American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-02-20
VOL. XIV.

"'How lovely. They are my favorites
too. Their odor revives me like IA draught
| of rich wine
"She bent her pale, sorrowful face ovel
them, when, yielding to a sudden inn
pulse OF pity, l told her they were hers
Really, Mr.. Wentworth; but'-hesi-
tatingly-'were they not purchased fol
| some one else!
| al purchased them for fair and
lovely lady, l said gallantly; and l am
sure fair lady has them
"She thanked me with such look of
pleasure on her face felt repaid for the
sacrifice 1 did not then know what a
terrible sacrifice l had really made. As
turned to go upstairs | cast my eye up
ward and perceived the fragile form of
Miss Hunt accidentally leaning over the
baluster. l remarked to myself, You
old catr and went on up to my room.
| did not see Miss Mason until evening,
when, entering the parlor, found her
patiently listening to old Griggs, the
| widower. She deigned me a freezing
nod. After sauntering round the room
for some time without attracting her fur
Their notice, l retreated to the sitting
room, swhereA Milly Wilson was winding
zephyrs. began tt assist her, and we
were thus socially employed when Miss
Hunt happened to look in. Soon after,
Miss Mason did the same.
After that could scarcely get civil
word out of the latter. l Unanswered
many times to get chance to ask the
reason for her GOODNESS, and explain it
away if it was Jealousy of poor Milly,
| but Miss Hunt was always in the way.
She seemed to be on the lookout for me
as soon as entered the house, and never
relaxed her surveillance until the street
door banged after me. Often then if |
would glance back could see her head
| prOtruding from some window. So
hired buggy one day, determined to
force an opportunity. But Miss Mason
was not at home. 1 was going to drive
off alone when Milly Wilson's pale, wist-
full face looked out from the sitting
room. l could not resist the temptation
to bestow pleasure where knew it would
be appreciated, so 1 invited her to ride.
The next day had the unspeakable an
guish to see Miss Mason drive away with
old Griggs.
"That was but the beginning of Sc
ries of events that drove me into a fever
of jealousy She f1irted with this one
and that one. Where she had been all
affability and sweetness once, she was
freezing haughtiness or insolent disdain.
| sat OF the Jagged edges of jealousy and
suspense, not knowing what moment
she might take it into her head to marry
one of the fools she was flirting with
In this unhappy state of mind st. Valen-
tines Day drew near. A happy thought
struck me. l could end my misery and
take my revenge at the same time.
had poetic talent of which 1 was am
bitiously proud. would write Miss Ma
son declaration of my real feelings for
her, and hint at miScOnstruction and mis-
representations in such a way she could
M hnlr u xxy1,n
she scornfully rejected it, it would pass
as valentine. If she accepted it, l
would be in glory. satisfied myself
with the etfusion for Miss Mason and
proceeded to write very dissimilar one
to Miss Hunt. l am fortunate enough to
possess the latter"
Tom went to his book case and, un-
locking small drawer, drew out letter
which he passed to me. On the cover
was written Miss Della Mason" on
the inside were the following lines:
Delia-spinster. hapless maid
Spying tattling, ancient jade,
Misunderstanding, sharp Osed shrew,
Naughts TOO mean for you to do.
False ofteeth and false of hair,
Parody Of all that's fair;
Frying peaking. nosing round,
Listening at the slightest sound.
Envy, hate for youth You feel,
Seek its harm with frantic zeal;
Fortune houted. crook-nosed jade,
Men despise you, poor old maid!
by some egregious blunder," con-
tinued Tom, when l had finished its
perusal, 81 got that poetry into Miss
Mason's envelope, and it came back to
me that same day with ner compli-
mentsr
Protestations, explanations, and YER
bal declarations were all o. no avail; the
fair ones temper was up and she would
listen to nothing To add to my misery
Miss Hunt showed my soft effusion OF
love, which she had received, to the
boarders, and they all pretended to be-
lieve had made no mistake. One line
| of it shall never forget. 1t was If
you could read this heart of mine'-Old
Griggs was the first one | heard quote it,
thorax and, rolling his eyes upward, re-
| pea'ed it in a bur!esque-tragic style that
| made me feel murderous.
AFTER that | never entered the house
nor sat down to a meal that some one
did not have it over. Still l was plucky
enough not to give up the fight, and
wrote Miss Mason letter, in which l
did myself and Miss Hun: ample Justice.
She wrote back that she might forgive
| me the blunder had made, but never,
| never while reason remained could she
| forgive me the preparation of such
| poetry.
Feeling convinced, after that, that
could not live the affair down, 1 changed
my boarding place. Miss Mason and
her mother won their lawsuit soon after
and left also. / have never seen them
since. 1t is scarcely necessary to add 1
abandoned poetry. But l am not sure
but that the world lost genius in
my early disappointment and
Home.