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

ing walk had done much for her, but
she was not indebted to that for more
than a little extra color. She was
dressed in perfect taste, and l think
was well worth walking out before
breakfast to have look at. And in
this opinion Edward Featherby fully
agreed. He kept at her side as long as
he dared, and then turned back to his
hotel with regret. 1t was his intention
to meet her after school hours, but his
plans were not good and he missed her.
In the evening DR.. Folds took him to
call ON Miss Manley, and he enjoyed
himself thoroughly. But when he sat
down in his own room his thoughts ran
to the figure he had seen in the morning.
Every morning for the next week
found him going towards the elm walk
before breakfast, but he had the entire
path to himself-the school-teacher was
invisible. Then he called upon her.
Miss Verney was not a native of New
hall, of this much he was possessed !;
but where her home was he neither
knew nor cared ,sand preferred to re-
main in ignorance, fearing questioning
might reveal something that would
necessitate him to disclose his own
home. Miss Verney boarded
at farmer Hooper's, and at farm
err Hooper's, Featherby found her.
She was playing a solitary game of
croquet in the yard, and of course he
joined her. If neither played a very
good game it was just as well they had
all the more excuse for talking, and in
the end to drop the mallets and go
walking up the road. Featherby was a
good talker; Miss Verney was a capital
listener. He talked his best tonight,
and all the better because she followed
him so closely and understood him so
thoroughly.
Life to young man who is worth two
millions is not like life as you and 1 look
at it, dear reader. And yet, when you
think of the walks you took when the
sunset glow was still in the west, and of
the little hand that lay SO lightly and
trustingly on your arm, do you not
think your words and feelings were as
carefree, and your hopes as high as if
you had been heir to all Solomon s
wealth. All, we are all rich when we
are young, and never so rich as when
we draw pictures of what we shall
do for the girl we love. And the trait
of Miss Verney's character that Feath-
erby was most pleased with was her
naturalness. She was thoroughly her.
self, he said, and a very interesting self,
too. She told him of the dull routine
of the school-room, of her distaste for
her work; but she was compelled to
work to be Independent, and she made
the best of it.
How he pitied the little thing! But
he admired her for working. She would
not be drag On her father Che had
heard her mention her father); she
preferred to work and be independent.
That was a noble independence and he
respected her for the feeling.
But all evenings come to an end, and
he had to take his leave. If he dreamt
that night, Miss Manley did not obtrude
herself upon his mind. In the morning
he took his usual walk in the elm path
and he met Miss Verney, as he knew he
should. Another delightful half-hour
in her comapny and he was beginning
to be in love. Love grows rapidly when
there is nothing to interfere. He was
free to WOO whomsoever he would she
was likewise free and to be wooed. They
could meet every day if they wished,
and their right to meet and to love was
unquestioned. Newhall noticed that the
artist was devoting himself to the
school-teacher; but Newhall said he
seemed to be a nice fellow and it would
be a good match, and then smiled on
them in friendly, encouraging way.
1t was the evening of the third of
July. Miss Verney had closed her
school that day for the summer, and she
was exhausted with hard days labor.
She was sitting on the porch of farmer
Hooper's house. Featherby came up
the path, saw how tired she was, and
said he would not ask her to go down to
the river as he had intended, because
she was so tired.
"No," said she, gettingup; " am not
too tired for that; and besides you
and she stepped and blushed. She had
said more than she meant to.
"And me?" he asked.
"Oh, you deserve to be treated bet
ter, after walking up the hill, )" she said,
laughingly.
He was sure that was not what she
was going to say, but had to be satisfied
then. They went down the long lane
through the meadows to the river. 1t
was pretty walk and lovely river
They had been there often before. But
neither was quite SO much at ease to-
night as usual.
She was going away in a few days to
spend her vacation at the home of an
old school-mate. He was wondering if
she loved him; if it was possible that she
would give him "yes" to the question
he was about to ask her. He had de-
termined a week before that he would
ask the question. She was every thing
that he wanted in a wife, She was sweet
tempered, beautiful, cultivated and h on
est. If he won her he would have the
satisfaction of knowing that she married
him for himself, and his future would
be but little less perfect than Paradise
81 wish you would tell me what you
were going to say about me tonight, :"