The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-08
ssCOUSIN BELL


my midnight pipe in company with
Jack Cluney, putting the forbidden
bacoy up the narrow chimney OF
our dormitory, while we related the
various adventures in the way. OF
sporting. larking, and love-making,
which had befallen US since we last
parted. When my, story was told
Jack drew a long breath ere he re-
marked: -.a.,D, Era 49,,
gaeed?" I nodded, and he went on.
II suppose you have seen your cousin,
and like her? ,.s-,-.4
: Pretty we'll; she's only school
girl, you know"
sand she loves you, of course?"
Ct didn't ask her; the Governor
and her mother will put all that
:" By Jove! what a cool hand you
are, Harry" and. Jack looked as If
he did not know whether to envy or
pity me. "Still, I think I'd rather
pick out my own wife, though, after
all; ]. dare say you are right. They
manage it your way in France, and
but, [ think rs TaA.fT.Is}
But come, no butts, jack said |,
yawning, and proceeded to knock the
ashes out of my exhausted pipe.
"'By chaste Diana's sacred head,
1 vow I shall my cousin we'd
And so to bed. Three thousand a
year is not to be sneezed at, and every
fellow cannot go in for a sentimental
now days I have been in love half
a dozen times already. but it don't
last long, and dare say shall fall
in love with Bell some day. Good
night, Jack" -
And SO, with the stoicism of eight
cen, was soon fast asleep. 1t was.
quite true, / was as Jack said, as good
as engaged; and how this came about
I had better explain. 1t seemed that
some ninety or hundred years be-
fore, the old family property, having
fallen to the share Of joint heiresses,
had been divided after all this lapse
Of time, by a singular coincidence, the
two halves came into the possession
of brother. and sister, each widowed,
and each having one child. Hence
arose an arrangement between our
representative parents TO the effect
that i should marry my cousin Bell,
and SO reunite the estates Ny father
told me all about it when I went
home putting itYto me- in SUCH q
plain, buslness,ike way, that ! never
for an instant thought of making any
objection. In fact, it seemed rather
a fine thing to be disposed of; and
when Jack let, the secret out among
our fellows, gained several steps on
the social ladder. Isl " a41cH S. on
syoI did not see Bell again until the
following Summer, by which time I
was an ensign in Her Majesty's til
Regiment, and under orders to join
the headquarters in Canada I had a
fortnight's leave, and as the cottage
my aunt had taken was within a mile
of the manor, Il spent most of my
time with Bell. Yet, when the part
ing came, [ was no nearer being in
love than the day | met her first. We
had not quarreled, simply, L thought,
because neither Of us cared enough
for the other to do so. Not word
relating to the future had passed; and
yet [ was quite sure Bell knew all
equally sure that She did like it.
The til had only to complete its
term of foreign service; so by the
time Bell had gone through a couple
of seasons, | was at home again.
By the death OF a sister, my aunt
had become guardian to little girl,
Milly Ryan by name, who, at eleven
years old, was one of the brightest,
loveliest girls I had ever seen. We
were friends at once; [ was = Cousin
Hail. by adoption, and Milly was my
champion, my second, my backer-up.
Bell, looking on with scornful indif-
ference while Milly's very impetuos-
rity and enthusiasm made my cousins
GOODNESS more palpable; a GOODNESS
attempts at lovemaking, and somehow
continually reminded me that it was
not necessary that we should act
as ordinary engaged couples did : = e
80, though we rode, walked and
drove: together. spending most of our
tune In each others company, [ again
went back to my duty, and carried
whole .Peart with Inc. When another
year had passed, my father began.
urging our marriage. So [ wrote to
Bell, asking her to fix the day. She
made a very matter of factsreplyyon-
Iy asking to defer 1T for SIX months :;
and almost before | had time to think
the matter over tidings Of the mutiny
in India broke over. Europe and the
-th were ordered to prepare for EN-
barkation. I got week leave. and
ran down to Devonshire. Bell look
ed even colder than usual, aud listen >
ed passively to my enthusiasm about
fighting, promotion, and glory Not so
did Milly, whose face was picture in
itself; her color would deepen, Iher
great eyes kindle, and, with every
nerve tingling, she would stand fac,ng