American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-04-12

Nv ehOy huSeS DiCh, hPpui-
emily acquiescing in his sisters views.
81 am sure we all do. Don't you think,
Jean, we had better bow the shutters
and hang out black bombazinep''
81 shall bow the shutters" adds
Janet, feeling rather angry at her
brothers continued joking. sit is the
least we can do, and it shows some re-
spect for our grandfather's BROTHER"
rising and leaving Dick still at the ia
BILE.
sour grandfather's brother!" re-
peats he; "what an awfully near rela-
tive! Surely he must have bequeathed
something to his brothers grandchil-
dren."
Dick is in his study now-n neat, coy
little room back of the drawing room,
which Is in reality the library, but
which Mr.. Roy, he being literary man,
chooses to call his study. He is sitting
at his table, with Nell's letter spread
out before him, and is reading it for the
fourth time. There is nothing very re-
markable about it; it is not what one
would style a love-letter, and yet Dick
would not for all the world have his
sister get glimpse of it.
DEAR DICK.-I have heen looking for you
to call, as you promised, and am much sur
prised at not having seen you. Your birth
day, think you told me, is about this time.
Did you have partyf and are you so
elated at having attained your majority that
you are above visiting your friends' 1 can
not think that because you are now man
you have given up all the friends Of your
childhood. Please call soon, and tell me all
about your presents. Ever your friend,
NELL
That is it; and in it Dick is trying to
find traces of something more than
friendship.
Nell is an awfully jolly GIRL" he
says to himself, leaning back in his
chair and thrusting his hands into his
pocke's; "just as full of fun as ever she
can be. 1 wonder whether she really
does care any thing for meP I'm not
altogether bad-looking fellow, if l do
say it myself, and fancy can talk
quite as well as the most of 'em. Con-
found it all! How is one to tell wheth-
er girl cares more for him than for an
other, when she persists in being jolly
with every oneP"
Then he sets TO thinking of some
means to solve the problem. How shall
he prove herp Presently an idea comes
to him, first family, indistinctly; then
more plainly and more wildly, until
plan-an excellent plan, he thinks
stands out before him in beautiful sym
metry. Every thing seems to have
worked in favor of it, and he is natural
ly Joyous over his discovery.
1 thought, devised, and Pallas heard my
prayer. 81
His handsome face is radiant with un-
hidden smiles, and his lips, unknowing-
ly puckered up. and giving vent to his
cheerfulness through the agency of a
merry tune that heis whistling.
He opens one of the drawers in his
writing table and takes out packet of
letters. Through them he searches until
he finds two that Janet wrote him while
he was away on his midsummer vaca-
ton. These he spreads open before
him, and taking sheet of note-paper
he begins to write, now closely studying
his sisters letters, now slowly putting
words upon the paper. Half an hour
and he has finished. He folds the sheet,
incloses it in an envelope, and addresses
it as carefully as he has written it. Then
he rises, and, unlocking the door. meets
Janet in the hall. She sees him take
down his hat to go out.
"Had you not better wear your over
coatp' she asks. Sim afraid you
might take cold again.
elm not going far" he answers
''only to post a letter."
"To Nenp" she asks, teasingly.
care you not rather prompt in answer
ing your correspondence
Dick. making no reply, goes out,
while she, laughing to herself, hurries
away to her numerous household du-
ties.
The next morning is the LIST of April
-Al-Fools' Day, with its temptations
to practical jokes and its myriads of lit
tie innocent lies, when every one does
his best to make a fool of his dearest
friend as well as his direst foe. 1t is
bright, sunny morning, that swells the
buds to bursting, and draws up the
blades of fresh young grass as a magnet
draws steel. Dick Roy is in the very
best of spirits; he has persuaded Janet
into believing that he has taken fresh
cold; has assumed voice as hoarse as
q veteran bull-frog; and has been look
ing the very picture Of distress, until the
arrival of the postman-just as he is
creeping in to breakfast and adding to
his sisters anxiety by his distressed
countenance-causes him to brighten
up, and in the clearest tone remark,
3" Pom my word, Jean, my colds gone.
Did it strike you this was the first day
of AprilP"
An expression of relief mingled with
annoyance mounts Miss Roy's counter
ance.
"You awful boy!" she exclaims
" You should be ashamed of yourself,
trying to fool your own sister,"
"And succeeding, too" laughs Dick.
The only letter this morning is one
for him. 1t is hidden by large yellow
and addressed in a bold, heavy
hand that gives one an impression of
important business at once. As Dick