American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-11-16

tail. Following the baby, the gentle
mother would appear, languid from the
hot climate SO lately left; then would
come kissing, ronrping, a grand chorus
of "good-mornings;" some chasing up
and down the level floor, and then the
small brood would vanish, swept away,
as 1t were, by their noiseless attendant,
and for while the balcony would be
left to silence and the sweet morning
sunshine, tlickering through the vines
as best it might, ana lying in bright
glintS on rail and carpet.
Toward noon there would be an hour
or two of grandmamma and Dotha with
their great mending basket. Then the
children again, fresh from their bath OF
wash. Then n drowsy hour with some
one swinging in the hammock, or some
one reading aloud, while the others
listened in dreamy silence. And toward
sunset, when the cool breeze blew in
from the bay, visitors would drop in,
lingering to enjoy the shade, the smell
of flowers, and the peaceful leisure OF
the spot. Then came tea, and then used
to come-Frank. The moonlight, the
late evening, belonged to him and Luta.
All summer long it had been so; all
summer long had seen the two heads
close together, the clasping arm; had
heard the low-voiced talk, always on the
same theme, yet always new, go on and
on till ten O'Clock struck, and eleven,
and the old Judge put his head out of the
window above to ask if they were going
to sit there all night. Mrs. Swallow,
reused from her beauty sleep, would
pop hers from the nest to witness the
partiDg-a lingering parting always, as
of those who could not bear to sever.
There were no partings now, no meet
ings. No wonder Mrs. Swallow was
puzzled and dissatisfied.
6" Has Frank been out of town." ask
ed the Judge. How easy it is for even
loving families to be unconscious of an
incipient change!
81 imagine so. He has not been here
for some days; but forgot to ask Luta
about it," said the sister-in-law.
81 don't think Luta is looking quite
WE'LL" remarked the more observant
Dotha. Snow, Marie, put down that
stocking. You have enough mending
to do when you are at home in Shang-
hal"
"That's just where you are wrong,''
called in John from the hammock, TAX
ing his cigar from his mouth and blow
ing little rings of smoke into the air.
In Shanghai Marie never mends or
makes at all. What's the use, when you
can get a machine and fellow to run
it for fifty cents a day?"
Grandmamma looked little grim.
alt sounds somehow shiftless to my
Yankee notions,' she observed. &c
know should not fancy having man
darn my Stockings"
81 assure you, mamma, they do it
most beautifully. 1t is rather like
weaving than darning, and puts our
home mending to shame" remarked
ward, searched the big basket for a
sock, turned out the heel, and held it
up, just as her mother presented a no
table specimen of Dotha's best d" ladder
STITCH" and each exclaimed "There!"
in tone of triumph, which tickled the
Judge into a fit of laughter.
"Luta, I hope you will have your
wedding before we go back" cried Ma
rie, as Luta came out on to the balcony
"Just think, may never have another
chance to be here for one of the home
and to see the family all
together. You ought to consider that,
1 think. Do choose day before Christ
mas"
Poor Luta! 1t was easy enough to
give Marie's light remark as light an
answer, but not to allay the inward
pain and perplexity which it had called
into being. Would there ever be any
at all? Must she tell the fam
lily that all was over between her and
Frank ?-and naS it over? The rest
went to tea; she fingered on the bal
cony. Her arm was on the railing. She
ran down her cheeks and FLASHED on
,he blue sleeve of her dress. Mrs. Swal-
Ow watches from above.
Footsteps rang on the stones below,
out Luta did not hear them. The wave
If sorrow which was sweeping over her
leafened her ears. 1t was all true,
hen: she must give up hope. She
night as well tell the family tonight.
This was what she was thinking as the
teps came on unheard. But Mrs
swallows hearing was sharper, as, all
n flutter of eager interest, she poised
herself on the trellis overhead.
"That is he. Why does he not look
lpP" meditated Mrs. Swallow. "He
hall look" And, as led by some
impulse, with wild call, a
rive, and swerving drop, she let her.
elf fall almost into the face of the
'asscr-by, who, with bent head, was
ooked up, of course-who would not
t the shock of such salutation?-and
aw Mrs. Swallow, indeed, but also the
olden head bowed on the blue sleeve |
pom the balcony rail above.
Frank wavered-stopped.
"Luta," he said at last, in very low
dice.
She raised her wet face. A dazzled |
lean shot into her eyes.
You are crying! What is itP" The
4
tender.