The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
(From the French.
THE HUMr.RACKEn COUSIN 81

| (From the French.)
1 THE HUMP.BACRED COUSIN. 80
Beh Ii an extraordinary occurrence Of thes
latter days. Fit were not an extraordinary
occurrence, one need not relate it,
A father OF family inhabting the Rue dc
MichodIsre, received last summer letter from
h's neph-w, who was in the employ Of Ayder
A Abad The letter concluded thus
have received the portraits Of my two cou-
sins. Marie and Margaret. have never had
the pleasure Of seeing them, a. have lived
! sure that these two portraits and resemblances
w.il arrive at IiaEve, BY tie ship lngos Ego,
about the first cf October. and on my return
| am determined to marry the beautiful Mar--"
The breaking open Of the letter had DESTROYED
the rest Of the name Il il impossible 10 tell
It the cousin asked Marie or Margaret in mar
| rage The two sisters united previous TO this
time, have commenced to live in misunders:an-
dings, each Of Them positive that it was the rest
# her name which was torn offin breaking the
seal
The father employed his eloquenoe in calm-
ing the anger Of his daughters, when a servant
sent In advance, arrives from Harvrelannouncinr
bis master went to Paris with the evening train
The servant overwhelmed with questions, re-.
piieo that his master was ruined and that he
had, moreover, on his left shoulder, the horrid
HASs~SSaoHSG WHICH uuQ caused 0CCOTQt0R Ia
Palanude, SO many misfortunes to Esop, the
Phrygian.
The two cousins determined to remain singIe
forever, before marrying cousin hump backed
and ruined
Az they took this oath for the twentieth time
IN twelve hours, the cousin arrives. The Uncle
warmly embraced him, the cousins make po-
lite bow, and turn away their eyes. The un-
Gle then explains the incident Of the torn letter
q fhoi iy,far 1,
"It is my cousin Marie Mhom ! came to mar.
ry J; he replied
"Never-ncvsr! screamed Marie, II am
contented with my condition, and shall remain
in it
Mademo.selie, said The nephews have
adopted the customs where l have been educa--
aea Read the customs Of Hyder Abad, in
ifavefnler There. when young man is re-
fused in an offer Of maria ge, he withdraws him
81 from society as useless being"
" lie Kills himself y! exclaimed the good
Margaret.
. He Kills himself, replies the nephew in the
I 'ne OF man about 10 commit suicide.
6 This poor cousin, said Margaret, weeping
" TO come from such distance to die in the bo-
som Of his family :"
"l Know, said the nephew, (" that my de >
forinity affects the sight Of women, but in time
The eyes Of women become habituated to all
prospects are not prosperous. Thrown very
young in the diamond business, the only occu-
patton If II der Abad l lost there all the fortuna
OF my father, but had acquired experience
| am young, active and Industrious These are
riches in themselves"
Yes, yes, hump backed and ruined" nut.
tered Maria aside, in bantering tone.
Poor young man - said Margaret, and she
adds, 4" my cousin, am refused and you pay no
nj tent tn
"Apd by whom refused ?" inquired her cou-
sin.
But to your cost, BY you, since you prefer
my sister to me"
&c Eh bien :" said the cousin s will you &C,
cept me it ask you in marriage from my un--
Gle ,"
- will engage my father 10 let my cousin
live"
What - exclaimed the hump back, +" do
you consent my lovely Margaret, to-"
Save the life of u relative Indeed I'll not
waver moment.
This is very well Of my daughter" said
the uncle affected by the scene. " Remonstran-
ces have not spoiled you, have a very small
income, but ought not to abandon the son Of
my brother in misfortune. will keep him here
as kindred, for where there is enough for three
there is for four.
The cousin threw herself at Margaret's feet'
saying
You have saved the life Of an unfortunate
man."
At a little distance Marie uttered to herself,
!" My sister has courage As for me, would
let hump backed cousins die"
Uncle, said the young man, +" allow me to
mark slight toilet before breakfast"
He pressed Margare,s hand, bowling to Ma
rie, and left to change his travelling attire.
The uncle and his daughters were at the ta-
BILE and awaited their guest
The servant announced the cousin of Hydeg
Abad.
The two girls uttered two screams, but on
different keys. They see enter charming
young man, tall, without any hump-back, who
embraced Margaret, and placing before her a
basket, he says to her, "Behold your marriage
portion"
II was basket of diamonds. 1t was more.
over the hump, which had thus arrived free Of
duties.
"See what ! haye carried on my shoulder"
said the cousin, "irom Bombay to Havre TO offer
it TO that one of my cousins who would accept
me with my false poverty and my feigned de-
formity''
There was great JOY in the house, which, as it
may seem, was partcipa;edin in by Marie. 1t is
true that Marie loved her sister dearly, without
detesting the diamonds