The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-10-17
failing to recognize the Majors offered

Dear me, aunt Rosa, chirped q
younger lady-she certainly could not
have been more than eighteen, and was
as fresh and blooming as a rosebud-trip
ping forward, Don't you see it's cousin
John 7"
The Major looked puzzled; but it
would have been very rude for him to
back churlishly out, when such a ripe
pair of cherry lips were put up for him
to kiss, and such dimpled pair Of arms
were around his capacious waist.
l never knew that | had such pref
ty cousin" was the Majors internal re-
flection I" but l dare say it's all right
Smith knows"
=" And here's cousin George, and
Stephen, and aunt Margaret, and her
girls p cried the cherry-lipped damsel,
eagerly pulling him forward.
Major Parkinson shook hands with
them all round feeling that he had just
come into large and unexpected in
heritance of relations.
knew the Ghundaree would be in
tonight " cried one of the girls, clapping
her hands. We have been counting
the days cousin John"
"The Ghundaree Then I'm all right,
after all, F" thought the perplexed Major.
l was beginning to think there might
be some awkward mistake here, but the
Ghundaree settles matters"
"Oh and here's grandma !" exclaimed
tn G irresistible cherry lips, dancing back
ward and forward like a pretty little
Dervish. "Grandma he's come knew
he would be here tonight Come and
speak to grandma, quick, cousin John"
And the Major was pulled along by
the sleeve of his coat toward silver
haired old lady, with white lace cap,
and string of enormous gold beads
round her sbriveled throat.
Well, John, | do declare !" cried
grandma. "Who would have thought
the climate of India would have changed
you so? Why, you used to be tall and
slim, like beanpole; but l suppose it's
the hurricanes and earthquakes, and all
that sort of thing that has settled you
down so short and stout
Major Parkinson did not know exactly
what to say to this, SO he shook the old
lady's hand, saying:
How do you find yourself this
evening, ma'am 7,
"And you haven't even asked after
Clara-poor Clara p chimed in the eigh-
teen-year-old girl.
Oh, ah, pardon me !" stammered our
hero 81 was just going to inquire after
Clara"
The lass with the cherry lips beckoned
to tall, graceful girl in the bay window,
not exactly young, but still passing
pleasant to look npon, with large gray
eyes and soft, dropping curls of glossy
brown.
"Clara |" she cried "Come haven't
You word of welcome for cousin John 2"
But the graceful girl shrank back,
blushing and confus ed.
"Don't mind herw said the other one
in an undertone.
I" No | won't!" said the Major,
She'll be all right presently"
" | dare say she will !" answered our
hero. i Do
But it is such nonsense p went on
the elf, whom the matrons addressed as
"Grace." "Now Clara, you know it is,
when you are to be married to him in
less than a week /" Ibr
Ohio This was beginning to grow
little serious. .r ma., nt.
Married In less than a week! He
Major John Parkinson, who had lived a
life of contented celibacy for FIVE and forty
years ,.r ...,.tr a......r.
In spite of his resolution not to allow
himself to be surprised, the Major felt
the sensation creeping rapidly upon him,
not only of surprise, but also species of
dismay! Married He blushed more
wildly than Clara's self.
Surely it was time for an explanation
now; and he was just opening his lips,
when Grace whirled him round, standing
on tiptoe to whisper, knowingly in his
ear p.llNf
Don't you want to see the weddin g
cake, cousin John ? and the WREATH and
the vail?' 500 ru.s
Without waiting for an answer, she
tiptoed him into another room, pulling
him along by the coat-tail
1t was very embarrassing, to be sure
but then how pleasant it was
The vail was heap of snowy lace, like
cloud of vapor, the wreath was all
orange blossoms, woven in with tiny
green buds, but the cake The cake was Q
miniature mountain of icing, and frosted
flowers and cupids, chiseled in sparkling