American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-11

to her eyes. HE does not care
whether my hair is woven gold or
raven black. 1t is all the same 10
him. He has lost his interest in me
| since that other face has bewitched
him. And the girl gave a long, low
sigh, for the dream of hef life had been
sweet. =
No. he had not one word to say. He
was thinking how fair that Southern
face looked in the ruddy light. with its
dark eyes and full curved lips.
..Viola,'' said Mrs. Pitt, "what flow
ers are you going to wear tonight"
al do not know, auntie." she replied.
And then she spoke to Ross. You
have spoiled me SO much in choosing
flowers for me that l hardly know how
to choose them for myself"
~ should not have thought that Ross
had any great taste in that way" re-
marked Lady Cumnor. Lean looked
up quickly. ~ VI = - S
You are mistaken, Lady Cumnor,"
she. said, Ross has very great taste. v
Y sSThen l can only say he is careful
never to show it," returned Lady Cum
nor.
IL think he shows it always" said
Leam, nndaunted by the 6seorn on her
| - our ueIenSe Is Hot stIaHSe, IT,
piled Lady Cumnor. with an almost
cruel smile that sent deep. aush into
Learns face and an angry glance into
the eyes of her kinsman.
Lady Viola fastened to throw oil on
the troubled waters. She looked at
Its not too. late now," she said;
land It is my last svssinD- Will You
come aud choose for me?"
4s lSed at the fair face and thenat
s:ccaAltalnssI xa go asaS{.
E'.CohBe witG US, Cam. I win choose
Eone. for you.' But bis face burned
more hotly when he hearfa low ,fsigli1
fcant laugh from Lady Cum6or SsT
towards. the Conservatory. 4StNV Viola
thinking TO AevseH<thAt- it she had
company them she would ceftai1iy
never have mentiosed tho mat fer hs
all. She had dreamed. of a few MINUTES
quiet conversation with him, and al
feady it seemed to her that he had for
gotten she was there. They, entered
the conservatory; and Lady Violassfld-
ing it inconvenient Tor 4he three to
walk together. went first. Ross did
not seem to miss her; he went on quite
eontenssdly his eyes meyer leaving
81 believeses sad ,Lady Violato her.
self, "that if Twent away he would not
even know that [ had gone. He would
not miss me. He has come purposely
to choose flowers for me. and l verify
believe he does not remember that 1
exist" -
There was no anger in her heart
against the beautiful rival who had SO
suddenly appeared, she was far too no
BILE for that. There was in her mind a
dull wonder rs to why Ross preferred
this dark-eyed girl to herself. Z
~ have loved him nearly all my
life." she thought; land in few day
he has learned to care more for her than
he does for me-"
As she walked on some few words of
their conversation reached her ears
She heard Ross ask Lean what she
thought the highest attribute of love;
and she answered: -,l-4..,.- s.
Self-sacrifice. That is the noblest
attribute of love- she said. Indeed,
to my thinking, there is no love with
out it. If we disclose that we, love an
other and have made no sacrifice to
prove it, l think little Of it. l believe
that every good woman has naturally a
great amount of elf-sacrificein Ii er dis
position; the daily, hourly Hfesof a true
woman is self-sacrifice, and nothing else.
But am speaking now rather of those
grand acts which mark a life than of
the smaller ones which ennoble it.
Have you seen q play called MARY
WarnerP' She is just the type of hero
inc mean"
do?" asked Ross.
g She takes upon herself acrime.-a
theft-that it seems quite clear her htis-
band has committed. She is punished
and imprisoned; and he believes her
guilty. The truth is never known until |
the real thief confesses. The husband !
for long years suffers from the thought
that his beloved wife is tzlef; she |
suffers from the same belief as regards
him; and to that is added eic pam of
believing that he lets her suffer in
silence for his sin. I call that self
sacrifice" 'i- a'-
~"And would you do that for any one |
you loved?n he asked.
"Would I?'' said Lean. "Yes, for |
one whom l loved well most certainly
l would.''
.sThe one whom you love is to be
envied,' said Ross, with deep sigh.
:" So sslfasAeritice is your favoEste virtue
swered. y
81 WONDER" thought Lady Viola.
Z" if he remembers am here. OF course
he has no time to speak to me-has for
gotten even that want flower; but I
should like to know il he docs remem-
Der my existence"
Still the two went on, engrossed in
each other.
Their conversation will last all the
evening"" thought Lady Viola, IF do
not interrupt it,
She turned round impetuously.
How many sweet flowers have you
chosen for me, Mr.. Ross?'' she said;
and. he blushed, conscious OF his remiss-
ness.
my dear Viola. / am quite ashamed.
I will gather them at once. Learn" he
continued, in low tone. to his COM
panion, )" you will draw me into terri
bic mischief some day. You make me
forget everything in the wide world ex-
cept yourself.
"A thrill of happiness went through
the girls heart. Would that he might
so forget for ever! EEE
Ross Curlnor did not understand the
of the word "deceit." In all
his life he had never deceived or be-
trayed any one. He had never told a
nor had he ever affected that
which he did not feel Lady Viola had
long been his chosen friend and play
fellow; but he had never fiirted with
her. 1t had been a very honest. kind
W. affection; and he was vexed with
himself now that he had neglected her