American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-07
VOL. XIV.



girl with whom one would wish to be OIL
cousinly terms, and for whom one would
feel unlimited couslnly affection. Will
her-no, stop, my pen keep in bounds.
"You are awfully welcome, Ned. Dot
(she turned to her companion), "my
cousin Ned is not dangerous, for'' "a mis-
chievous aside) he has been in love will
me ever since 1 can remember
And, gracious powers! what a vision
burst on our eyes, Smiths and mine!
1 do not think 1 could describe her, and
Smith, to whom have applied, confesses
it is out of his power to do so. l cannot
say if she were tall or short, dark or fair
l only vouch for a creamy complexion
quantities of rich brown hair and all the
rest eyes. Smith, too, says eyes; eyes Of
the darkest brown-velvety, sweet, trust.
cousins as they read echoed And a
depth.'0 There was an impression OF
transparent lace and muslin, a suspicion
of vielets IN her presence, and l know nc
more. Smith knows no more. But as
she raised the long, sweeping eyelashes
and bowed ito me, pointedly; Smith says
to him) felt Bellies whisper was heartless
and distasteful to her as to me. / always
had a dislike to women who chaff-so I'M
feminine, SO unsuitable, in short Had
ever loved Belle? l doubted it as
walked by Dots side toward the house,
for our meeting had taken place on the
lawn. She proceeded to give me an &C
count of an hour at croquet, when the men
had cheated awfully, and," she con-
tinued pitifully, 1--WE do want some one to
take our part"
How I sympathized with heri how my
| lips curled in contempt of their opponents
| wiles! How l felt myself croqueting the
ball of the opposing powers from one end
of the ground to the other under far dis
tant prickly shrubs, whence the searchers
should emerge hot, dusty and augryi
How I, in short, fell in love in the space
of twenty minutes, Greenwich time!
Smith and l were cordially welcomed,
and soon after our arrival my aunt, TAX
ing me on one side, proceeded to give me
a few particulars respecting Dot, other
wise Dora Elton.
"You will see, Ned, how / stand.
Gen. Elton Entrusted her to me with the
understanding that she should have no
opportunity of falling in love-see no one,
in fact. There is no accounting for the
absurd ideas men get into their heads, but
she will be quite an heiress. Still l can
not absolutely shut her up, so l invited
two safe men, and know neither you nor
your friend will betray my confidence.
Capt Bruce here had not seen Dot abso-
lptely rude to him, and feel it is great
responsibility altogether
And my aunt looked like one of Fox's
martyrs in modern guise- As she con-
cluded her explanation l felt that she
possessed the faculty of saying the rudest
possible things in the mildest possible
manner. "Safe men," l looked in the
glass; but my indignation subsidized as 1
reflected it would be as well that Smith
should benefit by her confidence, and that
it would be my duty as a relation to i'm
press upon him the fact of honor requir-
ing obedience to the wishes of the mis-
tress of the house.
Capt Bruce, of whom my aunt had
spoken, was a fine soldieriy fellow, with
sunshiny face, fair hair and blue eyes
generally falls to the lot of a fellow in
the army. On the whole it was pleasant
to see decided GOODNESS existing be-
tween Dot and himself. But of that more
anon.
Feeling that she had done the duty ex-
pected of all chaperons asregarded "detri-
mentals,' my aunt left me to seek out
Smith and impress due caution.
"Nice little girl, Miss Elton" I OBJ
served, after one or two equally wise OBJ
servations, with a view of sounding him,
and in case his admiration should be
too deep determined to represent Gen.
Elton as sortof Bengal tiger of the worst
type.
"Yes," he assented, with an air of in
difference that could not impose on me.
" That reminds me, Jones. Your coat
noticed it this morning, walking behind
you and Miss Elton-is a mistake"
1t was Greek meeting Greek. 1 fell into
the trap, and surveyed myself anxiously in
the glass. That coat had considered
model in color, in shape, in form, neither
long nor short, and only remarkable as
combining the properties of being degdge
enough for croquet with an air of propriety
for the morning service.
az think-does it strike you as being
tighty" I asked, wondering what Dot
of it.
1.-The fact is, you are getting fleshy,"
returned Smith with brutal alacrity. "I'H
wager ten to one you are six pounds
heavier than you were this day six
months"
"Getting aeshyr' The subject would
not admit of levity, and 1 responded tart
ly: I'm defy anyone to get fleshy,' as
you term it, Il have a suspicion that
Smith is occasionally coarse), lin your
company"
after this, and wishing to impress Smith
by the friendly terms existing between Dot
and myself, l began:
Miss Elton told me-" without any
distinct idea how to finish, when Smith
exclaimed:
"Of course 1 thought knew the
name well! Why, we are connected, if
not related. Her mother was any
mothers third cousin, or something of
that sort.'
On the croquet ground he put forth his
claim as audaciously as if-as if it really
existed. / felt it was nothing of the sort,
and, whereas had formerly had respect
for Smith, began to think his principles
decidedly dubious. Oh, brown eyes!
We were at Stockton Brook for croquet,
not for "coquet," as Hetty saucily re-
minded us, so l shall cOnfine myself strict
ly to one of its phases. The ground was
simply perfect; as smooth as velvet, it was
the pride of the girls, while even the old
Squire scarcely grudged the ground.
Dot took it into her head to learn my
stroke; so l, formerly ''spOon," became
an authority, and with her as pupil taught
it successfully every morning until my
aunt looked doubtful and finally Joined
the game herself! She has mentioned
since that she associates crOguet with pc
nal Jervitude and the sound of the balls
with the treadmill.
There was no "wind and weather per-
mitting'' in our case. Dot and cousins
tied lace handkerchiefs over their heads
and found an east wind "only refresh
ing" if il rained we finished under UNI
brellas. When it grew dark we had Ian
terms and torches.
The days went on, and our play was as
near perfection as mortal play can be.
And was badly hit. 1 played blue and
hoped" while Dot held red, symbolical