The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-30

TO each other. II,
AZ length, after seding my uggage all
! right. / took my scat and thcn asked m
| the politost manner for permission to take
| tho reins.
"0hn no thank Won Cousin, she replied,
with n provoking smile playing about her
well formed mouth. II am rnthcr fond OF
driving; besides you do not know the way
rs we'll as ] do, and these ponies are apt TO
become FESTIVE sometimes; so 1 think !
had better keep my post till we get home"
I merely bowed in acquiesconcc, though
/ did not exactly like her little speech, aud
tho next moment we were going at n terri
bio speed along n broad, winding path
which led through an extensive park, be
yond which on q slight ominencc stood
Mansion Hall IA ru s.rsr.
See, there's our house, through the
trees, right in front Of usl II stands on q
lonelyspot, does IL not y asked my fair
companion
avery secluded, replied lnconically re-
membcring the determination ] had made
about falling In love.
"well, we shall be there in q few min
utos, said she, 'nnd / rejoice TO think that
however fhtiguing our drive may prove you
will not have exhausted yourself with CON
versation.'
Hang t." thought I, 'qhis is right
down importinenco, though l almost de-
serve IL. by Jove ! she takes things OK
quisitoly cody" However / smiled and
| said l had been trying to take o hyingglanco
at tho splendid scenery.
She gave q short merry laugh as she re-
piled, tthat's exactly what I've been doing
for want of other occupation, but Mt this
| spcod one cannot observe much"
90 Tt,po CON oYa viuht , nofl fond "a
we we're in any other place we should Ger
tainly be fined for fast driving"
'1jy the way, are you fondo driving p
asked my cousin abruptly.
"Well- yes" said / with some hcsita-
ton. "but 1 am not a bold horsoman."
II am sorry o hear that" she continued
/ with evident interest, "lor il is an exercise
OF which | am passionatcly fond. / delight
in n good tight run across country, for
nothing misos my spirits halt so much.
But see, papa is looking at us through tho
dining-room window, and John is waiting
to take charge Of the ponies, so you must
be ready 10 alight the instant | stop"
In another instant my eccentric, not to
say incomprehonsiblo cousin, did stop, and
l alighted as quickly as possible, but not
without losing my balance, and wondering
What could be the meaning ofsuch unsceni-
ly haste.
Throwing tho reins to the servant my
! cousin followed me, but with such agility
that ] scarcely noticed the glance which
fell upon me from her laughing blue eyes
but stood before tho entrance TO the fine
Old mansion expecting 10 have the pleasure
of giving her my hand.
"Why did you not permit mo 10 assist
youY' I asked.
'Simply because 1 made up my mind
some time x mover 10 give any gentleman
moro trouble than / could help" she re-
piled with n peculiar smile.
As she finished speaking the door opon-
cd, and Uncle Jeremy, his venerable ply
siognOmy boaming with k%indlinoss and
rood humor, came forward to meet ms,
giving me q hearty welcome to Marslon
Hall.
Feeling however, dissatisfied with my
self. aud not ovcr-plcased with my cousin,
/ took tho earliest opportunity of retiring
to my room, az much TO collect my scatter
ed thoughts ~ 10 dress for dinner.
"She's q strange, unaccomtable girl
thought /, surveying the neat and elegant
chamber, which had been prepared for my
reception, "but / am astonishcd at find
ing so masculine and unladylikc in her
manners and behavior. Why, pom my
conscience she deports herself more like n
young iox-huntor thnnagentleman's daugh-
ter" ThonI stood gazing at the beauti-
FIJI scene before me. stretching far away
az the eye could reach, and finally dismiss
scd my cousin from my thoughts with tho
consolatory reflection that the chances were
very remote Of my over falling in love with
one who appeared 10 delight moro in man
Is sports than in womnnly duties.
Soon nfiCr dinner my unclp rplnfpI flo
cause Of his long enlargement from my
father, and the manno in which thcy be-
came reconciled, concluding with an eX-
preston of sincere regret that the misun-
~derstanding had not been consigned 10 OBJ
long before, and however much / felt in
clined to find fault with tho odd ways of
my cousin, 1 could not help admiring my
unclc's candOr, and good feeling. In fact
| dismissed the subject from my mind, I'M
der the conviction that, like most family
jars there had been fault on both sides.
/ had now been q guest at Marston Hall
nearly three weeks; during which time l
had made myself familiar with the sur
rounding country, invariably joining my
cousin in her long rides, drives, out-Of-thc-
way mmblos, and strange to say the first
iow days Buficod TO makous good friends.
For l soon perceived that she by no means
answered my first description, but, on the
contrary possessed many good qualities,
which in spite Of my bachelor preiudices /
could not help approving, though l could
never find courage enough 10 indicate such
approval in words, until / so far forgot my
self as 10 express my surprise, in Il sauntor-
ing tone, that 80 accomplished and delight
full n companion had not a host Of bcaux at
her feet.
''Sir' she exclaimed In a voice and with
q glance that made me decidedly uncom-
Portable, 81 do not like trining. II is
wrong and foolish in our sex, but in your
II is simply uncomfortable. Flirting is not
and never can DO lovo, might indeed
have many admirers, like other young Ia
dies OF my acquaintance but / do not wan
them. No, cousin, whom / Acknowledged IN
admirer the feeling must DO mutual"
'If l have offended you my dear cousin,
said /, ''surely you will not refuse your for
giyeness Z"
you have not offended me, " she replied
''only / wish you 10 undorstand that | fec
strongly and think deeply on the subject o
your remark, and therefore cannot sulIc
tho advances Of lovers whom 1 can noilho
respect for their wisdom nor esteem
for their goodness" Then, i'm {
light %satirical tone, she added, "But il
Truth do not think l shall accept an offer
however tempting, for a long timo yet.
love my own way, cousin. 1 like libort,
and admire independence. In short, i an
, such an odd, queer person 80 very unsenii
! mental in my conversation with young gen
tlemen, that l verify sometimes believe
shall enjoy tho exquisite pleasure of dyin
+ an old maid"
q On hearing this confession laughed Out
o right.
: ''Of course you may laugh, sir, and 5
may j; but that won't increase my prol
poets of marriage" she added EmiIineiy.
= 'Egad, Fred WAS right thought I; ssh
Z really is n splendid girl. 81 felt my love
| baphplorboO1 UroWin0 ioqa uNo,g 20 n