American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-06-12

fOunu she hau Deen IN tne uouSo ah
hour, and then she asked for the young
lady "Your sister, | presume, she
added, politely.
The ladv-whom Stella had learned
was Mrs. Keenan, by her mentioning
| her husbands name-said she would
speak to her. She was not her sister,
but friend-Miss Anderson-and she
would introduce her with pleasure.
Excuse my not calling q servant,
she said, AS she was leaving the room.
THE truth is that we hate the whole
race, and we only keep one in the
house. They are so ignorant, and such
meddlesome. tattling setn'
They are, indcedr' said Stella,
heartily, though. at the same time, she
wondered how they could get along in
that large house with only one serv ant
After some minutes Mrs Keenan, re-
turned and introduced Miss Anderson,
whom Stella found a bold-faced, loud
talking girl. But she, too, wore cost
| " dress, diamonds in her ears. and a
! hard loaded with expensive rings
Diamonds, fine jewelry and rich
dresses covered up multitude of short
comings with the thoughtless girl, and
she soon forgot her first unpleasant i'm
preston of Miss Anderson, and was
talking with her like an old friend.
Another hour passed away rapidly,
for they soon became very familiar, and
then Stella rose to depart. promising to
come again soon.
I'VE go out very little,'' said they,
and You must visit for both"
But l shall drag you out" was
Stella's last laughing remark, US she
went down the steps.
"Well, mamma, they're splendidr'
\ Il. Il. ,.N
ting-room. Mrs. keenan, is just love-
", and her dress must have cost two or
three hundred dollars at the very least.
1t was trimmed with lovely real lace.
The house is perfectly splendid
so much nicer than when the Stuarts
had it-and Miss Anderson has dia-
monds enough to fit out half-a-6ozen
people.
ITS grand over there, and I'm glad
l went. I'm going to ask Miss Andef-
son to drive out with me to-m.rrow.
Her names Annie. Isn't it SWEET
Annie Anderson! 1t sounds like a
made-up name. I like her ever so
much"
So she ran on, while Mrs Walters
listened anxiously.
Are they strangers in town." she
asked at last, when Stella was obliged
| to stop tor breath.
IS declared forgot to ask" said
Stella, remembering suddenly that,
much as they had talked, the converse
ton had been all about herself and her
affairs, and the neighbors generally,
and not a word about themselves.
With the exception of their names. she
really knew as little about them as be-
fore she went.
The next day was bright, and Stella
had her pretty new phaeton brought
up, and invited Miss Anderson to drive.
The invitation was accepted, and from
that day sprang up an intimacy be-
tween the two girls. Stella seemed to
be fascinated.
She, however, did most of the visit
ing. 1t was only after much persuasion
that Miss Anderson-Annie, as she
called her after the first day-called
upon Stella. When she did make the
call, she seemed to take an interest in
everything, admired all she saw, and
asked many questions about the house
and family.
2 Stella took her to her own room,
showed her her jewelry and clothes.
Then they talked about silver, and
Stella showed her an antique tea-urn,
an heirloom in her mothers family. II
was locked up in q safe which had been
put into the house since Mr.. Walters
death, and none of the servants knew
| about it.
Before long. Stella visited at the
Stuart House every day, and though
! Mrs. Walters did not know it, she be
came acquainted with Nh keenan, ant
Mr.. Anderson, Annie's brother. Nearly
every time she went there, she saw
them.
Mr.. Anderson was singer and player
and Mr.. Keenan, played chess and Other
games. They had duets, and chess
playing, tableaux and charades and
games, and costly lunches and dinners
and though the tables were served anC
furnished in a careless, hodge-podgt
sort of way, the viands were the
richest and most expensive the markets
afforded. The one servant was gooC
common cook, and pastries, creams
confectionery and fruits came every day
from the best city caterers.
The odd things in their life had long
ago ceased to trouble Stella. In fact
they never had troubled her much. The
family was to her simply eccentric, diff
ferent from the rest of the world, and o.
course, better.
Why shouldn't people all do as they
liked? Why should everybody thini
he must do just IS his neighbor did
She was young and willfrl and thought
less, and believed in Independence
So she saw nothing amiss in the
Keenans.
Mrs. Walters was concerned at first
but after q few weeks of Stella's init
macy had passed, she concluded it wa.
merely girl-friendship for Miss An
derson, and gave the matter but little
thought. She, too. thought the family
"queer, "a kind of people that al
preperly-trained persons know are 10
desirable acquaintances, though they
may be harmless.
Mrs. Walters did not suspect tina
the two gentlemen of the family wer,
almost always at home. Stella only
mentioned them occasionally. She die
not think it best to tell how much sh,
saw of them, knowing well that if he
mother knew of this phase of her visits
she would not approve of it.
Stella always went with fancy worl
or q new piece of music in her hands
and Mrs. Walters did not notice tina
the work did not progress much
Besides, just at this time, she wa.
much occupied with cares in her owl
4 house.
She had succession of losses il
the most unaccountable way; silve
spoons, money, table-Hnen, jewelry
seemed to fairly melt out of the house
She discharged two or three servants
locked her closets and drawers with tn
greatest care, and yet one thing afte
another would disappear, till not
place in the house seemed secure excep