The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-05-17


What does this pet cousin of yours lool
like, Jessie" ?" inquired her friend, Ami
Atherton.
Tall! Brown hair, dark eyes, ferc
monstache, and an easy, graceful carriage
lie is whole-soulcd, noble, manly fellow
Annie. All there's the carriage ~ and
two minutes later, Jessie was welcomin,
her cousin. Annie glided away into tn,
house.
Jessie said Horace, the moment tn,
young lady was out of sight, "who is tina
exquisite little fairy?"
Annie Atherton. IA friend of mine"
ANY relation to certain George ather
ton, now in Californin ?' inquired Horace
trying not to look significant.
"liis sister," and Jessie blushed prettily
Don't tease me, Horace"
81 won't, upon one condition"
"Name it,"
Introduce me to your friend immediate
ly." ....
"Come in then. She is probably in III,
parlor with mother"
She was in the parlor, nestled down on s
sofa in pretty, graceful attitude, her check
resting on the palm of tinny white hand
and her white dress just showing a glimpse
of the dantiest little slipper imaginablc, Sht
w f,n
edged Horace's bow.
"Your mother is lying down." sh, said
to Jessie; "sho said her head ached slight.
ly."
II will 60 to her. said Jessie, quickly.
Horace took chair near the sofa, as An.
ME sank back into her old position, and they
opened conversation. An hour, two hours
passed away, and they were still in the par.
lor chatting, when Jessie summoned them to
tea. ". ...... ...
'Mother will not come down aeain this
evening" said Jessie leading the way to the
diningroom "her head still aches. though
not quite so badly as it did when went IN
to her." ..r. . ....
"Can do anything for her -. said Annie.
"Nothins for her but you may take care
of Horace this evening and let me sit up
stairs
Neither Annie nor Horace looked miser-
able as this suggestion was made.
It was the third week in June. Horace
and Jessie stood in the porch The sun was
just rising, and the cousins were the only
ones astir in the house Mrs. Lowering.
quite recovered, was still sleeping, when
Jessie left her side, and went down stairs.
"Up so early, Horace?' was her greeting.
"Oh! | always walk before breakfast,
when am in the country. Sit down Jessie
lets have a little chat"
There was long ,auSe. Perfect silence
reigned in the poarch. st last Horace
spoke ..- -a..
Jessie! ..r.
"Well ?" ......
"Jessie, | am in love Hush don't in
terrupt me, want to make clean breast
Of it. .....
lam in love with that fascinating little far
ry, Annie Atherton. Such wit, such intel
ligence, and, with it all, such chill-like
simplicity. An! Jessie there's girl worth
fifty of your strong minded, literary women.
You never hear Annie Atherton preaching
about woman's duties, yet your mother
says she keeps house for her brother, who
is widower, and is model Of neatness
and order. She never delivers long winded
sermons upon the education of children
but is second mother to her three little
nieces.
stop! stop, Horace! know all her per-
fectionsr'
"And you will help me, Jessie, to win
her ?"
There's gratitude ~ cried Jessie, despair
ingly. "For one whole week have pleaded
headache, household cares. letters to write,
and fifty other fibs, TO leave you and Annie
tete-a-teta for walks, drives, music, and con-
versation and now, after all my exertions
you modestly request my assistance ~
snow, Jessie, don't look so disgusted
Hark ~
Rivaling the birds, whose music filed the
air around the house, clear sweet voice car
oled at an upper window. 1t was a voice
that could only accompany sensitive, low.
ing disposition; pure, thrilling voice, that
threw forth music easily and naturally, as
II merely breathing echoes of joyous feel
ing
"Come down, Annier cried Jessie"
''In minute made rent in my blue
lawn yard long, yesterday. Punishment
stay up stairs this morning till it is meuded
Oh Jessie, we had such splendid time
yesterday. We vert to the old mill you
told me about, and sat near the water on the
stones, chased each other over the. rocks,
till, but for your Cousins strong arm,
should have fallen into the brook. We made
xreaths Of wild flowers, and--there, nv
dress is mendid, am coming down"
Is she not deliciously natural and child
like ?" whispered Horace.
A shower of roses thrown from the win
dow made him look up, but Annie was al.
ready on her way down stairs.
Good morning. Mr.. Lowering! had
no idea till gave Jessie her roses that you
were listening to my nonsense. We did have
a nice time, though, didn't wew