Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-16
COUSIN Bos's WHISPERS.

assumes the dignity Of science; Ii is 80
perfectly understood and so constantly
carried out that | can only imagine II L
be. the result Of deep thought and renec
ton. A little obsiinacy. now, once in /
while, Is only sort af commendable self
respect; but why people sciil insist upor
hsvlsg their own way about thing for nc
other purpose than because it is their own
way, when II Is a self evident fact thai
some ono else's way is decidedly prefera,
bic, ID meta -phy ysical problem which il
would require wiser heads than mine to
solve. Such people always remind me OF
. certain river, which took an odd, un-
reasonable sort Of a bend, and which the
benign government deemed IL best to
straighten. A smooth and commodious
channel was prepared forthwith, aud every
means taken 70 induce this unruly stream
TO proceed in the way of the righteous
All In vain: the disloyal waters refused
any such ACCOMMODATIONS, and persisted in
ffetting aud fuming along In their own
rough way beneath the cliffs, whore re-
bellious little city sat de6anty perched,
tormenting their unhappy waves with the
shot aud shell Of terrible conflict.
And yet think IL would be decidedly
easier to manage the Mississippi than to
essay managing head strong girl and Of
all headstrong girls Nettie Leo Is the
we'll. superlatises fail TO express her will.
fuIness.--lt ras provoking. Everybody
had considered Il settled thiog for a
long iimc-every sluce they were children
In fact Robert aud she had been "cut
out for each other, aud for the last year
% two they were thought 10 be as good NJ
engaged; aud nov, when the poor fellow
returned from college. with all sorts Of
honors and capital letters TO bis name, she
was just barely civil, aud nothing more
Everybody else was crazy with delight At
his arrival Auntie had talked Of nothing
else but this for weeks; uncle gave grand
supper Ia honor Of tho successful graduate;
half o. the girls were desperately Ia love
before he had been home three days; and
Neitie--willful Neilie, for whom alone he
had eyes or ears--was In tho depths Of .
filtration with that delestable Tom Ellis,
whose great red whiskers might serve ms
torches for Charon himself
"lIov can Son treat Bob 20 .unkindly.
NetIiey' | asked one night, whom We
were alone IN our room. Il kaoc you
''Of course like him. was her iemure
reply; VI havoa great eousinly regard
for him; aud he has always been very kind
10 me, why shouldn't like him?'
Then why do you treat him 30 badly2
Why do you dirt with that odious red
whiskered Ellis. when you SEQ II makes
Bob 40 furious that he told me this eve.
ming he eosald scarcely refrain from kick
Ing hin oulY'
"Whicl, would have been a very gentle
manly way oftFeaiing his fathers guest,
am sure, said NeIlio ironically. "Come,
Fan, we're very good friends but don't
undertake TO fight Bob'r battles for him
he has plenty to do that already. As for
Mr.. Ellie, IL choose TO fancy his society,
kobcrt has no right to complain, much
less TO insult him about my inclination
30 there, Fan, don't trouble your poor
little head about the matter. Cousin Bob
aud have too many friends interested
IN our welfare a,readY-more than we 70
quire, | assure you"
This was all the satisfaction that could
be got from Ne,,ie; and although she
more than once inumated that IL was none
OF my business. couldn't help intereccd
ing now aud then, for poor Bob, who
looked 50 laekadaisicaI aud miserable that
every ono felt sorry for him.
ut i only out Of contradiction. Rob.
eri,' said eensclingly, one evening, as
Nctlie departed for ride with Mr.. Ellis.
II am sure she cannot like that horrid.
looking m. \"
"Do you really think him bad looking,
fannier" asked Bob, much relieved. "Iie
has such SPLENDID pair Of whiskos2'
"Spendedr' / exclaimed. "Spleniidl
l think them frishtful."
"Almost every one admires them" said
Bob, with a sigh. II heard Nettie say.
The other day, she hated TO SEQ a.man with
a girl's face he continued, rubbing his
own smooth chin.
"she knew you were listening, Bob, and
said Il TO tease you. | think size heard
someshiDg about your admiration for Misc.
Billings, and 10 having her revenge.
Mas Euphemia Billings was one Of
Bob's college flames aud young lady of
somewhat literary turn---a great admirer
OF Tennyson aud Browning. whose works
Bob still possessed, as she had returned
them 10 him, with her comments inscribed
IN very delicate hand on tho margin.
For my part, although have always been
rather ashamed 10 acknowledge II, never
could appreciate tho fashionable style Of
poetry. suppose, as Miss.Lucinda says.
IL Is because my mind is uncultivated; but
the ideas always seem so misty aud mys-
terious, and the world. so very wrong.slde
Out, that 6nd the whole affair II general.
ly quite beyond my comprehension.
But Miss Billings was intellectual. Her
mind was perfect hot. bed of cultivation,
whers-aIl soTls OF knowledge aourished In
. surprising degree. Bob's edition Of the
"EngIish Poets" was inscribed with her
dainty little comments: "IIow touehingl"
sToo truel' '.sweetly tenderl" making il
In my opinion, quite invaluable as book
OF Interpretation. OF course such an
ETHEREAL, poetical creature could never be
guilty ofanything so mundane as nirta'
ton; still young Mr.. Jameson had always
been one Of her most valued friends, and
he was evan suspected Of being the subject
Of one Of her odes, commencing, My
friend, when other ties are thinel" which |
think was sufficient TO excuse Netiie's con
duet in q measure.
However, the memory Of poor Miss
nt1It. =. Il. 4 .tf .o..fi