The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-17
THE FATAL PICTURE.

a pretty face-a very pretty face,
indeed" l turned the little photograph
upside down, held it off mt arms length,
and scrutinized it closely with my eye
glasses.
Henry Wallis looked pleased; man
naturally likes TO have his affianced duly
admired and appreciated.
$50 this is the Bessie Armitage /
have heard so much of !; really, Wallis,
she doe s credit TO your taste. A blonde,
pose2"
Fair as a lily, with beautiful blue
eyes, and the sunniest golden hair"
"Ah well, I must say L prefer the
brunette style, so far as my taste goes /;
but, then, fancies differ. You know"
II was all very well for Wallis to go
into ecstssies over his pallid, air-haired
little Bessie Armitsse: he had never
met the glance of Cecilia Vernon's
magnificent dark eyes. What did he
know about the true type of feminine
beauty?
GAS you say, fancies differ" Wallis
returned, lightly. "But l wish you
would select a handsome frame for il
when you go to town Hext-blue velvet,
with gold rim on the margin, or some
such tasteful arrangement"
"I'l see to it," / said, depc sitting the
picture in its envelope, and placing it
in NV inside breast pocket.
You'll be very careful of it 2"
Careful? OF course shall.
I smiled little loftily at Wallis So
icitude, and we parted.
After all, Henry Wallis was better of
than 1 was, for he was securely engaged
to the dimpled, yellow-tressed little
object of his affection while was yet,
as it were, in outer darkness, uncertain
whether my peerless Cecilia returned
my devotion, or whether she secretly
inclined toward that fellow. Fitzhugh
Trefoil. A score of times I had gone
to the Vernons' house with the very
formula of declaration on my lips, and
as often had the words died away I'M
spoken If fate had only gifted me
with one thousandth part of FitZhugh
think anything short of the deluge
could check that fellows cool self pos
session an earthquake would not.
However, love inspires the feeblest
heart with sort of courage, and was
a new man since Miss Vernon had
smiled upon me. What was the use of
doubling? Whv not decide my fate at
once? Henry Wallis serene content
exercised stimulating influence upon
me. would fain have been even as he
was.
"There is no use in procrastinating
matters any longer" L said, half aloud,
as walked up and down the limited
domains of my law office 81 have been
a doubling fool quite long enough"
I'm afraid / wasn't a very amiable
member of the domestic circle that
afternoon.
81 think Paul is growing crosser
every day" said my sister, Struggling
her plump little shoulders. Mamma,
I wish you'd speak to him."
But my mother, bless her wise old
soul, knew better than that. She only
looked at me over the rims of her spec
tacles, and went on darning stockings
ers. 1 suppose" she said, apologetically
''He will do well enough, if you only lei
him alone"
went up to my room after dinner
and made an elaborate toilet !; but al
the pains bestowed upon it served only
to heishten the general effect o.
awkwaraness.
"I'vo two minds to wait until to
Morrow" qnoth L to myself, abruptly
stopping with my cravat half tied.
No, might be coward, but I wa.
not such q poltroon as that. had be
gun the enterprise; and 1 would carry
it through. Moreover, had an irspira
ton. An entirely new and origina
method of putting the momentous
query had occurred to me.
"Hang Fiszhugh Trefoil I" I ex
claimed gleefuly, half aloud, though
there was no ear to hear my ejaculation
''Fll win the dark eyed treasure yet, il
spite of him."
opened my writing case, and care
fully took out little carte de yisit.
wrapped in tissue paper. aud tendsrly
laid it away with pink silk perfume6
satchel that Minnie had made for me
once. It was Cecilia's picture she had
allowed NE to steal it away from her
with scarcely remonstrance, weel
before Then was the time / ought t.
have proposed but ike the timorous
doubling moor-calf that was. let tht
golden tide OF opportunity slip ava,
from me. / drew Bessie Armitage'
vacant. 6oli-Eke face from its envelope
anecompared the two with a thrill O
triumph in my heart.
"Colorless water, beside crimson
sparkling champagne; pale violet il
the shados of royal rose; pear s
eclipsed by the Gery fash OF diamonds
/ exclaimed. He1ry Wallis taste ma
be correct and classical, but give me M
radiant brunette These hieacbed. or:
beauties are not my ideal of PERFECTION.
Il was a lovely spring evening as en-
tered the wide graveled path that led !
tie broad porch of the old-fashione
Vernon mansion. Squire Vernon Gu
there smoking his meerechaum.