American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-03

"By natural processes, L believe"
"I'm told she isn't favorite with
your sex; but exceptions prove the rule.
L never knew her to have a Irritation be-
fore, confess"
is this fiirtation?''
"On her side, yes. It's her very in
difference that attracts Leroy. He's
used to being made much of, and to
have the girls thrown at his head, so to
| speak AS she doesn't want to marry
him, she can afford to be audacious."
% didn't think she would condescend
to fiirt'
You seem to have made study of
Miss Dabney. 1 think she didn't wish
to be left out in the cold. All my guests
seem to be paired off this season. You
will have to devote yourself to me, Mr.
Northcote, unless L import another
blessed damosel.'''
"Don't, beg; am content with the
blessings the gods have provided
q" You might dispute Louise with Mr.
Leroy, to be sure.''
g True. Let us begin by interrupting
the tete-G-tete."
''Mr. Northcote," said Louise, ssthis
is pleasure for which Mrs Furniss had
not prepared u.s.
."Excuse me, but your friend doesn't
look as if he regarded it in that light, -
said NOrthcote, aside. "I hope 1 am
not de trop."
| &C didn't know that such humility
as that hope suggests was trait of your
| SEX
" Shall go away again?''
Why, certainly not, Immediately it
would look as if l had snubbed you.''
"And I'm not sure but you have"
1t was doubtless pleasant to have a
spectator witness her refutation of the
popular prejudice respecting her want
of attraction, and that the spectator
should be Mr.. Northcote added piquan-
| cy to the affair. 60 At least he will sec
that somebody finds me worth cultivat-
ing,'' she reflected. But in spite of this
she found herself incapable of entering
into the spirit of Irritation with the same
unconcern after Northcote's arrival.
! She felt perpetual insane desire to
| shorten the walks and drives, that she
might hasten back to his neighborhood,
and know just how he was passing the
time, that she might see his face and
hear his voice. But the further she with
drew, the closer Leroy pursued, the old
adage that bird in hand is worth two in
the bush not holding good in love
I
affairs. But when Miss Dabney ventur-
ed to tiirt, she did not know it entailed
serious results. She had such small be-
| lief in her powers of fascination that
| she would have laughed at the idea OF
Mr.. Leroy being in danger or in earn
est. There was no one else at leisure to
receive his attentions, to listen to his
! gushing; when other women arrived ,all
| this would be transferred, and she would
| slip back into her natural state of isola-
ton and neglect. Didn't she know that
Leroy's tender speeches meant nothing,
thaHhis devotion was only perfect from
| practice? But when the genuine article
was not to be had, it was pleasant to
play at love-better half loaf than nc
| bread at all.
The family had been picnicking in the
woods one afternoon, where the pine
needles made a carpet, and frolic-
some brook capered and dubbed down
from its mountain source. Leroy and
Louise had wandered away to collect
brushwood to boil the tea-kettle, but haC
gathered flowers instead; and when the
/ HoI 70 4 80
them to return to their party, they found
it was something more easily said thar
done. After some time spent in vair
search for the right path, they seated
themselves on messy log till Louise
should recover breath and strength, anC
studied such fragments of constellation
as peered through the branches over
head, and listened to the lonely pathoE
of the whip-poor-will, land made the place
ring with their chorus, not much daunt
ed by the situation, Leroy happy enough
in the protracted seclusion which haC
befallen him. Later he had waxed sen
timental and poetical, and she haC
laughed at and interrupted his lofties
flights.
"Were you ever in love, Miss Dab
ney?'' he asked.
&C Scores of times; from the age O
six. Isn't that every body's expert
ence?''
"Not mine," he returned. Ell wa
never in love but once.''
g And who was the happy creature?'
she asked, recklessly, thinking he re
ferred to some hobbledehoy era.
Who aoas sheP Why do you speal
in the sad imperfect?''
"You don't mean to say
81 mean to say that the only woman
/ ever loved, or shall love, is
''Oh, hark!'' cried Louise, rising
81 hear footsteps pardon the digres
sion. 'Lo, the conquering hero
comes!' -" she sang oh, Mr. North
cote, how glad 1 am to see you!
didn't know as we should get home til
morning. as that gentleman waved the
brand he had stolen from their gypsy
fire and shouted, 90 Eureka!''
81 didn't know but 1 was de tro1
again, when 1 found you and Leroy
taking it SO cozily," said Northcote
later, as he opened Mrs. Furniss's gar
den gate for Louise to enter, Leroy hav.
ing been already captured by the
hostess. GO l feared l had mistaken my
vocation, and had not been cut out fol
a discoverer.