American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-12
"Maior Cotton was absent from town

| "Major Cotton was absent from town
when we took our departure. and l was
thus spared the trial of looking my last
upon one whom could not help loving,
and from whom l was so strangely sep
arated.
We returned to New York in four
months after, without again visiting
Liverpool. We were staying at Flor
cnce when your mother received a let
ter informing her of the dangerous ill
ness of her father, fastening our de-
parture for home, but all too late; when
we arrived in New York your grand
father was no more.
But it is growing late, it is time to
dress for dinner. There is the carriage
stopping at the door and your mother
and sisters have returned from their
drive"
:" You have not told me all, aunt"
Tears glistened in Mays eyes as she
spoke.
50 have little more to say. The sad
sequel can be told in few words.
after my return home.n Aunt Mabel
sighed deeply, and after brief pause
continued. ALIAS, in one short year
after, my poor cousin was laid in her
grave, with her babe beside her. Her
death must have been a great blow to
her parents, who did not long survive
her."
'.And Major Cotton, what became OF
himp'
"Some time after his name was prom
inent among the officers who had won
distinction Tor military service, and for
what civilization lauds as valor. have
not heard of him since."
''Aunt Mabel, do you care for him
yet?" asked May, earnestly.
At this moment Mrs. Dcrwent entered,
pleasant smile on her handsome face
as she said gailv, 81 have news for you.
Mabel, Herbert is to bring home an old
friend of yours to dine. and spend the
evening, Major Cotton, ah. should
have said Colonel Cotton, for he holds
that rank now. He is on his way to
Canada where his regiment is quar-
tered"
May listened, her large eyes openizg
wider with wonderland something else
besides. Still later in the day that
young lady watched the meeting be-
tween Aunt Mabel and Colonel Cotton;
but she was not surprised as were her
parents at the formal politeness on
either side. No one, indeed, would
have suspected that deep emotion lay
hidden under that cold exterior, and that
under the spell of dream that never
dies.
The Colonel was a tall, fine looking
hero, bronzed, handsome and gray,
with manners more sociable and pleas
ing than in his younger days. May and
he were soon on the best OF terms. She
had her own motives for engaging his
attentions to herself, and during the
evening she drew him aside to table
where her aunt was seated, to all ap-
pearances deeply occupied in overlook
ing some engravings. An arch smile
fitted over Mays face, as she said:
"Should you like TO look at my val
entines, ColonelP" =
She spoke with that freedom which
beauties of seventeen sometimes as.
sumo, and as she placed them before
him, she added with another arch smile
"Did you ever send a valentine. Colo
nel?'' t-
"Ycs. once" he replied. sharply
while he unconsciously crushed ths
pretty trifle he held in his hand. But
his tormentor went on.
g Aunt Mabel never received but ont
valentine, and that was many years
ago, yet she treasures it as something
sacred"
The pleading look in Aunt Mabel.
eyes silenced her. and had the eide
lady remained in the room she voule
have said no'more. But fate willed i
otherwise. The Colonel noticed tina
look of entreaty and the blush that &C
companied it. His eyes fonday fol
lowed the retreating form when MAJ
said half penitently:
Il can hardly forgive myself for di
Evulging her secret, confded to me THU
morning"
"Wbat do you mean, ichild?' tn,
Colonel asked with increasing agitation
1T is too late to retreat now, Colo
nel," she answered, the arch smile still
: playing around her dimpled cheeks
"Aunt Mabel loved the one who sen
her that valentine. But you yoursel
must ask her for an explanation.
have said too much already"
The Colonel did ask for an explana
ton that night. The result was tina
Aunt Mabel went as a happy bride t.
Canada Massachusetts Ploulhnaan.