American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-22
VOL. XXVI.

Il
other young ladies; quiet-looking girls
children of deceased brother OF MI
Leighton, who had been imprudent in hi
worldly affairs, and left but a very scant
fortune to his widow and orphans. The
were occasionally invited to Leighto
Court by their good natured uncle, VIII
had no idea how ill they sometimes fare
among their more prosperous and show
relatives.
The important question, "What shal
we wcary'' of course derived additions
interest from the recent announcement
Il suppose Fanny and Ann will appea
again in those dreadful old washed ou
piqucs," said one, abiding to the despise'
cousins.
81 suppose so, too" returned Fanny
unabasled; "faute dc mieur, cousin"
"Then am quite sure one of you viii
captivate the heir" was the taunting re
ply.
A few minutes aftcrward another oppor
tunity for Notifying the victims occurred
Mrs. Heathcote announced that she haa
heard from her husband that he could no
leave town so early as he expected, ant
he hoped if person who was coming t.
see him on business from his lawyer
should arrive before him they would
"treat him civilly" till he could joiI
them.
"Oh, delightful! lawyers clerk; he
will be beau for Fanny an6 Ann. Wha
a godsend for them, for otherwise there
certainly would not have been one t.
spare"
"Civility. indeedl what is papa think
ing off" cried another.
All this, if it did not show the good
manners or good feelings of the more
prosperous cousins, served at ali events to
exhibit the others in a favorable light, as
their gentle faces expressed neither anger
nor modification. Perhaps because they
were used to it.
And now the ladies rose; the elder to
seek their dressing rooms and confer with
their maids, while the Younger ones were
hustled off to the school room.
At about three O'Clock that afternoon
the whole party assembled on the beautiful
lawn, level as billiard-table, green rs
an emerald, to consult about the placihg
and arrangement of the different sets.
And certainly a prettier scene was never
shone upon by summer sun, even in mer-
ry England, where there are so many OF
the kind. The house, a modern antique,
built by the present 'Squire's father, to re-
place one on lower site, was happy
mixture of the picturesqueness of for
mer age and the convenience of the pres
ent 1t stood out bold and striking, with
its terraces and flower gardens, from a
background of fine trees, and command
ed a magnificent view of the surround
ing country, the glorious sweep of park
stretching far and wide till it melted
into the general landscape, dotted with
hamlets and village spires, and en-
livened by occasional glimpses of wind
ing river.
Nor were the living forms unworthy of
sx.n fho honAennao II nd
stately matrons, in light, summer dresses,
walked hither and thither, or formed into
gay groups round the croquet hoops
while the pretty children, in their dainty
costumes Of lace and muslin, fitted like
butterflies among them. As the guests
began to arrive they did not detract from
the general effect. There were-which, it
must be owned, is rare in our dear coun-
try-very few hidcous toilets with COM
binations of color painful to the eye; for
it must be admitted by the most deter
mined Ang.omaniac that English women
seldom have an eye for either form or
color, in connection with their own per-
sons. As long as a dress is striking and
snowy, and, as they fondly hope, fashion
able, no matter how incongruous it may
be, or how unsuited to the appearance of
the wearer, they are satisfied, and go
about perfectly happy, after having made
themselves look as ugly as nature, which
made most of them so fair, will permit
them to be.
And now the company dispersed, and
the games began. Some played: some,
unskillful or Indifferent, sauntered about,
engaged in sweet, O; sometimes IN rather
bitter, converse; and all those groups of
darker garments of the unlovely sex,
fitted about and chatted and played, and
drank tea out of the most delicate porce-
lain cups. The sun shone brightly and
pealed around. An uninitiatcd
spectator might have supposed that there
were spots IN the universe like glimpses of
a brighter sphere, and have been tempted
to forget for u moment that sordid misery,
with all its concomitants, abOunded in the
world.
But am not going to be philosophical,
but tell my story, which is true one. The
enjoyment was at its height when a serv-
ant came out TO announce to Mrs. Leigh
ton that MIR. Smith had arrived, and was
waiting in the drawing-ro room. Surely
never did that undistinguished patronymic
cause such a sensation. "Oh! let him
come out here at once" mamma, 90
and fetch him." Which set is he TO
play in ."-- . Oh! in ours; we haven't
single man." No, in ours; Caroline j.
playing two balls" "But only suppose
he can't play, or does not like croquet,"
suggested Juvenile, less interested inthe
matter than those older The idea was
and in the midst of the confusion
Of voices Mrs. Leighton came through
one of the open windows, followed by
tall and certainly singularly handsome
young man. He was well, though rather
showily, dressed wore jewelry, but not too
anil q pnrfoir, II ,f I'd
sat not ungracefully on one
in the position he occupied, of course not
quite unconsciously, of a sultan who had
but to throw the handkerchief and make
the loveliest maid his own
He was presented formally to all the
ladies of the family, further introduction
being deemed unnecessary. And certain
ly none of the other ladies considered
particularly sggricved by being
omitted in tie ceremony. A Mr.. Smith
was too insignificant an individual to
cause any excitement among those not
prepared by announcement in the bills
for the denouement of the drama.
But among the home party, how many
hearts beat high with hope and expecta-
lion? At least dozen, counting the
three mothers, and the two poor cousins,
who, as bearing The name of Leighton,
might be supposed to have the privilege
of entering Tor the prize.
There is no doubt that the good mien
Of the hero made some difference in the
feelings of the younger ladies; but as for
The elder ones, the parent birds, l do veri-
ly believe that, if instead of being, as he
really was, as handsome as Apollo, he
had proved as ugly as Cyclops, it would
have been all the same. They looked,
with far seeing eyes. beyond the present
hour, with its pleasures and fiirtations;
through long perspective of coming
Tears, replete with wealth and comfort
houses and town houses, car