American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-06-08

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his Sunday dinner. L didn't care for
myself, but my poor little fatherless boy
would suffer for my carelcssness and
neglect. And, truth to say, he was not
wont to suffer in silence or uncomplain-
ingly. L should have a terrible day,
and begun to feel more and
moro that life was a hideous
and unbearable burden. saw
through the front window a lady go by,
wearing a seal-skin sacque. could not
think it possible it was Susan. But it was
yes, it was Susan. She had the seal-skin
sacque which she had so long coveted.
Some people were born to good luck.
Heaven forbid any injustice upon my
part, or useless repining at the ways OF
Providence, but it did seem hard that
Susan should have ecery thing. To
crown ali, l saw somebody else pass my
window. 1t was James brother John,
with lovely bunch of violets in his
hand. He was only a few rods behind
Susan; he would soon overtake her, and
give her the violets, with some nice lit
tie speech about her eyes, which, re-
membcred, We're washed-out blue.
Then they would go in to one of James
appealing little lunches, while l and
poor little Howard would sit down to a
crust; and the end of it would be that
Susan wouldn't have to raise a hand,
while L Well, l must go about my
sweeping right straight away.
Which I did at once. But the salt
and bitter tears that fell from my eyes
ought. to have allayed the dust of my
dining-room. l didn't care for any
thing SO much as MY little Towards
disappointment How could 1 confess
to the child that had left his precious
| bit of meat to be devoured by that
green eyed monster? He would kick
and cry and refuse to be comforted,
and l should be most miserable.
! While the tears were falling like rain
upon my broom a big shadow doomed
up at the door, and there stood James
brother John, with the bunch of violets
| still in one hand, and a bunch of thyme
in the other. l turned my tear-stained
| face away from him, and held out my
hand for the thyme. 1 was sorry to
seem SO ridiculous. Of course Jane had
told him all about his mistake, and he
had come to apologize and explain. l
wished he would not mind, but go back
again to Susan; but he held my hand
tight:in his, own, and put into my fingers
the pretty flowers, looking down into
my face with a world of tender inquiry
as to its forlorn and woe begone condi-
/ ton.
"These blossoms will serve to garnish
your Sunday dinner" he said, in
which have become strangely interest
ed, and could not forbear bringing you
the thyme which you left behind you,''
alt is useless" said, smiling dole
fully; ''the green-eyed monster has
spoiled ALL"
"Ah," he said, his face suddenly
Frightening, sis that the troublei
Bless your womanly little soul, how
love your frank generosity! How sweet
it is to hear something straight from the
heart, without affeetation or sham
All, believe me, you have nothing to
dread from the green-eyed monster"
knew from the tenderness of hi;
-oieo aud manner he thought 1 meant
that | was jealous of Susan, and | felt
the hot blood rush up to the frill of my
busting cap. 1 wanted to tell him il
was only green-eyed cat, and faltered
out that he had made Il mistake; but he
broke in again, eagerly:
"Yes, 1 know there is some little
mistake about the relationship. Jane has
told me that instead of being something
or other, that you are the other thing
but the main thing is that you are tn,
one woman in the world for me. new
er saw any body in my life-at least
that isl mean-since-''
And here the poor fellow grew silent
thinking, doubtless, of Belinda. 1 wa
sorry so sensitive and loyal nature
should be thrown away upon Susan
whom 1 knew to be cold and calculat
ing, thinking more of her mortgage
than the human heart, but could no
be treacherous and base.
81 am sorry" said-for franknes
Uas part of my nature, and HEAVIER
knows l was sorry to my hearts core
"but can not interfere with the plan
of your sister Jane. 1 know that she i
only my brother-in-law's brother
wife, .......
"Oh," cried James brother John
"won't you please make the relation
ship simpler one? See what mischie
it has done already! 1 shall love no
body but you'll shall marry nobod.
but you" ffstt ttf
And all at once, while my hands wa
still close in his own, and the violet
were dropping from the warmth O
both, who should burst in upon us bu
his sister Jane!
, Her face was flustered, but not YER
: wrathful, and she seemed rather pleas
ant than otherwise at the tableau befor
> her. "For goodness sake, john" sh
said, "when you come back to the hous
don't say word to Susan: she's en-
gagged to the Baptist minister. neve
liked the looks of the man myself, an
wouldn't want to marry any body wit
such an ugly squint in his eye; but h
holds Susan's mortgage, and if he look
ed seven ways to the moon she wouldn
care. So perhaps it's better as it is.''
I'm sure it's ever so much better a
it is" said James brother John.-Ha,
per's Weekly.