Richland beacon., 1873-04-26
CATCHING A BUTTERFLY.

KATE. love, who do you think contemp-
lates visit to us, next month";
"If it please heaven, not your Aunt
Emily, with her five unruly cheruts ~
replied my wife, upsetting her work-box
in her cons ternatiOn.
mo, 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 recOllcct
his wiping his mouth with Mrs. Deans
pOint-lacc handkerchief, mistaking it for a
napkin? Or, how he salted his coffee in
stead of his egg, remarking afterward,
with a surprised cOuntenance, that the
coffee had somewhat peculiar flavor
that mOrning?'
Eccentricities of genius nay love, as
Mr.. Pick wick 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 needlesY'
"There, take breath little, Kitty.
Why, thought you were really fond Of
"And so l am. He's dear old fel-
low after all. But here's the rub, Har-
vey-Cousin Eloy 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 so
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"
"Weli, my love, 1 can only advise you
to get your rooms ready, and-trust to
Providence ~ -
Three weeks after arrived our charming
Cousin Floy. One winter of bellehood In
New York had left the roses still unfaded
in her cheeks, and her eyes as bright a
blue as ever. There was rustic freshness
and piQuancy about her sav0ring rather OF
the woods and fields than Of crowded ball.
rooms and unhealthy hours. She laughed
merrily as Kate related her tribulations.
"Why, Kate, I'm delighted-what
queer genius he must be. I'm going to
try and make conquest of him."
''Kate shook her head, laughing. 81
wouldn't attempt 1t, Fley; you might as
well try to fiirt with an elephant"
"We shall see," said Floy.
Next day, about tea-time, John ap.
peared. A fine-lO0king, although moi
handsome fellow; massive, and broad.
shouldered, with pair of very dark-gray
eyes looking out from black, Overhangine
eyebrows; black hair curling thickly Ovel
his head, and complexion deeply EN-
Drowned by his long sOjOurn in q southern
land; rather careless in his dress, an(
dreadfully absent in his .manners-sucf
was John Durham, the hero of my story
Floy, looking her sweetest, in whit.
and blue, her blonde ringlets falling ovel
her shoulders, awaited us in the drawing
"Our cousin, Mr.. Durham, Floy," say
Kate. "John, this is dear little cOusir
of n,iss-Miss Florence Bird"
"Good evening, sir" says Floy, as sh'
this tall, broa;l-shOuldered genius.
"HOw dye do, sissy" says John, shak
ing her little hand very kindly, thougl
scarcely glancing at her rs he does so.
Kate laughs-l laugh-Fley, d. spite he
vexation, laughs too. John stands grav
and puzzled, regarding US with wonder
ing attention.
SMy dear john" says Kate, at length
0were you aware you were introduced {.
young ladyi Miss Noy haa been 'out
whole winter"
II beg her pardon, most sincerely" )" re
plies John, bowling low, with degree O
grave irony In his tone, for his seconl
glance has scarcely convinced him.
And SO we all sit down-Floy poutin,
a little, Kate rosy with the lsughtsr 81
tries vainly to suppress.
ssWell, Cousin John, we were all deer
IL interested In your last article In th
= Monthly" said l, after pause.
Except me, If you please" said Mif
FLOW. pertly, "for / never tuOk the sligh
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 vel
saucy child. -,
Haye some breadg' he asked, COOL
"Thank yOu," said FlOy, perhaps "
will have the kindness to pass my thil
cup of tea wi, hOut drinking it, Mr.. Du
ham: YOU have disposed Of two cups
tea that were on their way to me, already
Florence, despite her displeasure, cou
soa1 rv;. CT