American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-24
LITTLE ROBBIE.

She was the widow Randolph wheI
we first met, and thought her then, q
think her now, the lOveliest woman
in the world" said Mr.. Alcxande
Lane.
'Ahar' responded Ford, the senio
partner of Ford & Lame and SO Their,
was q romance. Sly dogr'
The two men-old friends and rather
old fellows-were in that mildly 10
quacious mood that follows o good din
ner, and is stimulated by good cigal
and pleasant surroundings. Now there
NO cozier spot than Lanes library, MOI
is there he is past ffty-s
handsomer or more genial man thar
Lane himself. At this moment he sal
staring into the fire, the cigar held med
itatively between two fingers, and Ford
repeated, by way of jog to the CONVEX.
salon, "Sly dogr'
s During one Of my regular trips to
Europe for the firm" said Lane, talk
ing apparently to the fire, 81 had time
TO spare, and was at Baveno, in the
north of Italy" Then, after q pause:
There's too much said about the
scenery at the italian lakes"
"WhyP Isn't it finer'
Yes; but happen, say, at Baveno,
On MAggiore, in the middle of May, and
there's something you can't talk about;
there's . fervor and . languor, q
strength and sweetness, in all nature,
In the very air itself, that can't be told
lit can only be felt. The hotel at Ba-
veno was close to the lake, and boats lay
moored just before the door. Il was
afternoon, remember, Gbat day-late
afternoon-and ran into Russell, firm
Of Russell & White. you know.
-. So glad to meet an Americana
said Russell I'm doing the lakes with
my wife and sister-in-law, who is a
widow. Come for . boat ride with us
this evening at eight
AT eight Russell clapped me on the
shoulder. There was strange infiu-
ence abroad that night; the whole place
seemed fairy, unreal I followed to
from its mornings On the shore was
Mira Russell. whom l greeted politely;
but my eyes were fixed ON that boat,
white. like cloud, sat . woman who was
lovely - . vision. 1 was fairly dazed,
and stood staring, when Russell pulled
up the boat and said Jump in. Halo,
Adelaide; SO you're seated. The wom-
Mrs Randolph, Mr.. Lane, of New
York"
=. She greeted me with, Indeed, Mr..
Lane. it's pleasant to meet people from
home-thAt ie, sometimes, and s0sae
people She was q woman of the world,
and bit coquettish, yet with sober
ness and gentle grace underlying ALL
How did she look then?'T asked
Ford.
Well, it was ten years ago. She
was slighter, but that warm-colored
hair was the same; she had those same
gray eyes, with the dark brows that
would lend sternness to any other eyes,
but only frame the softness of hers;
her cheek was shade paler than now,
and fairer, perhaps. Well. we ruwed,
over to Isola Madre. There, under
the shadow of the wooded banks, we
heard the nightingales sing, and, in
short, !" said Mr.. Lane, with . nervous
laugh, knocking the ashes from his
Cigar. and beginning to smoke bef6re
he had done speaking" in short, /
resolved that very night to make Mrs.
Randolph my wife, or live bachelor"
!" Sudden, wasn't itr' limited Ford.
Eyes, but times nothing in such
matters; it's-it's1
Say it in four letters" Ford sug-
gested-
"Well, It's lone; and was heartily,
in love. You see, I was
only forty then.
.sNext morning early 1 was pacing
the turf in front Of the hotel, and met
Mrs. Randolph. She was dainty, fresh,
and tender-hued even in the full morn
ing sunshine. / breakfasted with the
Russell party, and bonnie brought to
the table the prettiest four-year-old
boy ever laid eyes on
~"My RobbieI my darling! my bless
mgr exclaimed Mrs. Randolph, in a
rapture. seating the child on
her lap. The little chap shook his head
Of yellow curls, reached with both
hands over the table, and calculated.
%. Honey IL bad for mammals boy
said Mrs. Randolph, while /, looking at
the picture they made, only desired to
call both mother and child my own.
Why, in fancy, I was already father to
the boy, loved him, brought him up,
put him into the firm-all in the few
during which the little man
was lunging and plunging after the
honey dish. His mother restraining
him. he delivered piercing yell, and,
Efnbbing the table-cloth, dragged on
some dishes that broke Waiter
said Mrs. Randolph, take the honey |
sway.'
"At this the boy beat first the air,
hen his mothers face. She turned
rcd and pale by turns, and / hunted
my pockets. A knife, q pencil-case, ]