Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-14
Written for the Monitor.
why Cousin Randolph
Never Married.
BY A. G. DENNIsoN.


ever marry ?" said l.
You see we were quite alone, Cousin
Randolph and I. Clara,-my eldest sis
ter, and Mr.. Ludlow her .tfa'acer, were
in the drawing room, discussing only
lovers know what, with all the blissfll
Inconsistencies that any one is within
a thousand miles of them that all almost |
married people have; Margie was prac
ticing fine opera with Mr.. Hunt turn
ing the leaves, while that detestable
Max Rivers was leaning over the piano
and lisping, "How very fine Miss Mar
gle splendid, ETC., and rolling up his
great blue eyes to sister Emma who stood
near, in a way that was horrible to be-
hold.
Now as had neither lovers nor beaux,
| was left to entertain Cousin Randolph
who always spent one or two evenings
with us every week, as best | might.
We had played at backgammon, Cous-
ms favorite game, until | was tired, and
then dabbled a little in politics, talked
literature some, quarreled a little, as
usual, over our favorite authors,-his
Byron, and mine, Sir Walter Scott, and
then, during the long silence that fol-
lowed, the odd thought struck me, why
had Randolph Hilton never married %
He was fine looking, according to my
ideas of masculine beauty, tall and broad
shouldered, and old enough, goodness
knew for ever since | had first known
him he had been the same quiet, grave
man and there was, yes, unmlstakably,
silver thread or two among the dark
curls that were tossed back from the
high white forehead.
No sooner had the thought of his sin.
gle blessedness crossed my mind than it
found utterance in the question, ''Cousin
Randolph, why didn't you ever marry %
He looked at me quietly for a few
moments, an odd smile on his face, then
said, Bertha, what if should tell you
no one would be so foolish as to trust
me with the happiness of a lifetime ?"
81 should say, Cousin Randolph taught
me the ten commandments, and that the
ninth said something about not bearing
false witness against thy neighbor, did
it not ?" answered laughingly.
"And so Miss Bertha really thinks her
old cousin so attractive no sensible lady
could resist his manifest charms, does
she ?" quizzical look crossing his grave
face as he spoke.
"Pshaw ! Cousin Randolph, don't be
foolish y l answered quickly. 81 never
thought you an Apollo still ugly men
get married so why should not you who
possess more than most mems share Of
good looks
81 always gave my little Cousin Ber.
tha the credit of having remarkably
wise head set on her young shoulders
but tonight her good sense has beer
playing wild freak with her see !" he
said smiling Whatever put such al
odd idea in your head that should wisf
to marry ?"
81 did not say you wished did 1? ]
only desired to know why you were no
wearing the chain most people see fit t,
fling round themselves for you see al
most every one is foolish enough to fal
in love once or twice in the course of
lifetime" l added half apologetically
"Does my little cousin speak from ex
perience, or are there exceptions to tn
general rule of falling in love 2" he re
joined.
30, as to personal experience, l said
Il am only eighteen you know, and
besides, if l was forty there is no one t
fall in love with, were ever so desirou
of enjoying the tender passion. Clar
converses so finely, and Emma is so pref
ty, and Margle sings so sweetly, al
quite thrown in the shade ; every one
saying, what pity Miss Bertha is S
unlike her sisters-she is so odd -"
Il like you all the better Bertha, fc
II not following exactly in the wake {
others, for originality is sometimes yer
pleasing" he said quietly.
''Thank you, Cousin Randolph"
said, "but, excuse me, must | refres
your memory on the subject l gave yo
few minutes ago? | am sure there's
story back of it all, and your stories a
II ways amused me you know
. Just as persistent as the little gl
"a of eight was to hear the wonderful stol
+ of Cinderella. etc" he replied
n "Ten years have not improved II
in much L fear, L replled.
We Come out on the veranda, Bertha
he he said rising, land | will tell "
eu why | never married, although it is n
Ile much of a story,-I hardly think it wi
amuse you,-" and throwing lig
shawl over my shoulders. and drawn
~ my arm within his, we strolled out
;s the veranda
MS "You need not to be told of my En-
ns lish home Bertha, for you are almost
g.. familiar with the beauties of Hilton FL;
me as myself; you whose eyes have on
in dwelt on American scenery, seem to ha
ON beheld the lovely landscape of .Aier