American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-10

Il
cruel blow of rejection. Beyond was
an Ophelia with yellow hair, who had
shared q similar fate the previous year.
These lovely heroines languished in the
obscurity of the glass piazza, without
ever having met the approving smile
of an appreciative public. Oh, the cold
selfshness of the world, and the will
full blindness of hanging committees
and art critics! For the first time Agnes
found the smile of Beatrice insipid,
and her gaze vacant. A doubt chilled
Ter heart. Quickly she turned the
picture to the wall. and sought the case
ment, gazing forth into the night rath-
er than longer contemplate her own
work.
The piazza, located in the rear of the
noisy avenue, overlooked the houses of
the next street. These residences were
aristocratic in proportion as their neigh
bors were humble. A high brick wall,
bordered by q vine of wistaria, inclosed
stable and garden of the mansion oppo-
site, while brilliant lights within re-
vealed q conservatory to the observer.
The light came through curtains of silk
and lace in q more remote drawing
room, where the chandelier was visible,
like a great golden cone, and slanted
across the conservatory, resting here on
a frond of quivering fern, and there on
n mass of gorgeous blossoms. At the
same time the ripping melody of a
piano, touched by skillful hand, reached
the ear of this lonely spectator, who
looked down ON all this luxury, gayety
and life not so much with a sting of
envy as a crushing, overwhelming sense
of personal failure.
The night was clear, stars sparkled in
the sky above, and the radiance of a
full moon began 10 illuminate the city
roofs.
A girl entered the conservatory, ap-
preached a sash, and opened it, leaning
out to discover the moon. She wore
pink dress, with soft white lace on neck
and arms; q jewel flash ed in her hair.
Turning aside from the window, her
sleeve caught in the branch of a flower
ing plant, she overturned it, and it fell
outside the window with crash of
broken pottery. The girl uttered
little cry of dismay, glanced down on
the wreck she had occasioned a moment,
then withdrew her head, and closed the
sash. The plant, an offshoot of the
conservatory's wealth of bloom and
fragrance, remained on the ledge where
it had fallen.
Now the silk curtains separated, and
q gentleman joined her. He was a tall
and slender young man in evening
dress, with q flower in his button-hole,
and he tossed aside cigarette as he
There is one for whom life is for
tunate," unused the artist. "How
readily can picture him attaining ma
turity, smiling and good-humored; and
growing old in that charming home,
surrounded by friendsr'
The girl had clasped her hands on
the young mans arm, and gazed up
into his lace. He responded to this
thoughtful scrutiny by touching her
hair lightly. caressingly. with his lips,
and then speaking, with q careless
laugh;
Minnesota for the winter, May. Such
nonsense as It isl I should prefer Paris
or Italy. A mere trifle of cough, and
all the doctors looking SO wise. and
glum. They rejoice to secure case,
I suppose.
May disengaged her hands from his
arm, and plucked a camellia. Her face
was as untroubled as his own.
I" shall return in the spring for our
wedding, dearest" he continued.
" IN oo&nenSo kAant you
WIZ nave Ior : pnoegfoom:
SaAe me WIN you, sne
P1 ,couou, so1y. ~ NV ~ aw1y ~
elone, u1a&' Lou us DC marrieo p
moITU 2.
inoub the worm trousseau. ne0
ana great recepeonr ne
questioned, nan mockinRty.
lou snouia De gallant, ana say
ABOUT Deauty unadorned
sa,G nay, LOSING tne camens az nm
linen tne primant eyse OF me young
!nan clouoso, tne ncn cocr IN nis
cneSH !a,.u VIII Ine eno'lon WHICH,
nnaoe ms up tre"Die.
ny noble girl! my good little
wne9 ne whispered, 1oidlng her close
~ IN ms embrace.
Agnes Clement witnessed this scene
without divining all its significance, and
tender smile dawned on her own face.
The homely devotion of Sister Anne to
her husband in her cabbage-scented do |
minions did not touch her. The meeting |
OF the two young people IN the conserv-
atorY moved her profoundly: Was not
her artistic taste gratifed by their
beauty. the light shed through the silk
curtains behind them. the rosy simmer
OF the girls draPerles, and the shadow
OF exotic plants meeting above their
heads! She remained there motionless
long after the pair had disappeared,
her eyes fixed on the fallen plant,
which still rested on the ledge. The
blanched, in contrast, the
delicate white blossoms to snow, and
the moonbeams touched each petal with
3 silvefy luster, until the spray resem-
ir,l