The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-24
CATCHING A BUTTERFLY.

KATE, love, who do you think contemp-
lates visit to us, next month";
6 If it please heaven, not your Aunt
Emily, with her five unruly cherubs!"
replied my wife, upsetting her work-box
in her cons ternation.
"No, my DEAR" replied, with an in
ward shudder at the suggestion. "That at
least is spared us. This letter is from
Cousin John Durham.
"What! our scientific relative!-O,
Harvey!"
"My dear, consider-we havn't seen
him for over five years"
"And consider, Harvey. how much
more scientific and absent-minded he will
be than he was five years ago; he was
dreadful enough then. Do you recollect
his wiping his mouth with Mrs. Deans
- napkin? Or, how he salted his coffee in
stead of his egg, remarking afterward,
with a surprised countenance, that the
coffee had a somewhat peculiar flavor
that mOrning?'
Eccentricities of genius my love, as
Mr.. Pickwick says"
"And o, his room." pursued my wife,
unheeding the interruption, "think how
it will look all the time he's here,
swarming with snakes, and toads, and
bugs with dreadful Latin names, spitted
on needless"
"There, take breath a little, Kitty.
Why, thought you were really fond OF
john"
ssAnd so | am. He's dear old fel-
low after all. But here's the rub, Har-
vey-Cousin Floy is coming at the same
time. Now, to bring beautiful, fashion
able young lady into collision, with
such a queer genius as John Durham
they'll certainly clash And John is sc
absurd with young girls treats them as
if they were children, not worth his no
tice. It's ridiculous, for he's scarcely
thirty-eight himself"
"Well, my love, can only advise you
to get your rooms ready, and-trust tC
Providence"
Three weeks after arrived our charming
Cousin Floy. One winter OF bellehood IL
New York had left the roses still unfadet
iA her checks, and her eyes as bright ;
blue as ever. There was rustic freshness
and piuuancy about her savOring rather o
the woods and fields than of crowded ball
rooms and unhealthy hours. She laughed
merrily as Kate related her tribulations.
"Why, Kate, Pm delighted-what ;
queer genius he must be. Pm going Il
try and make a conquest of him."
'sKate shook her head, laughing. :"
wouldn't attempt it, Fley; you might a
well try to flirt with an elephant"
w snail see, S;llu Il rlOy'
Next day, about tea-time, John ap
peared. A fine-looking, although no
handsome fellow; massive, and broad
shouldered, with pair of very dark-gra.
ewes looking out from black, overhangin!
eyebrows; black hair curling thickly owe
his head, and a complexion deeply EN-
Drowned by his long sojourn in southern
land; rather careless in his dress, AM
dreadfully absent in his manners-sucl
was John Durham, the hero of my story
Floy, looking her sweetest, in whit
and blue, her blonde ringlets falling owe
her shoulders, awaited us in the drawing
room.
"Our cousin, Mr.. Durham, Floy," say
Kate. "John, this is dear little cousil
of mins-Miss Florence Bird"
"Good evening, sir,"' says Floy, as sh
glanced upward in timid admiration a
this tall, broal-shouldered genius.
"How dye do, sissy" says John, shaE
ing her little hand very kindly, thong
scarcely glancing at her as he does so.
y Kate laughs-I laugh-Floy, despite he
vexation, laughs too. John stands grav
and puzzled, regarding us with wonder
ing attention.
2 My dear John," says Kate, at length
ewere you aware you were introduced t
ayoung ladyG Miss Floy has been 'ou
whole winter"
81 beg her pardon, most sincerely" II
plies John, bowling low, with degree {
grave irony in his tone, for his secon
glance has scarcely convinced him.
And SO we all sit down-Floy poutin
little, Kate rosy with the laughter sh
tries vainly to suppress.
Well, Cousin John, we were all deeI
ly interested in your last article in ii
= Monthly" said l, after pause.
Except me, if you please" said Nil
Floy, pertly, "for never took the Sigh
est interest in flies, and grasshoppers, an
such disgusting creatures"
/ looked at the little damsel in astonisl
ment; she tossed up her hands disdainfu
ly; John eyed her as he would veI
saucy child.
81 Have some bread?" he asked, COOL,
"Thank you," said Floy, perhaps yo
will have the kindness to pass my thin
cup of tea without drinking it, MIR. Du
ham; you have disposed of two cups
tea that were on their way to me, already;
Florence, despite her displeasure, coul
saal clio 10 nc q