American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-04-22

cry for love; his life was incomplete If
he lived it alone. A thousand and one
plans had suggested themselves to him,
wherein he might drop out of himself
into some penniless man, and WOO and
win; but there was always some I'M
pleasant feature in each plan. There
were stories of rich men playing coach
men and winning their employers
daughters, but he was sure that he
would not marry a woman who was
willing to marry her fathers coachman.
Then again he didn't know how to do
any thing in the shape of work, and
consequently such schemes as these
were impossible.
In a small degree he was an artist.
Had he been poor, the probabilities are
he would have been an artist of no COM
mon merit; but his two millions had
prevented him from being more than
commonplace. Yet it struck him that
here was a covering under which he
might masquerade. The more he look
ed at it the mora feasible it seemed,
and at last he arranged plan to suit
his purposes.
First, no human being was to be ac-
second, his attorney was to have exclu-
sive power during his absence, so that
he would neither need to read or write
a business letter during the summer.
The attorney was not very pleasant
man, but he was thoroughly honest.
His business must have brought him a
good income; but he was always in
trouble about his own money matters,
while the affairs of his clients were kept
in the most systematic manner.
Mr.. Thrift received his rich clients
orders as if they were the most matter
of-fact directions, and asked no ques-
tons, except such as were absolutely
necessary to a proper understanding of
his position.
When this was settled, Featherby
wrote his friends that he was going on
journey sup North )" drew a thousand
dollars out of the bank, packed a very
modest trunk with a very modest ward
robe, stuck his sketch-book and colors
in corner of the trunk, and bought a
ticket to Albany. From Albany his
route was not yet determined. He con-
suited guide-books and maps, and final
ly decided he would go into the country.
No sooner said than he was on his way
to the interior of the State. Stopping
at central point he mapped out an
other route, and three days afterwards
he was sitting in the hotel in the village
of Newhall, and congratulating himself
that he had selected place where none
of his friends could modest him.
The arrival of stranger in Newhall
was a matter of but little consequence
to the good people of the village. They
made good butter and cheese and pros
pered, and they had small curiosity as
to what strange gentleman at the ho-
tel might be doing. Herein they SHOW
ed their Dutch blood, as well as their
good common sense.
The sense of being free to do as he
pleased, go where he pleased, and not
be hampered by prying eyes, was very
pleasant to Featherby. He chatted
with the farmers, chatted with their
wives, gave pictures to the children, and
was welcomed by them when he came
around. If any of them had any curl
osity as to him or his business, the
sketch-book under his arm would lave
solved it; but it is doubtful if they cared
as to his purposes.
The summer opened with joyous
ness such as only the country summer
possesses, and Featherby began to feel
thoroughly at home in Newhall. The
minister had invited him to take tea
with him, the doctor had invited him
to call at his Office when he felt like
smoking a cigar, the blacksmith was al
ways glad to see him coming into his
shop, and the young people seemed
pleased when he Joined their pic-nics.
The young maidens of Newhall were
such as only the country towns of the
North can show. Though born in the
country, daughters of farmers, yet each
had been sent to the best schools in the
State, and they had brought back to
their country homes ease of manners
and grace of carriage that was fully
equal to their sisters in the large cities.
And their graces were peculiarly becom-
ing as they were toned down by the
realities of country life. Featherby de-
clared to himself the second Sunday he
attended the village church, that he had
never seen so many charming girls.
And he declared farther that he was
going to become acquainted with them.
Gaining their acquaintance was not a
difficult matter. They were not bold,
neither were they unduly shy; and when
he accompanied DIR. Folds to a picnic,
some two weeks later, he was very nat
urally introduced to nearly all the pretty
girls of the village.
He had a very pleasant day. Smok-
ing cigar at the open window of his
room late in the evening, he declared to
himself that it had been the pleasantest
day he had known since he was boy.
He congratulated himself upon his good
sense in having thought of this mas
querade, and wondered why men could
linger among the affected girls of the
cities, when there were such charming
flowers of womanhood in the country.
And how pleasant the young ladies had
been! Miss Manley was evidently the
belle of the place, and she was very
nrafty. h1t Miss Vornav wac-uolI 20