American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-04

wishes should be thwarted. He tried
to forget it, to say to himself that it was
an incident which might never happen
again; yet in SOME way, as he went
about that day, he had lost some of his
independence and light heartedness.
A few days afterward there was some
discussion on the subject of private
theatricals. Mrs. Dunno, of Dunno Lea,
had sent out invitations, and the enter
tainment she offered was a theatrical
one. The invitations were accepted by
all the party at Larchton Mere; and n
discussion arose as to how they should
90. Lady CumnOr was not in the room
at the time; and Ross, with his usual
quickness and impetuosity, arranged it
all.
The best plan would be to dine rather
early. The drive was not a very long
one.
Every one present fell in with the
proposal; and all the plans for the day
were arranged in accordance with it.
Then it occurred to Ross, who had
made up his mind always to be atten-
tive and polite to his fathers wife, that
he ought to consult her. He went to
her at once, but found her with her
beautiful face flushed with anger and
her eyes bright with what was not 3
ing to her about the arrangement.
Il think" she said, speaking with
that cold calm which always comes
from anger, "the time has como when
there must be an explanation between
you and myself. You must understand
that intend to rule my house myself"
MY houser' How could it be that
this house, where his young mother had
lived and died, where he was born,
where all his glad life had been spent.
belonged now to this beautiful, imperi-
Gus stranger--that the house in which
his wish had been law was now removed
from his control, and he had no voice
in the matter? He could hardly I'M
derstand the words. His, face flushed.
and she saw the CLEAN of anger in his
eyes.
How can 1 answer your" he re-
Piled repressed passion in his voice.
You are q lady, and my fathers
wife. l will not speak as 1 feel I
could"
NO" she said; and it will be bet.
ter not to do so. You must under
stand that am mistress of Larchton
Mere; and. unless it be Sir Austen, l
do not intend that any one else shall
give orders in it."
He looked at her in some perplexity.
his dark face wearing a puzzled ex-
preston. She, in her picturesque
morning dress of gray velvet, with
artistic CLEANS of scarlet, looked i'm
perious as any queen, tall, stately and
erect, her face aflame with anger and
pride.
"You cannot mean," he said, "that
l am to be a cipher in my fathers
house, a house / have learned to look
y r
Justice mean that?"
81 do" she said. If your father
chose to give Larchton Mere a mis-
tress, he had perfect right to please
himself. You grant that?''
Il must grant it," he answered.
lind love my father so well that 1
am pleased for him to be happy in the
way that best pleases him."
'.You are very kind" she said,
somewhat ironically, and the words
sent the hot blood to his face and made
him tremble with impatience that he
could not repTess.
1t was all SO new to him. No one
had ever been cool to him or had
spoken harshly to him in the whole of
his life; no one had ever thwarted him.
Her words smote him like the sting of
o lash. With all his manliness and
courage, he felt almost like a spoiled
and petted child on hearing harsh,
stern words for the first time.
..As Sir Austen has chosen to make
ME Mistress" she continued, IL shall,
of course, use my authority"
Still. with the same air of perplexity
upon his face, he said:
But, surely. Lady Cumnor, your
authority and mine will not clashP How
can theyg"
An expression of scorn passed over
the beautiful face.
"You must define matters more
clearly" she said. my authority is
plain enough. am Sir Austen's wife,
consequently mistress of the house,
everything in it being under my con-
troll. Now will you make clear to me
what is your authority"
THAT of tho eldest son of the
house." he replied, land l may say
the authority of habit. My father has
allowed me to rule here for some
years"
"a state of things that has come to
an end" she said. "While your
father lives he is master and am mis-
tress. No children shall rule while l
live and he lives
1t occurred to the bewildered young
man that she was chasing him with the
baby in the nursery.
"Of course" continued her ladyship,
folding her white hands, II should not
wish you to leave home, SO long as you
can accustom yourself to the new state
of things"
Leave homer he cried. why,
Lady Cumnor, such an idea is prepos-
terousr'
"Oh, it could easily happen! If
am not happy, Sir Austen will make
any change that Will procure my happi-
ness.'
"My father loves me!'' cried the
young heir.
"And my husband loves me-" said
her ladyship. 80 II it comes to a con-
flict between us, believe me that he will
decide in my favor, and not in yours"
A tide of hot passion swept over him,
and then bis higher, nobler nature
came to his aid. She was lady.a
woman Ibis fathers wife. He would
forget her harsh words, which perhaps
she hardly meant. He would try to
live in peace for his fathers sake. All
would como right in time. He held
out his hand to her, his honest, hand
some face full of emotion.
Lady Cumnor," he said, "let there
be peace between us. Why should
there be WARP We shall have to live
together all our lives. Let us try to
understand each other"
She smiled at the notion. She did
not think their lives would be spent to-
gether. 1t did not seem very probable
to her She touched his extended hand
with her cold, jeweled fingers.
You must remember what l have