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


and again the beautiful eyes rested
anywhere except on him.
Yes. What a lovely Southern face
it is "a face that suggests all beautiful
ideas! l think of the moonlight and
the dew as look at her and her eyes.
! l have seen color Just like that in the
deep waters of the Black Tarn. 1 am
proud of my kinswoman."
The flush deepened i'm the fiower-like
face, and aspasm of something like pain
passed over the smiling lips.
" You seem very ready to adopt her
as n relative. What is she to you
really?"
"My mother and Lean Dynevor's
mother We're second cousins" he re-
piled. LEAN would be a third or
fourth cousin; not very close relation
ship, is it?"
mo; and your father. Sir Austen,
has really adopted her," she continued
thoughtfully- that is, she is to make
her home here so long as she livesf'
II should fancy so; though l have
hardly seen my father, and we have not
exchanged many words on the subject"
She longed to say more. She raised
her eyes to his face, and they spoke
plainly as words. She longed from the
depths of her frank, loving heart to say
to him:
xviii you like her more than you do
me. Rossp Will she take my place in
your heart? Is she here, with her dark
eyes and Southern face, to win the heart
that prize above all the world?"
She wished that he could have guess
ed her thoughts; but the words she
uttered told naught of them.
You will have many new friends
now, Mr.. Ross
"They will not make me forget the
old Ones" he replied.
The girls heart warmed to him. She
saw in the future great changes for this
beloved son who had hitherto been
master of Larchton Mere, whose will
and sway had been undisputed. She
was a good Judge of character for one
SO young; and she saw that "my lady"
would dispute his authority and his
power inch by inch-that the proud,
impetuous, noble heart would be tor
tured as only woman can torture, and
that the gallant, brave young spirit
would be stung and wounded. She
life of Sir Austen's son must be if Sir
Austen loved his wife; and she pitied
Ross.
Larchton will be quite different
place." she said, "with lady at the
head of the house''-and these words
from her did not displease him in the
least. "Win you like it as well. Mr..
Ross?"
He looked at her thoughtfully.
Il cannot tell; but L think not" he
replied. my father and 1 were very
happy together"
Lady Cumnor is very beautiful"
Eyes; and my father seems devoted
to her."
"Ah, Mr.. Ross, there are the carol
singers! Hank, they are singing the
old carolr'-and she looked at him with
the light of expectation in her face. He
had always taken her to the great west
ern window, outside which the carol
singers stood, and they had listened to !
The carols together; but on this Christ
mas Eve he forgot the old custom. 4
81 must tell Miss Dynevor about the
he said; and he left Lady
Viola Carlien alone while he went to |
MS kinswoman.
Lean stood talking to Sir Austen,
who smiled as his son came up to !
hem.
"Miss Dynevor," said Ross, 81 want |
you to come with me and hear the |
Some of the carols they |
ling are beautiful ; they are hundreds of
1earS old"
"Ross," interposed Sir Austen, "as
you and Lean are to be brother and
sister, do not call her Miss Dynevor
t is too formal. Give her her own
bright name of LEAN.
a. shall be only too happy if she
will allow me. Lean, will you come
md IN, ho IL
They form quite a picture standing out
here in the snow"
The lovely Southern face was raised
o his.
IL should like it very much" she
aid and he noticed that her voice in
peaking was as rich and sweet as in
inging, full of sweet music that had a
ouch of sadness in it, as sweetest music
4lways has.
They went to the western window
ogether, and Lady Viola followed
hem with wistful eyes. Lean gave
ow cry of delight when Ross drew
side the heavy velvet curtains. Out
ide lay the white snow, on which the
noon was shining the bare branches
f the trees were fringed with snow,
nd in the midst of the snow-covered
avn was the group of men singing of
he happy festival that gladdens every
cart.
These two had never met before yet
lready, before they had exchanged a
undred words, there was something
etween them that no words could cx-
lain. The heart of the girl was
TIRED as it had never been before.
he kindly welcome of this handsome
Dung kinsman, the kiss he had i'm
,rasSed on her face the CLASH Of his |
and aud the music in his voice had
something in her heart of
he presence of which she had hitherto
cen unaware. She could not have
Did how it was, but subtle, sweet
hange had come into her life. To be
ere with him was like q glimpse of
aradise.
The spell was so strong, and it held
er so wholly, that she did not care to
reak it, even by word. She listened
} him, and over her whole soul spread
glad content that she did not under
and. The low cry that came from
er lips was not all of delight at tho
,enery; yet that was fair enough.
Ter eyes fingered on the dark trees,
he picturesque figures of the CAROL
myers, the pure white snow, and,
the glittering stars and the
lear bright moon.
"You would not see landscape like
lat out of England" she said. "How
eautiful it is 1t lies before us like :,
icture. think all the glories of trop- !,
al lands, all the sunfit splendors, !.
lde into insignificance before the white ,
eauty and purity of the snow.
Have you lived long in Spain,
he asked. III