The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-11
The DAILY DISPATCH
The Country Cousin.
ICoNCLUDEDI

Harry, MY boy, said that gay gentleman,
as they stood looking at passing train, what
do you say 10 run for London | have
another uncle there--a firsirate solicitor in the
firm of Grndly, Blackmore, g. Co. Ours is a
legal family. Grindly and the old hen would
be glad TO see US; and I'll introduce you to the
Blackmores, delightful mother and four
daughters all charming girls with three thou.
sand piece. | wish you could only hear
Clementina Blackmore sing VIII you still be
true TO me! Harry, if ever am so leftto my
self as TO think of marrying, that's the girl =
Let rs now suppose that quantity of addi-
tionai pressing took place-that the nephews
offered 10 go along as Christmas was coming
that HAIRY sent home another note to say The
thought he might go,-and that long before it
reached the cottage, he was installed at the
house OF Mr.. Grindly in London, who, as his
nephew promised, divided a capital egal bus--
ness with his partner MIR Blackmore.
The proverb which says, Out Of sight out
OF mind was by this time in course of being
fulfilled as regarded the good woman at the
cottage. In the revival of old associations his
college-friend partially forgot that Harry was
family man, and the easy gentleman himself
never thought OF ofintfuding the circumstance on
people notice. To do him justice, he had a
remarkably single look; all his acquaintance
called HIM Harry Phipps. 1t was therefore
no marvel that the unsuspecting household Of
Blackmore received him as bachelor.
The papa OF il was bard-witted. busy law
yer; the mamma an excessively fine lady; and
the TOUR daughters pretty, accomplished. fash
lonahie-iooklng girls, from twenly.two-their
mamma said acknowledgements, who Judi
ciously came out in different lines; for Miss
Biackmore was metaphysical, Miss Caroline
sentimental. Miss Maria fast, and Mss Gle
mentina musical. Between the last mentioned
and Charles Lacy strong and not discouraged
Irritation was in progress, which afforded IIar-
ry better than ordinary opportunities for culti-
vatlng that domestic circle. 1t was not every
day he would have such q house TO call at.
and Harry did his best to be popular He
hunted up high-life gossip for Mrs. Blackmoie;
he admired the solicitors law stories after
dinner; he was the humble servant of all the
young ladies IN turn, but his chief devoirs
We're paid to The fast Maria. The reason was
that tue fast Maria would have il so. She
thought him, it is true-as she said once 10
confidential fTiend-a sort of goosey-goosey-
gander, but he polked capitaly, was a person
able fellow-and Maria was spinster.-
Christmas was coming, and Harry stood high
In favor with all the Biackmores. The senior
miss found out that he had a philosophic mind
Miss Caroline said she knew there was little
romance about him-he had been disappointed
IN hrst- love or something; and Charles Lacy
had an lniuitive suspicion that the old people
would soon begin TO inquire regarding his in.
come and prospects. The idea was exces-
slvely amusing, but yet somewhat alarming
lie thought Harry was carrying it on too far
ne was. Hadn't he better give Clementna d
hint But then Clementina would think he
ought to have done so long ago. Chales was
puzzled and he did not like to be puzzled
He would have nothing more to do with it,
He would wash his hands of it. How was he
Obliged TO know that they were not aware of
Harry s being tied upl The whole thing was
really uncomfortable, and he did not like any,
thing that vas uncomfortable. He would take
Harry to task for his enormity, and then think
no more about ii. Meditating thus, he entered
MRS. Blacklnore' drawing-room one forenoon
early enough to find mamma and the young
ladies hard at Berlin wool-they were finish.
ing Christmas presenis-all but Maria tor
whose amusement Harry was turning over a
volume of sporting prints at li'lle table by
themselves
we are all industrious to-day said Mrs.
blacklnore, 'on account of oul country cousin
"a dear odd creature. She has sent us ham
Pefs and baskets full Of everything nice, for
don't know how long. The girls can scarcely
remember when she was here last, and il would
be such comfort to her to have some of their
work. DO, Maria, try and finish that purse
Charles and Harry had heard of that dear
tered The house. The turkeys and chickens
she sent had been described in their hearing
I'll they thought they had eaten them. From
the conversation OF her relatives Harry con-
GUIDED her 10 be splnster or widow of an un.
interesting age. However, the threatened ar
rival created new employment for him in
the shape OF holding purse silk tor Miss Ma
ria 10 wind and owing perhaps TO the quiet
ness OF this employment-peihaps TO its oc.
Hon al. i
ms position began 10 stare him in the face
He began to think he was bad fellow-al-
though II was all Charles's fault. He did not
know that Miss Maria thought him goosey-
goosey- gander, but he began at last to hate
ner all the same-we are so liable to hate
those we are conscious of injuring He be-
came IN truth afraid of her-she haunted him.
ne knew he ought to do something, but he
DID not know what 10 do. He had all his life
ac'ed under advice, and he now felt as if he
nad broken from his moorings, and was on
the wide, wide sea, drifting at the mercy of
this calamity.
Al the moment we have arrived at, things
had come TO an alarming climax. In reply to
his bewildered look Charles had turned away
with severi;y-washing his hands of ito
JOIN Miss Clementina i'll the corner; and the
rest OF the tamily, who seemed suddenly to
md themselves de trop, scattered away 10
other parts OF the room. New Miss Maria
was fast girl, and Harry knew il. She look
ed wicked, as il determined upon coup d'etat;
and he began TO perspire al! over. The skein
Jared badly. AT This moment some slight
diversion was made in his favour by servant
appearing with message regarding somebody
IN The back-parlour; whereupon rs. Black.
more went hastily down stars; and Harry's
eyes followed her wistfuly he thought he
should like to get out.
oh, girls said Caroline, returning in few
minutes, 1T is poor cozy, and mamma is bring
ing her up for US all to comfort her. She has
lost don't know how much money by the
iailure OF that horrid SINNERS bank; and
what's worse, she can't find her husband
He ought 10 be sent home wherever he is,'
replied Maria; I'm sure she was just too good
TO him. Oh, Mr.. Harry phipps. what a ,sad
set you men are! declare you are ravelling