Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-02-27
Wy COUSINS.

/ was at home at last, after ten wears of
wandering At home, YET alone in the
would. Though had everything except
friends, | would have given all cor some
thing To love, some enc to love me. 4
stranger in my native place and still an
Invalid from the effect of a terrible fever
Whlch had lately Frustrated me, I dread-
ed living ia the old house, occupied only
by servants
] had an uncle IA the Wet whom |
had never seen since a child. lie had
married widow with two little girls.
! wondered il he had yet room in his heart
TO lind a place TOR the nephew he used to
love. lunged 10 he among friends. and
though, might iiudthom in Iucla Jane,
and hi, family. | wrote To him, Inviting
myself to 70 down Tor Il short time ad-
ding that | would start that very dav In
truth | was afraid TO await an answer.
lest somc troublesome circuLI>tauccs should
shut n.c up at home Eut when fairly o..
M Way | troubled myself somewhat
about my probable reception, and devout-
~ hoped tie two little girls would be no
annoyance.
1t was night when arrived. Uncle
James met Inc with a hearty greeting at
the station, and, after S'csy short dr,4c.
uShered me into his drawing-roon and in
troduacd me to his wife and two daugh-
tiers.
Mrs, Gray. Uncle James wife, wa, a
fair looking woman. Of soft and noble
speech, and won my heart Immediately
by her gentle motherly ways Bel. the
eldest daughter, was tall. graceful girl.
with fair complexion clear, dark eve.
and beautiful hands that toycd graceful
ly with the knitting She seemed to be in
tent on. could not help watching her
Indeed, | was SO much taken up by
thought Of Bel, that ! scarcely bestowed
a second glance upon Ethel, the second
daughter, who need not have been con-
trasted with Bells be2uty to be called
plain. At supper, which was soon an
nouneed, could but notice the difference
between the two Ethel was not only
plain, but exceedingly awkward while
Bel, was the embodiment ui grace. Tn
Gle James and Aunt Mary talked to me
about my travels, my lonely return, and
other things; but I'm sure l could not
have repeated word that moment, SO
IT f+r-----tt " H. tire. ttt-ttttf-
tul eldest daughter.
The heat of summer was gone, and it
was the pleasantnst time in the year for
the long delightful ramb.cs which we
took over field and hill Ethel scarcely
ever accompanied US; but ono day we
Lad all been rambling in the wood that
skirted Round Pond, beautiful sheet of
water, that lay near my ';ncles residence,
and as we stroiled homeward we stepped
to look over she bank into the qniet
depths
Oh said Bell, do you see those beau
tltul flowers further down on the bank
How fresh and bright they look Can
you not get me some =
Oh, Bel, Its dangerous said Ethel.
The bank is steep and he would be sure
to fall"
Before Ethel had finished her remon-
STRANGE ! was half way down. holding by
the h&hging branches and grasping for
the flowers. The bark was not only steep,
but there was no firm foothold on it. II
slipped and fell,
| awoke, and lay languidly on my pill
low, without wish or power to raise my
head. Suddenly voices in the next room
met my ear and | could hear what they
were saying
do, Bel, 90 in and stay with him while /
| help mother finish this" said Ethel ; for
I'm afraid me may need something"
Pooh he will not know it if he does,
replied Bel. HE is delirious How can
l. 4 ~, =.