American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-03

activity. feopie think nothing of riding
10 or 20 miles to spend an evening will
. friend, for it is only an hour and
half's galiop back, which is nothing; i
would take longer to make the distanc,
on the usual accommodation" trains
running into our cities.
While this living so far apart beget,
friendship and sociability, it is a perfec
barrier to such n thing as gossip, whic!
and small towns, where there is a large
per centage of very idle, and, conse
quently, very vicious people.
The old Texans are very gallant
people, and, as mas BE supposed, Belle
Delmar did hot want for admirers. Apart
from the numbers of more experience
and personal confidence who came to
see her, there were many of theyoungel
and more timid callers at the Judges
house, who came to see Burnett Del
mar, though that handsome young fell
low knew very well that he was not the
attraction.
Burnett Delmar was q few years older
than his sister. and seemed to be as pop
ular with the ladies, and deservedly so,
as his sister was with his own sex.
He was very warm friend to Ralrh
Austin, though Ralph hut seldom put
in an appearance with the avowed pur-
pose of seeing Burnett Delmar. Belle
was the attraction, and there was none
SO welcome to her among the many,
for he mad all the qualities of fcriia, head
and heart which sensible women most
admire.
Spring comes to that portion of Texas
in February; by the end of that r.cnsh
all the, crops are in, and all the fruit
trees in blossom. Then there is
period of rest till the branding season
in April and May.
1t was the latter part of February
when Ralph Austin, according to
promise, came down to Judge Del
mars, in order to have weeks fishing
with Burnett, who had the best yacht
in the-bay, and felt not little proud of
his ability to sail it in any kind of
weather. The Judge and Mrs. Delmar
had gone to Galveston to pay a short
visit to some friends, SO that Belle was
left in charge of the household, and a
young friend with her, whom she often
laaghingly leased her brother about.
"To-morrow morning, sister Belle,
Ralph and l are going to sail as far as
Pass Cavallo, therefore we will take
dinner with us, and you must not be
alarmed if we are not home before
dark, >" said Burnett to his sister, az they
sat on the wide piazza facing the bav.
the evening before his contemplated
departure.
az. afraid to let you go, Burnett
: .eel responsible for you, and think it
will be best to keep you in sight till
father returns, ;, said Belle, with affect
ed seriousness.
'o"I promise you, Miss Belle, to take
ample care Of this part of your charge
during Tomorrow, and if 1 do not re-
lnrn him in as good condition as when
borrowed, then mine be the unpardcn-
able blame"
Ralph Austin assumed the attitude of
pleader during this little speech, though
It's most eloquent part was in the bright
black eyes that beamed lovingly on her
IS he spoke.
With such promised can not with
hold my consent, so Alice and 1 will see
hat you have basket full of all the
good things we can find for your din
1er." IT
"Mr. Ralph Austin, as it is you who
have obtained permission from the
officer for me to visit Pass
cavallo with you, permit me to tender
you my sincere, need l say heartfelt,
hanks for your kind intercession, and
should ever have an opportunity to do
Vou a like favor, pray always consider
ne yours to command"
Burnett looked in such way at his
sister, as he spoke, as brought
! brighter glow to her rounded cheeks.
Next morning Burnett Delmar and
Ralph Austin were up by daylight, and,
Is an early breakfast had been ordered, |
Belle and Alice Morton were up and |
shared with the young men.
"Do not remain after shutdown, or I
We shall be very uneasy" said Belle, as
The kissed her brother goodbye, and
rave her little hand to his friend.
| Ralph Austin, if he had his wish graft
led in the matter, would not have gone
It all; for what was it to sail to Pass
Javallo compared with the time spent
lear "the Lily of Matagorda," as the
'oung men of the section called Belle
)elmarP And, not being anxious to go
or the reason mentioned, the same mo-
i've would force him to return as soon
s possible; so he assured Belle they
would return long before dark.
The yacht was moored in a narrow
'ut' very deep bayou that emptied into
II arm of Matagorda Bay-a place long
AIMED for its oyster-beds, and as duck
hooting point, secondt to none on the
'oast. Itwas 16 miles to Pass Cavallo,
where the waters of the bay met those
# the gulf.
The wind was blowing off shore, as it
lsually does at that season in the morn
ng, and there was not a cloud in the
'lue sky even SO big as mans hand.
better day could not have been select
ID. and as the yacht sped over the bay,
tightening myriads of water fowl from
heir course, the young men shouted