New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-09
A TALE OF THE FEVER.

There was great excitement in our little
household when Robert came home one
evening and announced that Cousin Max
was coming to visit us. We girls had neve,
seen him, but Robert and he had spent a
year together on the continent, when our
father was alive and money was plentiful
with us. Since then our German cousins
name had been almost household word
with u.s.
MAX was quite alone in the world, our
aunt and her husband both dying when he
was quite young. He was almost Roberts
age-was tall and fair, and that was all we
knew. Robert-never very good at de-
scriptlon-had' lndeed attempted to give us
some idea of his appearance, but was
silenced by Claire and Birdie, who both
exclaimed that they would rather keep
their fancy picture than the caricature
they knew he was drawing. We were very
happy together and cOntented generally.
We had been able to keep the old house.
and Roberts income from his profession
he was a lawyer, like our father-sup
ported us very comfortably.
Sometimes caught myself wishing that
Claire (Claire was our beauty. could have
the."purple and fine linen" " hich seemed
her right, and that BRIDES exquisite voice
might be properly trained; but If limited
this, Claire would kiss me gaily, asking if
she WASH pretty enough to suit me as She
was, and Birdie would dash off into a de-
scrlption OF the life she would lead as a
prima donna, and how every night she
would see old Rob and Oracle looking &C.
we're prOprlety from one of the boxes And
30 my little trouble always ended with a |
laugh.
was the old maid in the family. Robert |
was the only one that knew why, and kept |
my secret faithfully. ! had got over being |
unhappy about it, and Robert and made |
our plans very contentedly-h we could |
i've on in the old home when the others had |
nitted. and what genuine 'old maids
castle" 1t would be. l was to Robert what |
the others-dearly as he loved them-never
quite could be, and we did not think our
separation possible.
We had expected Cousin Max for weeks.
ana yet he came quite unexpectedly at last.
we were sitting in the porch-Claire, Biz
Nie and l-when we saw Robert coming,
ana with him q stranger, who Birdie de-
ciared she was sure was Cousin Max. He
was talking and laughing with Robert, but
l hoticed that, as they came closer he
s!arted violently and passed his hand over
nis eyes; but, recovering himself imme-
uialeiy' he greeted us with a genuine
warmth OF affection, which took all our
hearts by storm
gay evening we passed. "Coming
events 10 not east their shadows before"
whatever people may saw. | had never
known now really beautiful Birdie was till
that night, but as she stood by the niano in
her SOFT white dress, with the passion flow
ers in her hair, saw Cousin Max gazing at
her like one entranced. Claire's beantv
did not seem to impress him at all. perhans
because she was SO like himself, for indesT
they might be brother and sister. Botb
had the same regular features, blue ewes
md blonde hair. Beside them Birdie looked {
ike some tropical flower. Max was never !
ired of watching her quick, graceful mo- :
ions, and Robert and l had laugh to- i
either over our little pets conquest. G
Cousin Max was soon thoroughly at home | |
nth us all, through Birdie still kept her t
lace as chief favOrite. They were much
)gether for Claire was soon to leave the | s
Id home, and our new brother, Alfred, | r
pent most of his time with us. l was very
Osely occupied with my housekeeping, Fl
nd with preparations for the wedding, {
hich was to be in September. Robert was v
way all day, SO that Birdie and Max were
# to amuse each other. He was quite an ii
fist, and greatly to Brides delight had n
Tered to paint her picture. The rest of us d
ere excluded from the studio: for. as it b.
70 his first attempt at portrait painting, W
were not to be allowed to judge of his al
ccess or failure until the picture wac II
iehed. ht
Did no one of US ever see bt