface of affairs in the quiet town.
Curiosity was upon tiptoe, and wonder
was looking out of open eyes into open
eyes.
Mine plethoric host of the inn, dressed
as was his wont of a summer afternoon,
in shirt. pantaloons, and slippers, from
his seat on the table wiped the perspira-
ton from his rubicund face, and read to
his thirsty satellites from the Yerba
Buena Tribune, as follows:
Married, ut Grace Church, in this city,
by the Rev. DIR. Peters, Harry Carlton TO
Miss Fanny Howard, daughter of Maj.
William Howard, formerly of the United
States Army, now Warden ut the State
Prison ut N"
The landlord laughed. Tom Brown
threw his favorite hat upon the floor and,
jumping upon it, said: "Do you call that
a mustang"
1.-THE gals u Carlton, anyhow" said
Uncle Billy, complacently; while Tony
glanced wistfully at the row of decant-
ers and wondered if the occasion would
not suggest an invitation to imbibe.
\ new school-mistress has been en-
gagged at Carlton, and in some mysterious
way Tom Brown has become sole pro-
prietor of the stage line.
At the last stated inquest Mrs. Smith
was heard to say, consolingly, to Mrs
Tracy:
q ! am so glad it was mistake; / al
ways liked Fanny Union.