Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-08-22
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST -, 1889.

the way To conquer Ia learnt that anyho~,--and
Il would have been ~ungallant ia the highest. How
shoCld ! vial | had tut q couple Ut months to
stay, aud she was 20 popular, that all the beaux OF
the country were t~hronging in her train. I'D q
bard task before me, and il would have dishesrten-
ed many a one--bui 4 had been to the Black Hills
end shot buffalo.
There was one Of her suffers named Thornton.
whom she seemed to like better than the rest; and
| must say, during the f,st month OF my visit, sle
soquetied with him a good deal at my expense. Ii
used to give me a touch of the old fu,tnT now and
then, but | consoled myself that, as I was not in
love, there was no sense in being Jealous, aud
besides, Mr.. 1hornton's favorable reception had
nothing to do with my object. So | took to hum.
ming the Black-foot tune, ard teasing my prett,
cousin about her fasorite lover. You've no idea,
sff, what . change il made. Sheadenied Ii at first,
then grew absolutely worried THAI | would mt be-
lieve her, and finally showed ms a pretty marked
preferences on every occasion. But 1 was only a
cousin, and no body took any notice oft. All, sir.
those cousins play the deuce with girls hearts.
They re always hntansling your daughters silk. or
bringing her the last new novel, or plucking her a
fresh moss rose, or lifting her over the pebbly little
brook and then, too, you lot them take such long
walks in the hummer twilight.--or, ride for hours
alone IN q September afternoon, Tor, sleigh away
for miles on the clear. moonlight nights of Dcccm.
her, with nothing but themselves for company
and all this time when they are both just budding
into life, and fall into love as naturally as | smoke
my meerschaum. Egad, sir, I've get daughters
myself; and, though | was q quiet young man, |
saw q good deal oil your love maiiers,-and let me
tell yoo that no cousin comes palsvering about my
house, with his fute and his familiarity for IL he
does III either make up my mind at once TO have
him as a son-in-iaw, or else kick the young rascsl,
neck and heels, down the staircase. Cousins, in
deed!
alt was just such walks | took with Ellen. They
were all set down to the score Of cousinship, but
they were so delicious, that | regretted the time
had come for me to depart, and wished that ones
cousin could be with one forever. But il was no
use, | wasn't worth a copper dollar, and unless |
could get some heiress to marry me for pity, | saw
no way Of living without ~roughing i, through life.
| was too proud to uesspass on the bounty Of my
uncle, and had carried il so far as to take my quar-
tiers ut the village inn. 1t may be the good old
man could see further than /, he only smiled and
shook his head, and left The expostulation 10 his
wife. SO j, happened that my visit was nearly up.
Happy, too happy. bad been those months, and my
pretty little cousin was the cause Off all. She,
sweet angel, like all the rest, charged it to our cou-
sinship--bat !, at last, began to open my eyes, and
hall suspected the truth, for | had noticed tina, my
cousin, unconscious to herself, seemed very fond Of
my presence. ( learnt il all by close observation,
sir,--a faculty ] picked up among the Sioux. |
once admired a cape on a girls shouldcr--lor | do
hate your low dfesses-and 10! the next day that
! saw my pretty cousin, the dear creature had such
a modest cape on! ! praised the tie OF a ribbon
csrelessly the next afternoon; | declare it's every
word true, sir,-she met me in the evening with
that very fashioned tie. And yeti don't think she
was conscious Of it.-These may seem trifles, my
dear sir, but the ~proudcst Of us all have seen the
day when such little proofs Of affection from tho one
we love have sent a thrill through every nerve in.
oar frame, aud in our extacy almost lifted us from
the earth. All! sir, it don't do TO laugh al these
triiics, many a noble, many a monarch would have
given his broad lands, his greatest victory, or the
finest jewel of his crown, to win such a irife from
the one he slowed. I'm wcndering-the two months
wers up-and, YET. in all this time l hadn't got a
kiss from my cousin.
at was tho night but ore before / wss to 90
away. determined TO make a last effort. We
were sitting by the window and the old folks were
next door. My sweet little cousin looked pcnsive,
and doubtless felt SO; for though | had been to the
Black Hills and shot buffalo, | was somewhat sem
timental myself. IL was just the night for melting
thoughts; and the moon shone tenderly upon the
river IN the distance, pouring her silyery light like
fairy yerdue on the distant hills. My pretty cousin
sat by my side, and we were talking of my approach
ing departure.
o. shall be very busy tomorrow, and I don't
know whether | shall be able TO come hero in the
csrH'us, ahhut IL 4
She slowly raised her dark eyos to me, till her
very soul seemed pouring out from beneath the long
black lashes, and after seeming to look right through
me, answered,
"Why mott you know how glad se are to see
you"
"Wby notf'-said I, a little piqued at the word
WE; for to tell the truth, | half suspected | was in
love with my pretty cousin, and had as you know,
nattercd myself that il was reciprocal. "Why7
baeauca / SbaIt ko a,c~ay hneo -anI k...laa I b..~I
Thornton ask you the other night to go to P,
tomorrow evening with him--and of course my
pretty COZ, you CO."
"There goes that Thornton sgain," said she,
declare you are too provcking-y you know what
| think Of him."
"Ah! but" replied l wickedly, +" why make en-
gagements on the night an old schoolfellow is going
away"
Her gaiety was stopped at once. She hesisated
an instant, and then answered,
IL told him IA give him an answer to-day, and /
thought we were all going together--bus IN send
him a noie declining a; once-you know you don't
think what you cay cousin
/ laughed it of--and directly rose to depart.
Chow cery soon you are going!' said she in her
pretty Gliding yoice,-and | thought there was
something unusually melancholy in its auts.like
tones.
I" Ind you're going to kiss me-" said / gaily, az
ter a little merry conversation. cousins always
do it at parting among the Black feet"
Indeed ! amt" SAID shc saucily.
.sIndeed you are" said | boldly.
I" Indeed, in very deed, Mr.. lmpertinence, you
mistake for once, evea though you have shot bufa.
10 at the Black Hills" and she tapped her tiny
foot on the floor, and pouted her rich, red lips sau-
cily out, looking for all the world as If about to give
me a fash or two of her brilliant repartee. But
was in for it:--and was determined TO see whe-
thor love and the Black Hills could not conquer,
reserve and wit. ! thought would try the latter
first. |
"Is'ns il your duty Z" said l.
l was quizzlng or not.
a. can nrnua II H. tha Talmnd :, aa,d |