American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-12


and esteem of his employers. Before
gave his mother and sister comforta-
BILE home. But, alas, our poor mother
was now a confirmed invalid, and sell
dom left her room. l was constantly
with her. and as | gazed upon her al
tered features, l felt that l could never
repay all that 1 owed to her love and
care. To look at her, to hear her
voice, was happiness enough for me.
All, MAY, l had no thoughts of valen-
tines and love then. Living in strict
retirement, l had few gentlemen ac-
quaintances, and though my brothers
chosen friends were pleasant and enter
| tanning, there was not one among them
that would have fancied.
Another year passed with little
change, and the day that my brother
attained his majority he was taken into
the firm as a reward for his ability and
faithfulness. Oh, how proud I was of
my kind brother that day, and no girl
ever had kinder. But my joy was
soon turned into. mourning. A week
after, my mother was laid to rest beside
| the husband that she loved so well.
THE grief that had suffered at her
| loss, and the long watching that l be-
slowed on her. had seriously impaired
my health. My brother was about tax
| ing me to Havana before the winter set
| in, when received an affectionate invi-
tation to visit England, where my moth
er's only sister resided. l had never
seen Aunt Martha, who, a. few years
before my mother marriage, was unit
to the Secretary of the English Legation
at Washington. She soon after accom-
panied her husband to his home in the
niShborhood of Liverpool.
lin the days when we bad to graphic
with poverty, my aunt sent US many a
remittance from over the Atlantic. The
sums that then proved such a blessing
| were not large, for at that time Aunt
Martha was not rich in worldly goods,
! though in .after-years some speculations
| in which Uncle West was engaged
proved so successful that he suddenly
became the possessor. of large means.
They had one chilli, a daughter, who
was the idol of her parents.
| 1.-The invitation was readily accepted,
| though it was hard to part even for n
| few months from my brother. who be-
came still dearer to me since death de-
prived me of my mother. As he stood
on the deck of the steamer holding my
hand in his he said:
..Mabel, our mother is no more-my
sister now fills all my heart. God bless
YOU and restore you to health. In six
months time I shall come for you, and
let me find that the balmy English air
will bring back the hue of health to
your cheek again.
Il could only put my arms around his
neck and kiss him; tears choked the
words that l would have spoken. So
we parted.
by my uncle, an agreeable. rosy
checked gentleman. with. a mellow,
English voice and much heartiness of
manner A short drive to the suburbs
brought us to the pretty villa where my
aunt and cousin were waiting to re-
ceive me. seemed to see my mother
again, so strongly did my aunt resem-
bic her. My cousin Adele was a pretty
blonde of eighteen. gentle. artless and
winsome, and SO warm was the well
come that 1 received from both that l
at once felt myself entirely at home.
major Cotton was one ofthe most es-
teemed visitors at the villa. The first
night met him, there was large COM
pany present. Twas sitting apart from
the rest, and felt that my sad, pale
face and mourning dress formed strik-
ing contrast to the sprightly looks and
gay attire of the other young ladies
present. Adele looked very attractiue
dressed in simple white muslin, with a
single rose in her hair. She was seat
| ed at the piano surrounded by a group
of enthusiasts, who listened delightedly
! to her fine singing. l scarcely heard
her, for my thoughts were far away in
my own loved land-far away was my
heart, too. in alonely churchyard. How
hard / tried to keep the sudden tears OF
sorrow in my aching eyes; in vain, they
found their way down my cheek.
".Do you play chess, Miss Derwent.
said quiet voice close to me-
II looked up and felt myself colorine
at having my emotion seen by one who
was almost stranger to me. A few
words on either side, and Major Cotton
had drawn a little table towards my re.
treat, and we commenced the game.
cannot tell how it was, but my reserve
unconsciously vanished as the game
proceeded, and before he checkmated
me we were friends, drawn towards
each other by that secret sympathy,
that strange feeling of attraction, thai
binds heart oheart. forever. When we
parted for the night gave him my
hand. lie raised it respectfully to hi:
lips and was gone in another moment
IL must pass over the days and weeks
which followed, for it adds another
pang to memory to recall Them With
u woman's intuition 1 soon knew thai
| Major Cotton loved me, and that he
4 only waited for encouragement. on my
part to give. expression to his feelings
At the same time came the discovery
that Adele had become deeply attached
to her fathers guest.
s.She who had been the life of all the
pleasure parties, now grew detected
and silent; her step became slow, heI
cheek pale, and. she soon seemed as il
in a slow decline. Her parents were
filled with grief and anxiety at the url.
accountable change in their darling.
Physicians prescribed in vain. To the
surprise of all she refused to leave home
and seek change of scene. which had
been urged by her medical advisers.
But they knew not that the charm tina,
bound her there was the presence Of
Major Cotton. Strange as it may seem
that instead of confding her secret to Q
| loving mother, she turned to me fol
| sympathy, and acknowledged all, say.
ing in a piteous, childlike way that
| without his love she could not live.
Her arms embodied me, her tears wet
my cheek as she sobbed out this comics
sion on my breast. Then, then I felt
! how truly i, too, loved Major Cotton
But you are the first, May, who has
heard my confession. was but nine.
teen then, and a stranger might be sur.
prised at the fancy of two young girls
for a reserved and thoughtful man Of
thirty-five. He was spoken of as being
| cold in manner, but his friends found
| o~pnc,,1iar charm in tho fender kind