Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-07-03
aWcll.n said Grace. dts a mystc.

and brought the 'Innocents Abroad,
then just out, and read aloud TO us a.
we sewcd.
After tea we returned to our worl
and the book, with which we were de
lighted.
The sun went down in splendor
The book and the work were finall,
laid aside and we found ourselves il
one Of those talks about books and
authors we always enjoy so much.
A slight disagreement arose abou
the author of certain work. l wa.
opposed to Leslie and Grace who al
ways agreed.
In despair 1 called upon Louise
saying: "You think as l do, dom
you Louise?" not having the remotcst
idea that she knew anything abou,
the matter.
eyes," she made answer quietly
and then went on to give proof of the
correctness so strong that Grace and
Leslie were obliged to come over to
our belief.
Long, long, we sat there in the
twilight.
Inevcr heard any one talk so flu
emily and so delightfully."- as did Lou
ise that night,
How much she had read? What
racy, spicy criticism she made of this
and that word!
longed to ask where she had read
SO much, but feared l might force hcr
to disclose something that she wished
to keep secret, and SO l forebore.
Guests from distance began to ar
rive, among them was cousin Charley
Hazlct from New York. Grace had
spent the last summer in his native
town, and had given me rare accounts
of his manly beauty, his talents and
facination. was prepared for a
great tlirt, and had a sort Of a ner-
vous dread Of him. He came. He
was handsome, tall, dark and slender,
with a naughty, or rather earnest way
of looking at one as though he had
read ones thoughts. At times, how.
ever, he was SO gay and brilliant
that lost my horror of him, and we
grew very cousinly.
He remarked Louise's beauty to me
one day, but did not seem to notice
her again for some days.
Belle Raymond, one of Grace's
bridesmaids, was all admiration for
Charles, and one day asked me if l
was not sorry he was my cousin.
was very obtuse, could not un-
derstand her meaning.
took Bells's arm, and walking
straight up to Charles, said.
"Bclle thinks l ought to be sorry
You are my cousin. Can you imag-
inc any reason why l should wisl,
YOU less near than cOusin?"
What ever possessed me to say
such words? He looked her search
ingly in the face until the rich color
came to her clear olive check, and
her grey eyes fell to the floor.
Then turning to me said:
"Among my relations / numbcrmy
best, almost my only friend, and am
glad to find in you, also, both a cous.
in and a friend
Was this the fiirt hadbeen warn
ed against?
He is too brotherly to he much of a
trifer thought I. ''But Belle" said
l, confidently, I am afraid of him; he
means mischief"
| The wedding came off gloriously.
Grace wore white tarlctan and orange
blossoms, and ''lookcd too sweet for
anything" little Lille said.
The house was full Of company for
nearly a week and Louise did every
thing, and looked so beautiful that
people asked in astonishmcnt "who
could she be?" could not tell them
she was our hired girl"
The day after the wedding we all
went to the depot to see the young
couple off, and left Louise to take
care Of the house.
We returned in the twilight, and
as we rode slowly up to the drive,
the sound of music came softly from
the parlor windows. Willie drew up
the rcins and we listened eagerly.
A gay, cheerful song, sweet and
clear as the notes of a bird. Now up
then fluttering down softly rs if sat
istied with its flight and going to
rest. We were unheard by the sin.
ger as we alighted, and we walked
into the parlor to sec the bird.
"Why, Louise l cried, "why did
you never tell us you sang SO sweet
ly? You might have entertained lis
SO often had we known it,
81 believe your advertisement on
ly specified that l should have no
scruples about being 'bosscd.' l did
not suppose you cared to have me in.
form you Of my accomplishment"
''Comc," said Willie, "your candle
has been used under a bushel long
enough. Now let it shine for our
enlightenment"
"Sing us another, please do,' and
Charley advanced as he spoke, to the
piano, and gracefully urged her to be
reseated.
"Would you not be after havin
some tay, gintlcmcn, afther your long
exhaustin' drive" said Lousie, gaily
in true Biddy fashion, by way of ex.
cuse from singing.
ave have had tea at the Ellis,
thank You, Miss O'Flahcrty," answer
ed Willie, "and nothing will appease
but Music"
So Louise sang. Willie sat by and
drank in every word. Charley turn
ed the music for her, as she sang
some of the pieces, and, at her re
quest, added a base to some of the
choruses.
|! Willie grew uncomfortable as he
heard how beautiful their voices min
gled in the songs, and, coming over
to me by the window, said contiden
tally:
"Why on earth can't l sing, Flo?
$50 you might help Louise?" said
/.
He colored little, and |, all admi
ration for Louise, exclaimed: "Isn',
she splendid? perfectly fascinating
but don't know what to make ofit.