American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-30

tiers from here, and agree to talk thi
matter over with mep" asked Gray.
"She didn't" said Miss Betsy, who
had resolved to get out of the net by
telling the whole tale; and Thankful
enough she was that she had only agreed
| to 'talk it over with him.
So she told the whole story, from the
| receipt of the Colonel's letter to thai
hour; and as she had kept her sensible
heart untouched till she should see the
gentleman, she could afford to laugh al
the matter. And they both laug he'd
heartily; and Miss Clapper was kind
enough to say that she did not believe
that Elizabeth had forgotten him, and
that, as it was vacation, she would send
for her to come, and inquire about it.
The only real vexation in the matter
was that the whole community knew OF
the affair through the Colonel's treach-
cry. But Robert Gray was as smart as
the Colonel, to say the least of it.
"Have you talked of it yourself to
any friend?" he asked.
"Not a mortal, as the change was so
uncertain; but heard the school-chil-
dren speak of the birds Miss Clapper's
beau sent her, so suppose it is town IS
talk, and that the Colonel has told the
whole story.'
"Well, leave the old man and the
affair with me, and I'll make him feel
cheap enough before it is over," said
Gray, laughing.
So the warm hearted, CHEEKY fellow
for he was young fellow at heart,
though thirty-was installed in Miss
Clapper's best room, and told to make
himself at home while she wrote for
Lizzie to come over from W, know
ing she would not care to have Mr..
Gray make the matter public by going
there for her.
While Miss Betsy was writing, Mr..
Robert stepped over to the Post-of1ice,
where he found the Colonel alone, to
thank him for replying to his letter.
The Colonel looked at his young face,
and stared at him.
"This is rather delicate NATTER"
said the young man, "to talk about it
before it is settled; but my name is
Gray, and l thank you for answering
my letter, and as soon as Miss Lizzie
reaches here, it will be but polite that 1
should tell you her decision"
"Miss whoP''
Miss Lizzie Clapper, of whom I
wrote to you"
"Oh, you don't say that you are the
Mr.. Gray, and that it was young Lizzie
that you wanted to know aboutp" cried
the Colonel, in amazement. rT
Certainly" l-
"Well, now, that Miss Betsy Clapper
is cute one! She talked half an hour
with me and Miss Dole, and never let
on. We thought all the time it was
some old widower wanting her. Then
she's goin' to keep right on in her bust
ness here, ha? ?" cried the Colonel.
"Yes, unless she will go to South
America with us-with me, mean
for I'm not sure of Miss Lizzie going
with me yet" said Gray.
"Well, well, if Betsy Clapper isn't a
deep one, I'll give up guessing!" cried
the Postmaster. lt
In six weeks there was a wedding in
Miss Betsy's neat little parlor, and then
the happy young Grays went off to
South America.
1t was soon seen that Miss Betsy, who
chose to remain with old Polly, in her
old home, had more capital than be-
fore. She had her place all put in
order, and her house and fences paint
ed, and she added considerably to her
stock in trade.
The Colonel said he wasn't going to
run race with a woman, and should |
give up selling ribbons, and ruches, and |
combs, for somebody was helping her.
The joke came down solely on the
Colonel's head, for more than one per-
ION said: st is very evident now how
Ill the news gets out. It's about time
We had new Postmaster, who isn't SO
handy with letters as the Colonel"
If ever any one spoke of I" Miss Clap
,er's beau," the Colonel's face grew
carlet, and he would say: alt is a
Wonder to me that there's no opening
or milliner out in South America!"-
Hostth's Companion.