American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-10

two sharp legs set themselves in any
soft fabric by the thousand, and leave
their traces even when picked out. Be-
fore long they were all hot and tired,
and adjourned to the waterfall to lunch;
and happy VIVA tAe man or woman who
sbaree: Nely's sandwiches; even Mr..
Fearing, who had tasted delicacies
Beckett never knew even by report, in
Paris cafes and New York clubs, came
more than once for supply of this new
found dainty-whether because He real
ly liked them, being hungry with the
keen nil, or because he wanted to see
Nely's face brighten with innocent sat
isfaction, we can't tell, or will not. He
was awkward enough to spill a cup of
hot coffee on her skirt, but it never
elouded the pretty face moment.
"Never mind, it will wash," said she,
and sent grateful thought home to her
mother to think it was not her precious
black silk.
But Miss Bristow's dainty cashmere
had its own Gbation of claret from the
hands of a dreadful boy, who stumbled
over stone with the bottlein his hands,
and literally sprinkled that dove-color-
ed garment with irremediable spots.
The lady's dark eyes flashed, and she
bit her beautiful lips. TO be sure, she
had other dresses; but how should she
get back to New York without a travel
ing dress? She looked at Nelly and en-
We'd her, though the next half hour
brought her companion in misery, for
| her cousin, Miss Rycker, in an embroider-
ed batiste just imported, slipped fairly
into the brook and sat down ignomini-
ously in shallow pool, of which she
made mud-puddle by her sudden in
| trusion, splashing the elegant dress
from head to foot, and making the
wearer thoroughly uncomfortable.
Other slight mishaps befell the party,
but they forgot them in the fragrant
blossoms and keen sweet air.
Nelly had filed her basket to the brim
with carefully chosen sprays, fastened
bunch of the deepest hued at her
throat and another in the jet buckle
that fastened her feather hat-band. It
was no special vanity in her, for they
were all adorned with their spoils. Even
the gentlemen were decked with but
ton-hole bouquets. But nobody looked
like Nelly; and Mr.. Fearing thought
so too, as she stood on
the brow of the hill look
| ing over the long valley that ran
northward, threaded by a bright stream,
and closed at the end of the vista by a
great dark mountain. Behind our little
girl a deep green growth of young
pines made verdant shaded back
ground. Her black hat hung on her
arm her face was full of keen pleasure
and simple fresh beauty; the red lips,
warm color, open innocent eyes, dark
sweet as pansies are, and the fluttering
rings of hair, which the sun threaded
with gold, Furnishing its deep brown as
the wind breathed gently among the
shining tresses, played over low white
forehead. The artists eye took in the
whole picture and remembered it, but
the mans heart took in a more vivid
and lasting guest; for here he found a
real woman-not q doll of fashion or a
queen of society, but bright, pure,
tender creature, fresh and sweet as the
blossoms she wore, unaffected, sweet
tempered, delicate, yet withal piquant
in her manner and speech from native
wit and quick perception.
It may be inquired, naturally enough,
how Mr.. Fearing discovered all this in
the course of one morning. 1 confess
it seems improbable, but lovers have a
wonderful insight into character some
times. 1t does not always verify itself
on further acquaintance, but this time
the judgment was true. "More by
good luck than good guidance, as the
Scotch say; and if Mr.. Fearing did lose
his heart suddenly and hopelessly, he,
at least, never regretted it thereafter.
But the day was over now. They went
back to the station, tired but merry,
and far less elegant in aspect than the
party who came down the road in the
morning. Their baskets, emptied of
provisions and bottles, were overfowed
now with exquisite bloom and perfume,
that filled the crowd of dusty travellers
among whom they entered with long
ing and envy.
Nelly was tired, but she did not find it
out at once, for Mr.. Fearing carried her
basket home for her, and asked leave to
call on Monday, with Lima Holdridge,
and take Nelly to the Falls.
"Oh, mamma, what lovely day I've
4 had!n said she, as she entered the small
parlor, where her mother waited for
her by the window.
"Calico dress and alp" significantly
inquired Mrs. Day.
"That was quite the best part of it,
dear. was so glad wore it," And
for the next hour Mrs. Day was enter
tanned with a history of the excursion
the mishaps of finery, the beauty of
every thing, and just slight mention
of Mr.. Fearing in every other sentence,
till her motherly eyes began to look
anxious, and her heart to give a warn
ing throb, for she remembered her
youth.
But if Nelly had not mentioned his
name, the widow Days eyes would have
perceived one side of the question, at
least, the next Sunday, from the fire.
quent and ardent gaze this young fellow
directed toward the singers seat, where
Nelly sang the quaint old hymns in a