American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-01-15

LOT the l;tSt ten days? ne rcpIIeu-
have been out of town"
Indeed. l was not aware OF it, she
said. =. Formerly you thought ii worth
while to tell me your movements, to
write to me when you were away. Al
that is over now, it would seem, anG
You are changed; consequently yor
cannot complain if I. too. am changed
This is not at all the right way tt
look at the matter" he answered, loft
lily. Il left town because l did no
wish to see you for the present. l die
not write because | wished to mark my
displeasure ut your conduct. l require
of you now to explain why you suffered
yourself to walk in broad daylight lean
ing upon another mans arm, not ever
quitting your hold when you saw me -
quite careless not only of public opin
ion, but of mine"
He ceased, and sat very stifflv up
right, with his chin held loftily in thu
air.
Rosamond looked at him thoughtful
ly for moment, and when sh1 spohs
Fred ;. sh.. SAIL, ~ do not wish any
fencinp or PLAYING about the true issue
of This ouestion. l might, indeed, com
plain -Jr only of your absence and youi
Silence, and your daring to approach
me now, demanding an explanation ii
SO decidea - tone l., too, might re
quest you to explain several things.
mIght.as how you could allow your.
self to treat with such disrespect the
woman you have chosen for your wife
and have professed to love; l might ass
how you, as n gentleman, could have
met me that morning, trying with my
girl s strength to support and help q
poor man who had fallen in the street,
and was faint with pain. and not only
pass without offering assistance, bu,
without even word, a look"
lit was Phil BIount," stammered
Mr.. Boone. "How should 1 know he
had hurt himself?''
..Hov should you know, indeedP
Yes. it was Philip Blount. ] hope if it
had been any other mana stranger. a
begga-I should have tried to help
him IS best 1 might. Perhaps in that
case you wouldn't even have vouch-
safed to bow to me-"
Il certainly don't see," he replied,
srperciliously, ''any necessity for young
hdies to support beggars in the street.
But if Phil Blount had hurt himself,
the case is different: 1 accept the ex-
PLANTATION"
He evidently prepared to unbend, but
she moved closer into the corner of her
sofa, and said: mo, Fred, the case is not
different. l am the one to whom ex-
PLANTATION and apology are due, and APP
parently you have none to give. But.
as l said before, let US have no fencing.
l am not speaking in anger. but in
intense conviction Could L be so
treated before marriage by man,
having full time during his
absence and silence to think what his
real disposition must be, what his
professed love must amount to, what
sort of married life l must lead with
him? And l have thought of it all,
with pain and regret for the dissolving
OF my dream, but gratitude that have
walked in time. have to say good-by
to you, Fred-dear Fred! shall never
call YOU by your name again, but wish
you would believe that l speak with
every kind and friendly feeling. But
we must not spoil each others life.
We don't sapt. You do not love me-
''You are entirely mistaken" he in
terrupted, with some heat, Il do love
you. l have often told you 500
"Yes, so you have. Perhaps you did
a little-perhaps you do just now; but
it won't hurt you. Say good-by, and
part friends, for indeed we never can
be anything more.''
And at the same hour of the same
day Philip Biount was saying to his
beautiful tiancee: mo, Mabel, you
don't love me: know it now. You
allowed me to love you, and for Il time
that was happiness enough; but it is SO
no longer. Your GOODNESS makes me
miserable. For all these long days j
have lain on my sofa, vainly hoping for
more than the commonplace
card of inquiry you might have sent to
any ordinary friend-some flower, some
loving words. Even a visit
many girl would not have thought
too much for the man whom she in.
tended to marry"
''It would not have been at all con-
verable," replied Mabel, coldly-..hard-
ly proper. You are too restless, toe
ertgednt. l have distinctly assured you
once for all, of my regard-have given
you my promise; what more can you
askp''
Il ask to have it recalled, beautiful
icicle," said Philip, bitterly. The
suffering will be all mine, the blame all
mine; the eclat of the rupture, if there
be such thing. shall be yours. Dismiss
me on any plea you choose; will never
contradict you; but do not let us go on
in this terrible mistake. You can not
love me -perhaps you can not love at
all And 1 am maddened between nv
alteration tor your beauty and my mis-.
cry at your coldness. Let us each be
free"
YES" said Mabel, with bite,
look, free to send flowers to Other
girls, TO offer your arm in the street tc
ladies' who may choose to accept SO con-
spicuOus an attention"
Philip looked at her earnestly. "You
are speaking of Miss Vane," he said
Eyes, she was most kind and helpful
BILE woman. But, Mabel dearest, is il
possible that any jealous feeling about
her is at the root of YOUR cold manner
to me? For Heavens sake, be frank
and true. Let us have no mistake in
this matter. You know that 1 have be-
lOnged wholly to you in heart and IN
act. If l have done you injustice in
complaining of your want of love, tel
me SO, and will ask your forgiveness
on my knees.
No' hiiiPs Snc sdiu, ucclueuly,
after a moments struggle. - may
have felt displeased at rumors that have
reached me as to Rosamond Vane.
may not have done you entire justice in
that matter. But as to the rest, you are
right. 1t is not in me to satisfy such a
nature as yours. You are too impul-
sive. too ardent. You annoy and alarm
me by your demands. We had better
part.
Rosamond read in the newspapers
the departure for Europe of both heI
own and Mabers lover, and smiled and