Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-07-21
s StlFftfs Calf.
Cousin Ben or the Good Deed Rewarded

Visitors! exclaimed Kate Bennett i'm
patiently, as she laid aside the book she
had been reading, and in which she hac
been deeply interested, and took the cards
which the servant presented.
Dear me, how provoking. Just as ]
am IN the most exciting part of the story
and that pert, disagreeable Emily Archer,
too,' she added, reading one of the cards
who else. wonder?
Was there magic in that simple bit of
paste board, inscribed with only two words,
Richard Warrenl 1t would alnos,
seem so, so instantaneous did her coun-
ltenance change. The frown that disfiq-
ured her beautiful brow disappeared, her
eyes sparkIed, and without another
thought of the book, she hastily assured
herself by glance at the mirror, that
her toilet was unexceptionable, and left
the room.
As she entered the drawing room, and
greeted her guests with all that grace and
elegance of manner for which she was
distinguished, Emily Archer surveyed
her with one rapid critical glance but
dress as well as manner was faultless.
1t must be confessed that Kate Bennett
enters the room like queen she thought,
with pang of envy and jealousy, as in
! Richard Warren's face she read undis-
gulsed admiration of the lovely girl before
! hem.
! What casual observer, who had marked
the meeting of those two ladies, would
have dreamed that, under all their out
ward frendllness, each hated the other
with her whole heart? Yet SO it was.
t Kate and Emily were rival bellies, and
| their claims to admiration were SO equal
! ly balanced that it required no little exer-
! tlon on either side TO gain the ascendency
al be acknowledged the victor.
! If Kate, with her classical features,
queenly dignity. elegant figure, and ex-
! quisIte taste, at first sight threw her rival
IN the shade, Emily's piquant style and
! sprIghtly conversation were by many pre-
/ Terred 10 kate's statuesque beauty. 1t
, was impossible to decide which was the
! lOveliest-each had her adherents and
/ admIrers-bnt as they were equally nu-
nerous, it seemed probable that the sea-
/ son would draw TO close without the all
! important decision of the question, which
had been, par excellence the belle.
Just at this time Richard Warren re-
turned from Europe. The arrival of so
undeniably elegant, handsome and wealthy
Il gentleman, was an event; all the fash
| louable world was in Il flu.ter, and the
| rivals saw at once that the important e.
/ pooh had arrived. She whose claims he
advocated, whom he favored with his ad-
mlration, would at once stand upon the
/ precarious pinnacle of beleship, though
( their tactics were entirely different.
! Emily brought TO bear upon him the
batteries Of her sprightly wit, while Kate
adroitly laid the mine of apparently
queenly Indifference. As yet, though ii
his preference was not known-perhaps
he hardly knew himself which was the
most charmin-.
But during The exposition of the claims
of the rivals, 4 lively conversation had
been going on. The last new novel and
the opera had been discussed, as we'll as
Of the mutual friends, and III the midst of
some wickedly witty remarks of Emily
upon a would be fashionable lady, loud
voice was heard in the hail. 1t came
nearer the door, and the words could be
distinctly understood.
You no. bralned impudent jackanapes,
/ III teach you manners; I'll make you
laugh on t'other side of your mouth.
The door was flung open, and III walked
a tall, athletic young man, whose really
! fine form was disguised IN an lll-flttlng
suit of evidently domestic manufacture,
and stood for a moment awkwardly look
ing round him then hastily approaching
Kate he flung hi. arm around her and
gave her loud smack on the cheek.
I Che v,-,,hlrou- barcalf ou,cllx- nd
haughtily from his embrace.
| Sir said sue with freezing dignity.
Law, don't ye know who l be g ex-
claimed the new conner, IN no wise dis
concerted Wall, now do actually be-
lieve you have forgotten me. Don't you
know your cousin Ben le see [ don't
like farmin' no how you can fix 1t, so
quit that and come to the city. Jim Simp-
son was down 10 our place and he is doing
first rate here. He said it was dreadful
hard TO get start IN the city, but guess
amt going to slump through where he
gets ahead. I'll risk 1t anyhow
Catharine, at the commencement of this
speech had alternately flushed and paled
that Warren and Emily Archer should
have been witnesses of such scene
She caught a triumphant glance from
Emily. 1t restored her pride.
With all the grace of which she was g
mistress, she turned to the new conner
You must excuse me, cousin Ben, she
said, i had quite forgotten you. A few
: years make a change, and | car hardly
retrace in your countenance feature tha
: reminds me of the lad who went nuttlnG
with me in the dear old woods of Hamp
ton. Allow me. Miss Archer, she ad
/ ded, turning TO her, 'to present to you m,
cousin, Mr.. Adams-Mr. Warren, Mr.
Adams, and with perfect composure sh'
f saw his awkward bow and scrape.
Emily commenced conversation Wit
I Mr.. Adams, and was proceeding 10 dra!
; him out most ridiculously, when Kat
e came to the rescue.
h You forget, Miss Archer said she
: that my cousin has Just arrived IN towr
o and has not yet had an opportunity to Sc
Il L ,If Ifsa