American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-17

" Yes, l used to regard her as very
dear friend Has she ever happened
TO speak of me to you, Mrs. Garcelon?"
"Never till yesterday"
He looked up expectantly, but shut
my lips aggravatingly together, and
turned about to catch glimpse of
"Greeley's Wash-Bowl!"- followed
rock in the middle of the stream.
"She gave you an unfavorable I'M
preston Of me, judge" he observed,
presently, with an uncomfortable
smile.
"Miss Clement never makes untrue
Statements, " said l, oraculaIly.
l wanted to torment MIN. He didn't
seem half repentant enough for a man
that was-well, gambler or a coun-
| terteiter, for all l knew. Dill's face
had expressed unutterable things
against him.
The driver had only stopped to water
the horses, and now the few passengers
who had got down were taking their
places again. saw Joe striding over
the bridge, his hands full of Indian
wares. Mr.. Keene saw him too, and
resumed, hastily.
"You'n pardon my speaking of my
self, Mrs. Garcelon, but l can't bear to
be misconstrued in this way by one of
Dill's-Miss Clement's-friends. That
ugly story she told you of me was en-
tirely without foundation, 1 assure you.
She believes it firmly, 1 hear, though 1
didn'tknow of it till recently, and con-
sequently was indignant at her conduct
toward me. But no wonder she was
exasperated, if she thought L was-''
"Suppose you can manage to stow
away these traps, Polly?" broke in
Joe, tossing up a handful of baskets,
and then following them; and 1 was no
wiser than before rs to what Mr.. Keene
was, or what Dillithought he was.
When we descended from the coach
to enter the queer little car that tolls up
Mount Washington, he stood waiting at
the steps to help Dill in. She gave him
a quick, defiant nod, and sprang past
him, too astounded for speech, verify
believe. Joe pursed hp his lips as if he
were going to whistle, and l had to di-
vert him by asking about the machine
ry He has a genius for mechanics,
and enjoys discoursing on cylinders and
cog-wheels, that 1 don't understand the
first thing about. Once in a while
try to listen, just to convince him he
| - 4
to that wheezy baby of an engine, do
remember this, that there are three sew
eral ways of securing it fast to the track,
so that it can't slide. backward. 1t was
a faint consolation to be assured of this
fact when, setting at naught the estab-
lished laws of gravitation, we hung sus-
pended on Jacobs Ladder'-a glori-
GUS sunset below, the sky above.
"It's like being drawn up to heaven
over a rainbow" cried Dill, leaning far
out of the window. "Oh, Polly, Polly,
1 wish we were going there to stay!"
"Don't, Dill, talk that way on the
verge of precipice -
cit would be such a triumphant
climbing out of the miseries of this hor-
rid world" persisted Dill, sending
shivers down my back; for, with Joe
and Teddy in it, the world wasn't hor-
rid at all to me, and was in no hurry
for heaven.
Once since we began the ascent Mr..
Keene had tried to open conversation
with Dill, and been undeniably snubbed,
and he had now betaken himself to the
front platform to look out upon the
"Silver Forest''-the guide book name
for clump of bleached tree roots near
the summit of the mountain-while she
stood by me, craning her neck through
the window till grew fairly dizzy.
"Come, Bill, stop saying such I'M
earthly things, and sit down like ra-
tional being.''
elm minute, Polly. Something's
burning! Don't you smell smoker"
"Mercy, it's goa, Dill! Joe! Joe!
Dill's on fire!"
A spark from the engine must have
been smoldering among her hat rib.
bons, for as she drew in her head hel
gauze veil burst into flames. For 8
moment l thought she was being
/ snatched up to heaven in a fiery cloud
but the next instant Mr.. Keene had tori
J off the hat, crushed out the fire, anG
crushed in the crown. Then he handed
it back, sorry-looking head-gear
scorched and smutty, with broker
plumes. She put it on with an attemp
at grimace.
"Thank you very much. Do 1 lool
: like an extinct volcanoP''
: "Hardly extinct, Dill. I believe yol
: are burning with wrath against me deel
, down in your heart"
3 "Well, if you will rake up the past
haven't 1 reason?" said Dill, in low
angry tones. "What right have you t.
g reproach me-a man who was
And here, if you'll credit it, my pre-
cious Joe Numbered in again between
me and my enlightenment respecting
Dill's broken engagement, this time b,
calling my attention to the monumen
of the adventurous young lady who per
ished on the mountain. OF course
! was wicked to play eavesdropper, bu
1 would have cheerfully been wicked
little longer, till Dill had chance t.
: finish her sentence. After that she ant
Mr.. Keene talked together long ant
earnestly, and considering the remark
able figure she cut in that hat, it strucl