Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-31
MY PRETTY COUSIN;
Or. the Jeanette Cnunht In her NUN &

She is the Queen Of cousins being at once the
most agreeable, cruel and unmanageabe of all;
the prettiest and most dangerous, liveliest and
most witty, and is, besides such q conceited
little prude a never lived before, whose fanci
ful mischief-lOving disposition has intinidated
and sub lued the country for miles around
She is, moreover, q eapriciOus tyrant, wilful
and obstinate. and swayS the sceptre of her DOW
with an unsparing hand Her admirers
slaves would say-though ribs have ached and
smarted with the thumps Of more than one of
cupid's shafts, though their hearts blistering
with his barbed arrows, pierced and riddled in
every direction. still futter around the light
that scorches them. attracted and enchan ted by
eyes that melt with gazing, and fire you with
their fire.
See how fond the saucy elf is of tossing with
such mellow lips, that hang like golden fruit
TO be plucked by the first bold hand pointing
to you temptingly, woOing, inviting. and when
you would haste to press them to your own they
arrest you with such an offended delicacy that
you dare not go farther, lest the Puritan box
your ears.
All cousins are not so. While they hang
their heads in delicious confusion. and suffer
one to do what he will with their lips, she will
be tugglng at your whiskers, or what j. moro
TO be dreaded, will, with one fell swOop, smash
the spOtleSs. unwrinkled bosom that is so snug
ly arrayed behind the vest that gives it protec-
ton None Of that devoted train yet had suf-
hcIcnt audacity to steal kiss. Poor souls
Was 1T that they feared they might dissrrange
the hair that they had spent so much time in
brushing and torturing into sickness Or
were they content to plod along in the same
everyday employment of signing for paradise,
and though their eyes dared not reach forth
hand and enter with seal upon her lips
So stood the besieged and the besieging when
acity cousin arrived And thus found Harry
Hosmer the pretty kingdom my pretty cousin
had founded. He came and she saw one more
To SWall ha ID of phS H.
worth winning; he was a fine appearing fellow,
was true gentleman, could dance, ride, sing
and make love sonnets to alteration, and was
all in all. what a handsome young lady at
eighteen would love to see at her feet.
Will We be justified In saying that the same
motives influenced her actions towards others
moved her to the concentration of all her art
cunning and powers to batter the heart Of the
city cousin No, 1t was not love, but some
thing very akin to il. for what country belle
can see such Harry-One 30 superior to the
rest OF the thrOng that surrounds her-and not
feel greater emotion, a more than common
hutter, when he approaches her.
Her plans were laid. His heart minced, as
saulted, besieged, and attacked in every posi-.
BILE shape. He remained frrn, uncOnquercd,
nor did any subsequent movement dislodge him
from his situation. His department was always
the same, and not all her skiIl at mans subjec-
tion could draw from him more than that IA
miliar gentlemanly carriage which acquainted
her with the freedom of his heart and the fail
ure of her plans. She was piaued. What
cold, senseleSs thing this cousin is Pshaw
won I trouble myself more with the ill-man-
nered bear. He isn't worth the pains one takes
TO make him like people.
She, however. did not adhere to this wise con-
cluslOn. The next day another attack, a gen.
eral assault was directed against the citadel,
and she endeayOred to carry all before her by
storm; but he, that had so long been impregna-
CIT led hv tho
brightest eyes that flushed in our land, was the
same cousin Harry HOsmer from the city. And
the only foil he used, and that which he played
surprising advantage, was the name of another
city cousin, a defence that surprised while il
was a counter attack that disconnected her.
Ny pretty cousin had failed In her endeav-
to subdue the heart Of her cousin, she had
forgot 10 guard her own, nor did she know that
II was already IN the possession of another. She
was cross She could hardly bear that he
should be IN her presence, and was unhappy
when he was out of sight. If he was pleasant
or laughed, he was ridiculing her unhappness
and rejoicing over her discontinue. IL he was
sad and sober, he thinking of the hated
cousin he left behind in the city.
My dear cousin, you cannot imagine with
what feelings Of pleasure l shall present your
beautiful cousin to you. She is such divine
creature, exclaimed be, one day after dwell
ing unusually long upon her beauty and learn
ing = She Is perfection -
Clara p0uted and picked the leaves Of rose
he had just plucked for her, and crushed them
with her foot.
% You will be delighted to see her, she is so
kind and gentle. 1t will be impossible to be
near her, and not like her"
" And do you like her, cousin Harry ask
ed she In a low, hestating voice. as if afraid to
ask what might be unpleasant to her.
:. Like her we love her-eyeryb body does. -
The rose was suddenly dashed to the floor,
her indignant foot stamped upon it, and she
arose and hastily walked to the window
" Why COZ, what ails thee ~ said Harry,
without rising, and he swung a chair carelessly
round on one leg, while he commenced whist
ling lively air.
She was leaning against the side Of the win
dow, with her forehead pressed against the
glass She did not answer Nothing is more
calling TO a woman than to hear the praises Of
a rival from the lips Of one she loves. Clara
was piqued; she was offended and angry. She
could hardly bear her feelings for she pictured
her happy cousin basking in the sunshine Of his
love, and then she thought of herself, neglected
and nnloyed, and her breast heaved with feel
ings she Ill could bear.
- Is my cousin unwell ?"
She is silent.
d" Bless me, you have not forgotten the use of
that tongue, that used to wag 50 gailyI'
No answer.
Harry rose and walked to the window. He
gently pulled the han1 that supported her head
from her face. She was weeping
The day after, he departed for New York.
His horse was at the door, his foot was in the
stirrup, and he had thrice bid good by to his
friends, but be fingered, for there ought TO be
another among them. lie scanned their faces,
he watched every window; she was not there.
Once more he took leave, and stopped again to
see if Clara was there He turned disappoint-
ed. and laid his hand on the saddle. hand
touched his shoulder, and n low voice whispered
Cousin Harry, good bye.
He turned and met the gaze Of Clara. She
was pale She held her hand to him, and he
drew her to him. and pressed his lips to hers.
There was perhaps, 50 much warmth in that
kiss that mingled its fire with the pallOr Of her
check Or, was il that his hand held hers too
closely locked?
@ Good bye, my sweet cousin, said he, gaily,
as he yauited into the saddle Remember
my promise Of coming again this fall with your
cousin Julia, whom / intend you shall be 80
delighted with that you will not care to part
IL. Il