American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-24
THE TWO SISTERS.

Mabel Clarence looked exceedingly
well in her lovely toilet of crystallized
lace, and Ermine's bold, handsome eyes
rested on her in smiling approval, as he
stood beside her chair, and leaned his
head near her and talked in desperately
earnest devotedness that set all the
other young ladies angrily jealous.
Your character of Frost is tastefullv
chosen and artistically represented,
Miss Clarence. Do you know you
ought always to wear whiteP 1 wish
you would
She lifted her blue eyes in that dis
tracing way that had played such sad
havoc with mems hearts.
Then she rippled out a dainty little
laugh.
Z" Such an idea, Mr.. Ermine! Sup
pose should ask you to adopt as your
every day apparel that elegant and be-
coming bandit chief costume you have
on?''
He dropped his dark brilliant face
nearer her sparkling one.
"Well? Would I not accede to that
or any other request you might make of
me? What happiness to be under the
orders of so fair a commander"
And the tone of his voice, the glow in
his handsome eyes made her pulses
thrill with the hope that had more than
once come to her since this glorious
king among men had come among
them, for the first time in years, max
ing the magnificent old ancestral home
fairly scintillant with mirth and gay
ETY..
Then she laughed.
"Would it really be happiness to
serve under my flag? Then consider
yourself under imperative orders to
promise to do something for me that l
have fancy for you to do. Mr. En-
mine, have an idea you could not Sc
lect any imaginable disguise in which l
would not recognize you. want you
to try again-something that will prove
to you that 1 can detect you under the
the completest mask
Her lovely blue eyes were even more
coaxing then her sweet, persuasive
voice.
Her cheeks was delicately flushed, her
dainty mouth smiling, and Ermine
thought how passing fair she was.
So there was a tinge of something
even more marked than usual in his
manner as he answered:
g. take up the gauntlet, Miss Clar-
renee, and warn you beforehand you will
not write success on your banner unless
i dare not fatter myself, dare I?-that
your eyes are sharpened by
What he would have added was most
effectually prevented by sweet, fresh
voice, and Madge Clarence, Mabel's
youngest sister, joined them.
eve must be going home, Mabel, for
you remember we promised mamma
not to stay later than midnight
Ermine did not see the quick, watch
full look Mabel dashed on Madge, for he
was looking at the petite, slender figure
and the plain face, and noting the de-
mure air of the girl who was beautiful
Mabel's sister, yet SO utterly different
that it was hard to imagine them even
distant relations.
And indeed Madge looked more de-
mure than ever in her quaint masquer-
ade costume of "Charity,' with its
quiet brown shades that matched so ex-
actly her bright, intelligent eyes.
Ermine protested against their early
desertion.
81 shall feel quite the inconsolable
host with two such bright particular
stars gone. Do stay and let me trust to
my powers of penitent persuasion with
Mrs. Clarence tomorrow.
And so they went home, and Mr.. Err
mine assisted them to their carriage and
was rewarded by Madge's CHEEKY
"Thank YOU and n shy, half-worship-
full, half-roguish glance from Mable's
blue eyes.
The September sunshine streamed in
through the windows of the Clarence
dining room-a small, coy room, with
gay carpet and pictures, and the table