American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-01-29

then to tell his little girl of his beauti-
Jul land at home, where the air was al
ways warm and oranges and oleanders
bloomed the year round Anna crept
close to his side and listened, with eager
eyes and parted lips, and often his voice
sank and his eyes grew wet as the re-
membrance of his own blessed land
rose wildly before his homesick eyes
and the homesick yearning filled bis
heart
A noise at the window, now almost
darkened by the evening gloom caused
Anna to look up, and then with wild
scream to cling to her father, crying,
1.-The bear, oh, the bear!'
"Hush. hushr' said her father, sooth-
ingly, cit will not hurt thee, the poor
animal is drawn by the music,' and
moving towards the window, he played
strain from Trovatore," while the
animal raised its shaggy head and paws
to the sill and listened entranced.
1T will not hurt thee. Mamma, mia,
seen and he stroked tho great beast
tenderly. Anna drew nearer. tremb-
ling, yet moved by fascination she
| could not resist"
.Stroke him." Barberi said.
Anna laid her slim finger tips one
second on the rough head, then shrank
away, but the animal pressed closer.
and rubbed his head against her arm,
and little Mamie, whose warm heart
could never repel affection, was half
won at once.
When it was dark the bear went
away, but after this, as the sun went
down evenings and cool shadows fell
over the court, he would come to the
window, and Anna would stroke and
caress him with the winning words
chosen from her native tongue, and
sometimes she gave him fruit and dain-
ties her father had brought for her,
and sometimes the child and bear
would eat the toothsome feast amicably
together.
One evening. earlier than usual, Nam
ME heard the bear at the window; the
court was very still this hot day, and
tfar away sounded the children's voices
at play, while nearer was the sleepy
| whirr of q locust in the treetop. Once,
Mamie would have felt afraid to be
alone with her shaggy friend, but now,
though the lower door lay open, she
had no misgivings, but went on quietly
with her sewing. speaking now and
then a word toBruin.
All at once q low, clear voice spoke,
Mamie, may come imp Anna
started. and looking up from her work
saw only the bear, and thought her ear
had deceived her, but again the voice
came, "Nannette. you read of enchant-
cd princes am onem and the bear
stalked in the open door and stood near
the trembling girl. who rose bewildered
and dropped her work, then stood with
wide eyes, averted face, and hands
raised as if to shut out the sight.
"Do not fear, / would not hurt thee.
Mamie. help me to regain my human
formr'
AI.first the child's heart was filed
with terror, but in a few minutes she
recalled all her favorite fairy stories,
and her heart leaped high in her bosom
as she thought with child like inno-
cence. .sOhiis it true thatI can perform
such wonders as read of?''
Meanwhile the bear came close and
spoke softly, telling her how he had
seen with his brute eyes her tender,
arm-hearted sympathy for the poor
beast: that looking so often at her soft,
dark eyes and sweet mouth he had fall
en- in love with her, and it had entered
his heart that if she would love him he
might regain his human form once
more.
ssWere you then once a man?" asked
she, falteringly.
Eyes, and I will be again if you will
ksaft tRat BE Fe asseaieu WITHOUT nes,ra
ton, and laying her little fingers softly
on the bears head said, II am afraid,
but indeed will love your
As she uttered these words there was
heard in the distance the sound of q
fiddle, and as the bear caught the strains
he turned instantly and left the room.
Mamie sat for hours after he was gone
in perplexed dream, nor could she
summon courage to tell her father,
when he returned, her wonderful unreal
secret, for how would he believe such a
story, not having seen with her eyes nor
heard with her cars?
The next morning Bruin did not
come, as Anna half expected, but she
heard rumor that his master would
leave the court that night, and she did
not know whether she was glad or sorry
at the news; but as the day drew to q
close, her heart beat quickly, and she
wondered if she had said too little to
the bear, and because of her cruelty he
would have to keep his brute form the
rest of his life. The thought made her
heartsick, and closing her eyes she
made childish petition to the blessed
Madonna to help her in her need
When she opened her eyes the stream
of rosy sunset light that filed the door
way was darkened by the bears huge
form; her heart thrilled and the rich
color on her cheek died away; her hands
were still clasped; the attitude and ex-
preston were touchingly earnest and
expressive.
The bear hesitated then drew near:
Nannette, are you afraid of meP'' he
asked softly. The little girl closed her
eyes once more and moved her lips,
then said family, - No, am not afraid;
you would not hurt mer' The bear
pushed his great head in the girls lap
and was silent. Timidly Mamie laid
her hand on the rough head. then en-
boldened by his submissive air, she
stroked' him gently.
81 am going away tonight" he said
presently. mamie, will you kiss me
once and promise to love me alwaysP If
once before go. )" iape
Mamie trembled excessively, but
STOPPING she lightly pressed a kiss on
the shaggy head; the rose leaf lips
scarcely touched the coarse hair before
MES head sank in her hands and she
awaited in breathless. stiffness what
should happen!
A light step reused her; looking up
she saw, standing close by her side,
gazing down at her. with half smile
on his shaded lips, and tender wistful
look in his dark eyes, tall, handsome
youth ''Little Nannie.'' he said soft
ly, ''dear little Nannier' His hand was
extended, but Mamie feared to take it,