American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-04-13


ed. She drew her hand away; and,
coldly kind, she sat down to entertain
him.
She went to dinner in sort of
dream, and listened to the story he told
in a dazed way. 1t was certainly a pitt
full tale; and Mr.. Carroll promised to
help him; and he did so by taking him
into his office as managing clerk, and
letting him sit at his table, and converse
in his parlor.
And Mr.. Morton was gentlemanly, and
kept his place, never presuming on his
old acquaintance with Agnes-rever
seeking to build the old friendship be-
tween them.
Percy Bell and Fanny came to see
Agnes often, and Agnes returned their
visits. She was quite as friendly to
Percy Bell now as before the entrance
of Harry Morton upon the scene; and
that gentleman's hopes were again in
the ascendant, and he certainly made
an agreeable contrast to the ghostly,
hollow-eyed clerk, whom Agnes barely
recognized. So affairs went on until
Harry Morton had regained all his
original good looks, and had made him
self Indispensable to his employer.
One night Agnes gave large party.
1t was her twenty-sixth birthday, and
she laughingly told her friends that it
was the inaugural ball of her old-maid-
enhood, and she meant it to be sue
cess. And success it was. Fanny
and Percy Bell were there, and so was
Harry Morton.
Agnes unbent on the occasion, and
danced with him once; then refused to
dance any more that evening, and de-
voted herself to her guests.
just before supper she came across
some gentleman in the shadows of the
deserted drawing-room, and, tapping
him on the shoulder, she playfully said,
s.And whom do l find playing the wall
tlowerP"
She started back ere the words were
finished, for the gentleman turned face
of unutterable agony towards her, and
she saw that it was Harry Morton.
''Miss Carroll" he cried, 81 love a
lady who is as far above me as yon cold
moon is above US now, and my heart is
breaking"
"Why do you tell me this?' she said,
retreating haughtily, as he sought to
take her hand.
"Aggie, Aggie!" cried Fanny Bell at
the door. ''Will you show Percy those
engra,ings you told me about?" And
Agnes hurried off, and Harry Morton
turned to his silent contemplation of the
cold heavens, at the long window.
Tomorrow" he said, al leave this
house forever"
1t was o'clock before the last guest
had departed, and the house was still.
Mr.. Carroll had gone to his room long
ago; but Harry Morton still stood at the
window, and watched the stars.
By-and-by, the drawing room door
Enclosed, and he saw Agnes come and
throw herself upon the sofa, and, taking
the cushion under her head, began to
weep violently. There was no light in
the room save that which came from
the open CRATE; but he could see that
Agnes had not removed her evening
dress; and, wondering what could be
the matter, he was about to make known
his presence, when he was conscious OF
a stealthy step in the hall. In a mo-
ment the room-door Enclosed, and
man entered. Morton could see that he
was muffled to the eyes, and carried a
dark lantern; and then, as Agnes be
came aware of the intruder's presence,
she started up with terrified shrek,
and rushed into the MUSHROOM, and
covered in the shadows. The man with
the lantern stood in thought moment,
and Immediately followed her.
''Come, GIRL" he said, grasping her
shoulder, 60 hand over them rings and
bracelets, and you're all right. l locked
the old gentleman's door and the door
from the servants hall; and how in the
name of wonder you found out l was
under your bed, l don't know. You
might screech all night, and gain moth
ing by it but sore throat
Agnes by this time was senseless, and
the robber proceeded to remove the
jewels from his unresisting victim, when
he found himself caught in powerful
grasp, overpowered, and bound before
he could recover his wits. Harry Nor
ton did his work quickly and we'll, and
pinioned the burglar with The heavy cord
of the lace curtains, which he was draw
ing carelessly between his fingers when
Agnes entered the drawing-room.
BY this time, Mr.. Carroll had forced
open his door, and hurried to the sc, ne
of action. The burglar had left Il coarse
sack in the hall, containing the most
valuable of the silver-plate he had found
in the dining-room, and had he been
satisfied with that, he might have got
off safely. But he was tempted to enter
Agnes's room and had just time to Sc
crete himself, when Agnes, who had re-
manned in the parlor a long time after
her other guests, came into her room,
and sat down before her dressing-gl
and leaned her head upon her hands,
was buried in deep thought, when at
the foot of her bed, which was just
alongside of her glass, she saw a strange
looking sack, and beside it mans boot
protruding from beneath the bed. 1t
was in the glass she saw them, and, with
a thrill of terror, she rose up and
stole down to the parlor; and remem-
bering the presence of Harry in the