The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-12-25
5cleltc0.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
THE POOR COUSIN.
By WM. II. CARPENTER.
Concluded
CHAPTER III.

For several days after this, Hester, was
not seen by Mr.. Wentworth. The polite
Mrs. Luqueer keeping her closely engaged
while assidious court was paid to the hand
some and wealthy guest, in all the various
ways wherein woman's tact shines most
conspicuous. His opinions on various
subjects were eagerly sought after, and his
taste frequently consulted. Means Of en-
joyment were multiplied, visits were paid
and excursions planned. Would he ride !;
a carriage was at his service. Did he pre-
fer equitation horse was at his COM
mand. Perhaps he would like company !;
Agathe would show him the lions Of the
place. Agathe could do this, and Agathe
could do that; Agathe in short was the
very phoenix of daughters, and would make
one of the best Of wives in the world. 1t
was astonishing how many offers she had
rejected-Oh Mrs. Luqueer! fe How
could you tib so buth taste was so very
tastidious Some day, or other, however,
Agathe would doubtless marry, and though
it almost breaks Mrs. Luqueer's heart to
give her up, yet she would be the last per-
son III the world to stand in the way Of her
daughters happiness.
All this, and much more, was made
known in confidence to Mr.. Wentworth at
N.ditferent times, until he began most
Seriously to think that Agathe must be a
paragon Of Il maiden.
a number Of dinner parties, excursions,
and picnics, was the consequence of Mr.
entworth's visit to the Luqueer's; to all
OF which, Hester was, as a matter Of
course, invited; but it seemed to be sin
gulaIly unfortunate that, almost always
when the particular day came, Mrs. Lu-
queer had some pressing matter for Hester
to attend to that compelled her to remain
at home. These repeated disappoint nents
were enough to try the patience of even
the best balanced mind and yet in the
exercise of these acts Of self denial, Hester
never exhibited any petulance or sullen-
ness, but surrendered her inclinations
cheerfully and readily; although she could
not help feeling that the reasons given by
her aunt for wishing her to remain at
home were oftentimes weak and frivolous
i'll the extreme.
Agathe, by the stratagems Of her polite
mother, having thus secured Mr.. Went
worth to herself, began after a little while
to relapse into her old habits and, as the
constraint of his presence gradually wore
off, believing him to be more interested in
her than he really was, she thought it
might be as well to presume little upon
her conquest, and so suffered herself to be
less guarded than she had hitherto been.
One day, after a little exhibition of her
nervousness, at which Mr.. Wentworth, to
whom the thing was new, looked up with
panied surprise, her mother took her aside
on his departure, and said
Agathe, my child, how could you do
so | am very angry with you, indeed I
am. If you go on in this way you will spoil
all. Mr. Wentworth does not like nervous
people" =,
not" she answered pettishly. "But |
can tell you, mamma, l am not going to
put constraint upon my feelings any
longer. 1t was all your fault in permitting
Joseph to slam the door SO loud l am
not made of cast iron"
Mr.. Luquecr was present during this
colloquy. He was of those specimens,
sometimes seen, of men, who are consider
ed by their wives as of no earthly account
whatever except to fui nsh the funds ne
eessary for the support of an elegant
establishment without daring to have a
voice in the outlay-a silent banker who
must honor drafts but ask no questions.
Ga the present occasion, however, he
thought he might venture to say" You