American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-11-06
VOL. XIV.
"what do you think, Isn't she pret

4 ", IL,
ing SOY"
Pretty is not the word ut all. She i
superb-beautifnl-''
al thought you would think so," sal,
Amy, cheerfully, but with little strictur
at her heart.
Yes. She's not my style, of course
but she is . woman in q thousand. N,
wonder she has been such . belle all he
life"
! you won't mind her being here. and you'll
be polite To her, won't you, Philip
"oh, yes, I'll do whatever you wish,
replied Pm, with . carelessness which
| was half affected.
"She's not Philips style,p Whispered
Amy to her pillow that night, and fel
asleep with the talismanic sentence on he
lips.
Alas! how easily things go wrong!
word too much or . kiss too long,
Aud there klleth q mist and . binding raiI
And life b never The asne again.
sings George Macdonald. Things wen
next fortnight. Was il only the preset
ence of coming mists which darkened thu
blue, and made the days sads Was i
only foolish jealousy, or was it something
tangible? She made herself miserable
over these questions. She scolded herself
but scolding did no good; the wrung
hurt feeling would not leave her. And
yet why was she hurti Was it not natu.
raj and right that Philip should be atten.
tive to their guest, who had on him, as on
her, the claim of kindred blood-this
guest who was 20 charmingf For Amy
never denied the charm; she felt it herself
TOO strongly. Was II not the very thing
she hsd asked him 20 dof Yes; but yet
but yet All these ref1ecfions ended
by deepening the vague unhappiness.
Night AFTER night she sat alone ON the
doorstep and watched the boat glide OF
into the moonlight, Phil at the oar, Mis-
Ashurst with the dlleR ropes in her white
hands "Come with M. they always
said; but when she murmufed an excuse
they passed ON cheerfully without her.
Yes, it had come 70 that: Philip went
without her and liked 1t just ~ WE'LL The
world-her vorld-had changed. Would
1t ever be 1.-The same again."
Philip was In . temporary dazzle of
admiration; he neither reasoned nor re-
hected. But for Mia Ashurst, no slight
est glimpse Of the truth had crossed her
mind. She thought Amy . sweet, pretty
child, but shy, and busy with household
matters, - the only daughter Of widow
in poor cifcumstances must naturally be-
For Phil, he was charming; she liked
him best when alone-the truth being that
q slight uneasy consciousness made him
awkward when In company with the old
love, with whom he vas somehow little
'soK," end the new, with whom he was
not fairly ..on." So Miss AshurUt was
mot sorry whnn Amy refused 10 Join In tina
moonlight rows, ard, knowing nothing Of
what had gone before, it did mot strike
her rs unusual or usake her question. He
and Amy were - broeher and sister, she
reflected. 10 her eyee beang sealed by
ignorance, and Phils blinded e by sud.
den spell, Amy's pale checks and woful
looks passed UNDECIDED exceps By one
pair OF eyes which were not sealed.
namely, her mothers.
her Quief concealed strength and power
Of reading character. Ihstinctivefy she
took stockn of all persons With whom
she came into contact, and her instinct
rarely failed. A bitter experience had
taught her how g easily fhings 10 wronK''
in this world Of ours, and though she
hated to meddle." and was sorry to lose
her boerder, she resolved 20 appeal to the
sweetness and nobility which she felt
we're the underlying stratum of Miss
Ashursts nature. Il was In this wise
that she accomplished her purpose:
Miss Aahurst and Phil had been of ON
Tea wae over. Phil had ssrolled down
b the village after tke mail, and Mrs. Maui
ran sat beside her guest in the shaded
porch.
where is ANY," asked Miss Ash
urst
:. Gone to bed with bad headache,
said Mrs. MAnran. .
:" A headaches am 20 sorry! Isn't
there something out Of nay msdicine-case
which would relieve her sCpulsatflla per-
haps, or iris" Miss Ashurst was de-
voted homosopath. =
think there 10 something. Not ont
Of your case, however, !" replied Mrs. Man,
ran, quietly
What can you meanr'
My dear Miss Ashurst, may speak
frankly 10 you about something that Is on
my mfndi And will you not think me
unkind or impertinentf''
am quite sure you will be neither"
9 want 70 tell you little story which
concerns Phil and Amy"
:. Phil and Amyr'
Yes. They sre second cousins, asyou
know. Pills father vas my most init
mate friend, and the children were natu-
rally brought up together. Last spring
Phil, who trusts me as II were his
mother, begged my leave to ask Amy to be
his wife, Hhe paused . moment. Miss
Ashurst said nothing, only leaned forward
a little and listened. II told him that
Amy was 20 young that he bad better wait
. few months before he said anything. /
wish hadn't"
"Why?"
II don't know why. It might have
been better. Since that time Phil has
seen q woman little older, far more beau
tiful than my little girl, richer in all that
life has TO give but not richer a. far as he
IL concerned, for she has no love to give
him and Amy has. II she had, if she
could, should not speak. II did not
know that she IL as true and as good as
she is beautiful should not speak. As
1t Is, do"
There was another pause.
My dear Mrs. Nauran-thank you, :"
said Miss Ashurst at last "You were
right 10 speak. I have made mischief
but without knowing it. You are sure of
that, hope"
Il am sure Of it,"
Phil is . charming person. I like
him extremely and of couYDe I saw that
he-liked me. But ! never thought Of it
rs serious thing. A great many other
people have felt the same and have gotten
over it''
Phil viii get over IL also. He has
loved you but three weeks and Amy three
Of" VIM "'
Miss Ashurst smiled still but less
brightly 1t is not pleasant to be agreed
with SO cordially in matters of this kind.
"a Yes" she said; lit is, as you say, a
glamour. 1t will disappear as / disap-
pear And the sooner that disappearance
takes place the better. shall have let
ter this evening which will oblige me to
leave you day after tomorrow. viii that
dog"