Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-05
seItrl CaIe.


MY COUSINS.
was az home at last, after ten years Of wander
ing at home yet alone in the world. Thongl
had eyey thing except friends, would have given
all for something to love, some one 10 love me.
stranger In my native place. and still an invalid
from the effect OF terrible fever which had lately
pr0strated me- [ dreaded living in tho old house,
occupied on, By servants.
had au uncle iu the West. whom had NOT
seen since d child. lie had married a widow with
two little girls. / wondered if he bad vet room IN
his heart TO find a place for the nephew he used TO
love. lonced TO be- among friends aud thought
might lind them ia Uncle James and his family.
| wrote to him, inviting myself TO 20 down ior a
short time adding that / would start that very
day. In truth J was afraid to await an answer,
lest some troublesome cireumstauce should shut me
up at home. But when fairly ON my way troubled
myself somewhat about my probable reception,
and deyouily hoped the two little girls would be
no annoyance.
1t was night when / arrived Uncle James met
me with hearty greeting at the station, and, at
ter very short drive, ushered me into hls draw
ing-room and introduced me to his wife and two
daughters.
Mrs. Gray, Uncle James wife, was fair look
ing woman, Of soft and pleasant speech, aud won
my heart Immediately by her gentle. motherly
ways Bel. the eldest daughter, a tall, grace
ful girl, with a fair complexion clear, dark eyes,
/ and beautiful hands that toyed gracefully with the
knitting she seemed to be intent on. | could not
help watching them Indeed, was so much tax
en- up by thoughts of Bel, that scarcely bestowed
a second glance upon Ethel, the second daughter.
who need not have been eontrasted with BcIs
beauty TO be called plain. At supper, which wa'
soon announced, could but notice the difference
between thc two Ethel WAS not only plain, but
exceedingly awkward, while Bel was the embodt
ment OF grace. Uncle james and Aunt MarY
talked to me about my travels, my lonely return
and other thingsi hut lm sure / couldn't have re
peated a word the next moment, So perfectly en-
crossed was ] by the beautiful eldest daughter.
The heat Of summer was gone, and % was the
pleasantest tme in the year for the long delightful
rambles which took over held and hill. Ethe
scarcely ever accompanied us; ; but one day we haC
all been rambling in the wood that skirted RounC
Pond, beautiful sheet OF water that lay nesr ny
uneles residence and as we strolled homewarC
we stopped to look over the bank into It's quie
depths
oh" said Bel, "do you see those beauifu
flowers further down ON The bank? How fresh ant
bright they look, Can You not get me some y
'Oh, Bel, It's dangerous said Ethel " Tn,
bank is steep, anl he would be sure to fall"
Before Etbel had finished her remonstrance
was halfway down. holding by the hanging branches
and gFaspng for the flowers. The bank was not
only steep, but there was no hrn foothold on it
| slipped and fell
awoke, and lay langudy on my pillow, with
ont wish or power to raise my head. Suddenly
voices in the next room met my ear, and could
but hear what they were saying.
" DO, Bel, 90 ia and stay with him while helI
mother finish this said Etheli " for I'm afraid
he may need something
Pooh he will not know it it he does replied
Bel He is derious. low can readin there,
and he all the time rayng about somebody or 9th
ter?n
T., 'Oh. ior shame. Bel!n said Ethel. " You know
he means you. When he was well you was gla,
TO lay by your book interesting as itmght be, ioI
him.
7 "Of COURSE said Bel and shall be again
when he comes 10 his senses, lie is rich, AnC
worth putting up ones book for. But ltyou think
/ lin gong in there TO read now, you are mistaken
so 20 yourself If you're afraid to leave him alone.
heard soft football IN my room, then som'
one bent over me, had shut my eyes A thougi
sleepiug') and close to my forehead was bent q
soit cheek--moist, too. 10 WAS only ior mo
ment, but it thrilled me, knowing those tears had
fallen for me.
! As she turned TO 90 noiselussN out, | Opene,
my eyes. Yes, it was Ethel gliding softly away
/ | heard her say as she entered the other apart
ment.
"Oh, Bel, he is sleeping sweety. / am 5,
thankful Now III help mother finish her work
Z and then III come and slt lay him while hc sleeps.
No. you needn't," said Bel IN 80 an'
change nay dress and arrange my hair, ani 90 my
self. Perhaps he will know us when he wakes
Then | slept, and when Iopened my eyes again
saw Aunt Mary and the girls sitting 10 the room
I at work
Aunt Mary came to the bed aud laid her band o
my forehead, saying, tenderly " \ ou have bee
i'll a long tune, but you are better now and mus
be yery careful, DO not talk, bat let elerytAin.
rest till you are stronger
l was going 10 ask some questions with rcgar'
TO my illness, but shut my lips again and KEEP
quiet but my gaze wandered TO Bel, who -
near me She raised her beautiful eyes. fall q
tears from her work, and sniled, iheu droppe
her long ashes again aud worked on quietly,
did not watch the soft, white, fitting hauds as
had once been my JOY TO do. hut my glance wan
dered 20 the window where Ethel sat, and ihoug
she did not raise her eyes J watched her as sh
worked Her face, it seemed TO me, was thnne
and paler than had ever seen it, but hor ligt
brown hair was brushed back in the same gluss
waves from her forehead. fell asleep waichin
her, and dreamed she was trying TO pun ms out Q
the water; but Bel held her back, and kept call
ling On me to get her some ilowers which ] cou
not reach.
Several weeks passed, during which | game
strength rapidly. Bel was all attention, and wa
always alone with me in the forenoon Once
woud have filed Inc with Joy 10 have hernear me
now ] cared no more for her than l should tor