American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-18

see how sweet they are!
She buried her face, still wet with
tears. in the leaves of the sweet roses.
Ross continues:
perkins was quite unwilling to give
them to me. had to say they were for
you"
alt was very good Of him." she said,
without laising her head.
Lady Viola, tell me why you are
here. Are you tired? 1 cannot under
stand the belle of the ball flying from
the homage of her admirers to solitude
and semi-darkness. l must be mis-
taken; but could imagine there were
tears in your voice. Are you in trouble
about anything, Viola?"
mo" she replied" not exactly in
trouble; but am sorry to leave Larch-
ton Mere. You are all so kind TO me
here. | feel SO much at home. and so
happy; . .,.u d, :. .o,,r 70 ,o.o Won
VIOLA" he said.
Then from the distant dancing-room
came the sweet sad notes of "Mon
Rere." A shudder came over her as
she heard it. What had life been to
her but dream-sweet and sad as the
music, and just as soon over?
.h. IL 1h w say gGGdSy heart to him i'm. Se
let it die to-night-why should it live
on? will go away to- morrow. and
will not see him again"
She loved him so well that, but for
the pride of her maidenhood, she could
have told him all about it, and why the
tears were on her face.
II am sorry to know that you are
sad, Viola" said Ross; "but you will
come back again soon. We must ask
Mrs. Pitt to come in the spring"
Never again." thought Lady Viola
-"never again, to suffer what 1 have
suffered;" then, aloud, "No; that is
what makes me sad. do not see how
can return. shall not be surprised
if we go abroad in the spring. and you
you will have plans of your own,
Ross"
II do not know, Viola"
':Ah, yes, you will!'-and from the
pain and pathos in her voice he might
have guessed what was wrong. "You
will find this year bring many changes,
same again."
Her heart grew heavy as she thought
of Lean Dynevor; while through his
passed thrill of delight. Who, in
deed, could say what this -year would
bring-the happy new year that had
not long dawned?
81 do not know" she continued,
"when shall see Larchton Mere again.
and am sad at leaving it."
so am sorry that you are going"
he replied; and again the beautiful
music of :" Mon Rere" came to them.
"You will take with you all our
thoughts and Affection" he added.
Even Lady Gunner loves you, Viola"
Yes, l CO." she said, sadly; land I
leave happy Lean behind"
Still the meaning of her words did
not occur to Ross; that she should call
Lean happy because he loved her
never struck him.
.sHow l shall remember this night"
said Lady Viola. 1.-THE white moon
light on the mere. the silvery light and
the shadows in this room, the odor of
roses, and the music of mon Reve."
No matter where go, shall take the
memory of it with me-.
az shall never again be friends with roses:
1 shall loathe sweet tunes when note
Relents and recoils and climbs and closes.
As q wave Of the sea turned back with
! shall hate sweet music my whole life
long,"
She said the words rather to herself
than to him. He heard them, and be-
ieved that her sadness was all owing
to her dislike to leave the mere. How
should he comfort her? What could
he sayp II he had known the passion
ate love repressed, the deep despair
beaten back, his heart would have been
stirred.
She must say something of Lean;
she must mention her name; che must
know if her ideas were right or wrong;
she must know whether she was giving
up too soon.
Twill Lean be here always ?'' she
asked, gently.
81 suppose So" he replied. "She
will if it depends on me. But have
not much authority now; have 1,
Viola Pr
"You seem very much attached to
her," she said; and then she shuddered.
She had done the deed now. She had
thrown down the gauntlet. and her life
hung on his next words. Her face had
grown paler, and the red roses trembled
in her hands.
He was in no hurry to speak; but it
was not from want of words. At last
he said:
ssViola, no man can set to music the
whisper of the wind in the trees, the
murmur of the waves, the breath of the
summer wind over the light grass; yet
that would be easier than for me to tell
you what think of Learn"
Then in silence she laid down the
hope of her life at his feet; in silence
she babe farewell TO the light which had
frightened and sweetened her exist
ence. A voiceless prayer rose from her
heart to Heaven; and then she drew
nearer to him.
~ understand" she said, simply.
Heaven bless you, my dear! If you
think of this night in the coming years,
if the sound of that sweet music or the
breath of the red roses brings it back
to you, you will always remember that
1 quite understood, and that prayed to
Heaven to bless you.'
my dearest Viola, of course shall
remember. We have always been the
dearest of friends."
The tears fell unheeded now. and she
echoed in q broken voice:
Eyes, always the dearest of friends,
Ross, always. shall consider this our
farewell, Ross. Tomorrow we shall
have but little time to see each other.
This is our real good by"
At other times he had kissed her face;
but now he bent forward and with
his lips touched the lilies in her hair.
And again she felt that he had given
all the love of his life to Lean Dynevor.
Lady Viola left the next morning with
a smile on her face. and no one knew
the wound that ranked in her heart.
CHAPTER vi.
The spring of the year had come
round; but home was no longer home to
Ross Cumnor In vain had he tried to