American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-05-08

in doubt, aud when we are in doubt,
sometimes the smallest act will carry
great influence; Just as when balance
is almost effected, the adding of tiny
weight will perfect it. This was the
act, this the weight.
She had been embroidcring very
handsome sofa cushion, and had left it
on the library table; one of the older
children had been using the ink, and
had left it on the table also, with the
stopper out of the bottle. The two
younger children. n girl of six years.
and boy of four, were having a game
of tag there. She was in her room. and
hearing them, came down to watch
them, but before she reached the room,
their rOmp was over, and there was
perfect silence. AT the door
she discovered the cause; the
ink was upset all over her beau
tiful cushion. She went in quite as if
she had not noticed it, and stood in one
of the windows to watch the passers in
the street below. A few minutes
silence interviewed, then they came be-
side her; even then she did not move,
until the little boy plucked the skirt of
her dress. 1t was the little girl who
spoke:
"Miss Shelley, 1 am so sorry; 1
tumbled the dreadful ink all over your
splendid cushion"
But see didn't dood it all her own
self, cause l did part for chasin' her."
put in the boy, who did not speak quite
plainly.
Miss Shelley looked from one to the
other; such sudden tears came into her
eyes, that she had to dash them away.
at is nothing at all, l do not care a
bit," she said, and the bitterness and
sarcasm going out of her voice, left it
almost childlike in tone. She stopped
and kissed each of them, then went at
once to her room.
''See said see didn't care a speck, and
for all vat see CRIED" said the boy, in
q puzzled tone.
cit wasn't bout the cushion, though.
1 wonder what for" remarked the girl,
curiously.
"See kisses mos as sweet as mamma
Didn't s'pose see ever knew how" said
the boy.
Mr.. HOLSTER, from his seat in one of
the draped windows, heard and saw all
this with a smile on his grave face.
That evening his sister told him all
about it alone in the parlor, where she
had motioned him to follow; he listened
to the recital without a comment.
"She is so peculiar l wouldn't dare
offer to replace it; when 1 apologized
she said, excitedly, Il beg of you, do
not speak of it; it only made me
glad"
Mr. HOLSTER smiled.
81 confess cannot understand her."
continued the lady, then added, ..She
made each of those children a present
this afternoon; Robbie a very expensive
rocking-horse, and Bell the hand
soonest doll have ever seem"
When they returned to the library,
they found her surrounded by the six.
She was scarcely recognizable; her
cheeks were flushed, her eyes lustrous,
her manner animated, whilst her eager
listeners were sending forth peals of
laughter. Mr. Glider like the rest was .
wholly interested, and his newspaper
was sliding slowly and UNDECIDED off his
lap. At their entrance, she stopped in
Sudden confusion. please 90 on;
mamma and Uncle Nat will keep real
STILL" urged one of the elder children,
followed by chorus from the others;
but not until Robbie plucked her dress
as he had done in the afternoon, did she
make the effort-then she wound up
with a spirit that called forth a burst
of applause, and, breaking away from
the little group, took her roll of fancy
work to the table that held the drop
paper for him as she passed.
Two weeks ago, she would not have
extended voluntary hand to wait upon
any gentleman, hence the little act was
moral as well as courteous one. He
looked pleased at the attention. Some
thing, she could not tell what. made her
glance at MIR. Hollister; she saw the
same grave, kind face, that was slowly
growing to be a part of her life; but
there was a new light in the eyes, that
looked almost like smile. She felt
her cheeks burn as she bent low over
her work.
She entertained them all that evening,
and when, at ten O clock, she babe them
good night. Mrs. Glider turned to her
brother, exclaiming, Whatever has
changed her soP-tO-night she has been
captivating"
az knew it would come out so; 1
knew she was made of the right metal,
though we had never heard the ring
observed her husband. Mr.. HOLSTER
said nothing except goodnight.
When he was gone, Mrs. Glider re-
marked confidentially to her husband:
"Nat loves her, one could see that if
one was blind. l have wondered at it
until tonight, now l can understand.
But does she, or will she ever, love himP
1t will be too hard if she doesn't. How
can she help itP- such asplendid. noble
fellow"
In the days that followed, they saw
but little of her. She spent the most of
her time in her own room; evidently she
was passing through struggle; this
spoke in her manner, now unduly ener-
getic, now weary and anguid; it showed
in her face, too, which was thoughtful and
troubled. Several times Robbie, enter
ing her room without knocking, found
tears on her cheeks; he never told it
the loyal little fellow would not for the
world have betrayed his new friend.
She could not at once give up the ex-
perience OF lifetime; not at once re-
nounce doubt for faith, distrust for con-
fidence. But this quiet, happy home
harmony for all their differences of dis
position and temperament-whe each
ones rights were acknowledged and
espected-worked out ut length, in its
natural way, a great moral revolution.
This-was why Mr.. HOLSTER had brought
her here. One day sitting alone in
her own room, this knowledge came to
her. She no longer hated the whole
world, she had a sort of feeling of
for it; she even was conscious
of plying her father and brother. With
a sudden impulse, she arose. pnt on her
fur wraps, and was just tying her bon
net strings, when Robbie came into the
room and stood beside her.
Where is 90 dom, Miss Shelley?'
For moment it was hard to tell it