American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-05-28

| Inc words StunS him Ike the lash @
a whip. Everything was just As hi
beautiful young mother had left il
His face darkened and his eyes ilashe
scornfully. =
Il did not know that a lady was tn
head of household" he said. =.
thought it was the husband who was tn
head"
That is n mistake you will hav
to rcctify," she replied, with n little low
laugh Place aur DANES always"
How beautiful she was! Her hal
shone like gold, and the diamond
flashed from amongst it. He almos
wished as he looked at her that h,
could like her; but the GOODNESS and tn,
glitter repealed him.
"Have you many nice neighbors?'
she asked
Yes replied Ross. Il think W,
are very fortunate"
Are these the best?" she asked; ant
there was perceptible on her face tn,
faintest suspicion of scorn.
He took fire in moment; he wa
loyal to the very core of his heart
his fathers home-friends were all sacred
to him.
1.-The best, most certainly, and fal
better than you would find as rule
have known them all from the time
was child"
Il do not doubt it." she replied; and
he asked himself what there was in hel
tone of voice that completely mad
dened him. 1t was neither satire MOI
insolence; yet there was tinge of both
in it.
She looked at him with sudden
CLEAN of laughter in her blue eyes.
| \ 70, Oh 81 Il
81 did not know that l should find you
a grown-up man. Sir Austen has al
ways spoken to me of you as n boy"
Il shall always be boy to him, "
said Ross.
"Yes, 1 fancy So" replied Lady
Cumnor, with peculiar smile. "What
shall call you Ross as Sir Austen
does?"
eff you will, it will be best" he
said; and his quick. ardent nature soft
ened to her. Since his mothers death,
SO many years before, few women's lips
had uttered his name, and the sound of
it softened him.
Il cannot expect that you will call
me MOTHER she remarked, with an
other soft ripping laugh.
His face darkened again.
81 remember my own mother" he
said; land 1 could never give that
name to another. 1 will call you Lady
Cumnor,' if that pleases YOU"
cit matters little" she returned, in
differently. 1.-The only thing to which
should seriously object is your calling
me mother'-it would make me look
so absurdly old. What do you think of
your baby brother. Ross?"
The handsome face softened into real
beauty as he thought of the rosebud
face and the tiny fingers. He would
have spoken out his honest thoughts
and have said something loving and
kind about the child, but for a certain
CLEAN of triumph he saw in her eyes,
which he could not endure.
50 1 shall be better able to tell you
when l have seen him again." he re-
piled.
She seemed determined to pursue the
subject.
cit must seem strange to you to have
q brother" she said; .syou have been
quite a spoiled child"
mo: my father and have been bet
ter friends and more confidential than
the generality of fathers and sons; but
1 do not think he has spoiled me at
ALL"
"You have been lord of Larchton
Mere in his ABSENCE" she continued.
alt will be difficult, should imagine,
to be a good subject when you have
been reigning monarch"
He had no time to answer, for Mrs.
Pitt came to beg that he would sing for
them.
do you sing?' said Lady Cumnor,
half scornfully.
II will sing to you. Lady Viola" he
said, as he passed her by; and Lean al
most envied the words.
=. In the greenest growth of the May-time
1 rode where the woods were wet
Between the dawn and the daytime
The spring was glad that we met.
' waited to watch you linger
With foot drawn back from the dew,
Till a sunbeam, straight like finger,
Struck sharp through the leaves at you.
!. And bird overhead sang, Follow
And a bird to the right sang, Here,
And the arch of the leaves was hollow,
And the meaning of May was clear.
= / saw where the suns hand pointed.
knew what the birds note said.
By the dawn and the dew-fall anointed,
You were Queen by the gold on your head"
Even Lady Cumnor was silenced by
he beauty of the song; and then Ross
lsked his young kinswoman if she would
ling for them. She did so; but she |
as she sang if he loved the |
girl who was Queen by the gold on
Ter head"