The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-15
OUR COUSIN.

There was great excitement in our
little household, when Robert came
home one evening md announced that
Cousin Max was coming 10 visit us.
We girls had never seen him, but Rob-
ert and he had spent o 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
us.
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-neyer
very good at description-had indeed
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 profess
sion-he was lawyer like our father
supported us very comfortably. The
occasional sale OF ono Of my pictures
helped us on little, and altogether
we did very well.
Sometimes I caught myself wishing
that Claire (Claire was our beauty
could have the purple and fine linen !"
which seemed her right, and that Bir.
die'sexquisite voice might be properly
trained but II I hinted this, Claire
would kiss me gaily, asking II she
wasn't pretty enough TO suit mo as she
was /; and Birdie would dash of into o
descriptionof Of the life she would lead
as q prittd donna, and how every night
she would see old Rob and Oracle look
ing severe propriety from one OF the
boxes. And SO my little trouble always
ended with laugh.
was the old mad in the family.
Robert was the only one that knew why,
and he kept my secret faithfully. /
had got over being unhappy about 1t,
and Robert and / made our plans very
contentedly-how We could live on In
the old home when tho others had fit.
ted, and what 0 genuine old maids
castle" would be. was to Robert
what the Enthusiastically as he loved
them-heyer quite could be, and we did
not think our separation possible.
We had expected Cousin Max for
weeks, and yet he came quite unex-
pectedly at last We were sitting in
the porch-olaire, Birdie, and I-when
we saw Robert coming, and with him q
stranger, who Birdie declared she was
sure was Cousin Max. Hewas talking
and laughing with Robert, but i noticed
that, as they came closer, he started
violently, and passed his hand over his
eyes; but, recovering himself imme-
diately, he greeted us with q genuine
warmth Of affection, which took all our
hearts by storm. siag sla.i
Agay evening we passed "Coming
events do not " cast their shadows be-
fore, Whatever people may say. I had
never known how really beautiful Birdie
was, till that night; sbut as she stood
by the piano, in her soft white dress,
with tho passion-aowers in her hair, /
saw Cousin Max gazing ut her like one
entranced. Claire's beauty did not
seem to impress him at al, perhaps be-
cause she was like himself; for indeed
they might have been brother and sis
ter. Both had the same regular fea-
lures, blue eyes, and blonde hair. Be-
side them Birdie looked like some tropi-
cal flower. Max WIS never tired Of
watching her quick, graceful motions,
and Robert and / had laugh together
over our little pets conquest.
Cousin Max was soon thoroughly OF
home with us all, though Birdie still
kept her place as chief favorite. They
were left much together, for Claire was
soon to leave the old home, aud our
new brother, Alfred, spent most OF his
time with us. I was very closely occu-
pied with my housekeeping, and with
preparations for the wedding, which
was to bein August. Robert was away
nll day, 80 that Birdie and MAX were
left TO amuse each other. He was quite
an artist, and greatly to Brides de-
light had offered 10 paint her picture.
Tho rcst Of us were excluded from the
studio; for, as 1t was his first attempt
OF portrait painting, we were not to be
allowed TO judge Of his success OF fall
ure until the picture was finished. He
was also teaching German to Birdie,
and every morning found them under
the trees in the orchard, Birdie with
her work, and Max reclining on the
grass beside her, reading in his low,
thrilling voice, the legends Of his
Fatherland. tlf
Blind-blindl Did no one OF us
ever SEQ that the child smile had pass.
cd away from our darling's face? Did
no one ever think that the soft shining
in her dark eyes might be the Light OF
q woman's loye2 e
The picture was finished on my
birthday, and was the gift Of Max TO
me. Wewere all taken in to see IT.
and never since have I beheld so lovely
apicture. Brides very self stood be-
fore US, dressed as Max had first seen
har. But tho faee-theexquiaite dewy
softness Of horeyes-the lips, just part
ed in o happy smile The Others were
congratulating Max. I could only clasp
Birdio in my arms, and hide my foolish
tears on her shoulder.
That evening we we're oil sitting In
the moonlight. Max was smoking by
the window, and Birdie In the usual
place on a footstool at his side. He
was unusually silent, and unless by an
occasional word TO Birdie took no part
in the conversation. The room was
flooded with the clear brilliance Of the
moonlight, and everyone protested
against lamps. Robert and Alfred were
Arguing "a TO the reality OF supernatu.
raj manifestation The possibility Of