Wilmington journal., 1873-07-18
MY COUSINS LOVERS.

My cousin Hortense was very hand
some, and great fiirt besides
was little fellow then, and did'n
know what that meant, but L learned
| Hortense was good natured girl a
ever lived, but it seems as natural a
| her prettiness for pretty girl to firt
My cousin had three lovers. Sh,
had scores of them for that matter
but there were three who really seemed
resolved that they would not take 'no'
for an answer.
First and foremost, because of hi:
money, and because my uncle favored
him, was Mr.. Clemens-'' Father
Luke" Hortensc called him in deri
sion. His name was Luke Clemens
and he was old enough to be Hor
tense's grandfather, for that matter.
Why he wanted a blooming young
girl for a wife at his age nobody knew
But he was very, !ery rich.
His house stood on an eminence
just out of town, and looked like 8
great marble palace.
1t was furninhed in the most extrava-
giant and luxurious style, and to see
the inside of it was enough to make
any woman expire with desire to be
mistress of its elegance.
Hortense could not withstand its
fascinations, and in the end she agreed
to marry Father Luke for the sake of
it, but not yet.
Next on the list was RaynalI Ford.
Raynall Ford was French on his moth
er's side. He had long, black hair,
parted it in the middle and combed it
straight behind his ears as a woman
might. It gave him very odd look
taken in connection with his red cheeks
and heavy moustache.
He had not the ghost of a chance of
winning Hortense, though he would
not see it, for neither my uncle nor my
cousin liked him.
Hortense used to say it made her
shiver only to look at him, and 1 was
afraid of him myself He used to
mutter in French, and hiss out sharp
words out under his breath when he
was angry, that made me want to
shrink away ont of his sight.
He was not welcome at my uncle's
house: but there was no excuse for
treating him otherwise than cour-
teOusly, and he came of n fine family,
SO he continued to come and vex my
cousin with attentions which he would
not see were not merely umwelcOme
but repulsive.
Hortense had been to blame in the
first place, for she had smiled on him,
and played with him a. first in a most
unjustitiable manner.
She did all she could to discourage
him, but it was too late.
Last of all was Phil Dering, dear old
Phil; not that he was not the youngest
of them all, but that was fashion
Hortense and [ had of talking about
him. In her secret heart, my wicked
little fiirt Of cousin loved Phil
Bat as he was the poorest of the lot,
as well as the handsomest, cleverest,
and kindest, she had not the smallest
idea of ever marrying him. Phil and
1 were great friends.
can't describe Phil to you, but he
was handsome-sucn bright g!ancing
eyes, such dark waving hair, such
kind, pleasant voice. but with touch
of strength in it that made one think
it would be something worth while to
have him to lean on ii you were III
With all my cousins way
Phil Dering could do more
with her than any one else could.
He must have known all along til it
she loved him, for [ used to hear him
say sometimes when she was in a
gracious mood, and would let him talk
to her:
You never will marry Father Luke,
Hortense. I know you will not If
You do, [ will wait
The words We're overheard by SER
want and nnntaI h1yn
fatal meaning afterward, but [ don't
know how any one could imagine any
Thing evil in them; they We're spoken
blushing, downcast face with
nothing sinister.
Hortense must have vacillated some
what, probably IL eref deal, between
5he old man with all his money and
lear, handsome Phil
Bnt at last, as [ have sail, between
lcr lonSings after the fine house, and
ler fathers insistance, she said yes to
Father Luke
She told Phil herself, when tie bar
gain was fairly male-tGi,l him with Il
nociling BRIGHTNESS III her bird-like
Eyes.
Phil turned winter than his collar,
md gave her such look; then he
went away, and left NE and her stand
ing there together.
Hortense grew little pale; women
lon't feel such things as men DO. |
,hink they are selfish naturally, and
heir education makes them more SO.
She looked down at me and smiled,
and her lips trembled, but she looked
so brightly. prettily defiant of my poor
Phil and his SORROW, that | turned my
back on her and said / hated her. She
laughed aloud at that.
eff You hate me because v III love
Phil, cousin Dick, here's II kiss for
You, and ! wish / was you.''
Aud with q kiss she was gone. l
ram after Phil, but | could not find
Ia M.
Coming back through the shrubhery,
though, [ stumbled almost upon some
body eise-Raynali Huld.
The man looked like Il ghost with his
ghastIy face, his set white teeth, and
his flaming eyes. His hair looked as
though lie had been tearing it with his
hands. He had got the news Of Hor-
tense's engagement, though who told
i1llil VI IL, VI IL '''iN tIt, w
knew.
He might have gathered it from n
chance word or stray look. There was
a dinner party at my uncle's that day,
and when the company was gatht red,
was missing Int Phil. He had
gone home. Hurtense was never so
gay, l am sure. or SO beautiful. Ray
nall Ford, se!f-possessed and gentle
manly, aud not looking much like the
half wild individual had seen i'll the
more smiling and atfa-
BILE than his wont. His hair flowed
sleek and shining either way from the
parting, and on his cheeks glowed two
round spots of scarlet that seemed
twin flames. He was very merry. SO
were they all indeed.
But could only think of Phil, and
indeed, the ladies and gentlemen quit
ted the dinning room, C :ept away and
got my hat. Hortense came to NE as
[ was putting it on, and asked where
l was going.
ITO find Phil" l said GROSSLY.
And she, never suspecting that he
had gone home, said softly
THAT is a good little Dick, and
kissed me as she had before. But this
L L IL.