Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-10
THE TWO COUSINS.
by HKLES FORREST GRAVES.

" lt's cousin olive, saying goodbye to Mr..
WalhTidge,'
Mr.. Jsnuifer contracted her snowy, black
eyebrows II yAtiV.
" l. Elsie there too
. Why. no, HIauma-dUn't YOU remember
Elsie went cut or a walk
Mrs .Ienuiftr said nothing mOre-but 10 one
used 70 The iutsTpre tat on OF dumb show, world
Of meaning mi ght have been dsCiphered in the
swift WAY IN which her needle flew In and out of
the cambria ruflle she was hemming-
e. Oiivsl" she called sweetly, as the closing of
the front door gave notice that the visitor had
at !ast taken hi departure; and by way of an
sw6T a bright-fac sdIyOung girl presented her
self in the Doorway girl with shining brown
tres-es tied with blue ribbon, soft brown eyes
and fresh blooming complexion, like the pink
blossoms that cluster on the kalmia bushes in
"weil. aunt" she said.
" I've been wanting 10 speak TO you for some
tme- olive. dear-sit down. pursued Mrs.
not what they were, as 1 suppose you are
aware
Ibid not know it," said Olive, slightly
changing color. When people are quite de-
pendent Oh the bounty AMI good graces OF
others. they are apt TO be slightly sensitive.
q He has been obliged to eNpend good deal
Of money OF late, and-I knew you would be
perfectly willing to do all you could, if you knew
Certainly. aunt" said olive, nervously
twisting her fingers together.
And Of course, IN a large family like ours,
every additional member is felt as an additional
BURDEN
q" But aunt, burst out Olive. al don't I'M
derstand you Who do You mean? What is it
you want 10 dO,'
" Pray don't speak so loud, Olivel" remon-
strated Mrs Jennifer, mildly elevsting her eye
bTOWs. :" gu are 80 bruSque-SO startling, !
was only going to tell you that Mrs. Parkmau
mentioned TO me Yesterday that she wanted
new hand, and that
Olive Martin bit her lip-the hot color surged
MP TO her cheek.
g A dresSmaker, aunt@'
q And Why nOt?' calmly retorted Mrs. Jen-
infer. d" it = the duty OF every young woman
to DO something to earn an honest livelihood"
olive thought OF her cousin Elsie, white
handed and elegant, who did not even make
her Ov II beU or dust her own rOOm-she RENE ~
bered the two Hibernian damsels whose bust
ness II va 20 wait upon Mrs. .Iennlter and her
younger daughter. She knew that although
her own father had died in wretchedly desti-
tute circumstances, vet the time had been when
ne had helped Mr.. JeuHifeT in such a manner
that the latter had sOlemnly promised never to
forget the benefits rendered to him; and she
AlrO knew that upon that fathers deSth-bed,
Moses JenuiteT had resolved TO take his place
should live,
.. Does my uncle know of tLis!" she asked,
suddenly lifting her frank brown ewes tv the
crafty face OF the UatrOu.
e Certainly calmly lied Mrs. Jennjfer. with
out - much a. coHsCience-S-rIcken blush.
Then Il ts settled, said olive, with GER
maker"
"Is this really and actually your wish. my
dear asked 81 nd Moses -LeHuifer, when olive
told him OF her determination tina. evening.
- Isl not yours. uncle?'
Mrs. Jenuifer looked W with a little startled
glance "a the question was asked
- Wy wish is for whatever viii make YOU feel
happy, child," Moses answered, for IN his
cTet heart he believed that Olive Martin was
not contented n h-S family, and deeply regret
tel the Circumstance. And after olive hal
left the room he turned to his wife.
- She doesn't seem - crazy after the idea
YOU gave me 10 suppose, Margaret" he said.
=" You cannot always judge BY her manner,
Moses, answered the subtle wife, who would
have deluded the serpent's self had SIZE been in
Mother Ewes place in Paradise. 81 am sorry
10 be obliged TO say so, but | do think she is
little inclined to he deceitfuI''
" Poor child. poor child" muttercI Moses
lennifer " We must remember. nv dear that
she Is fatberleSS AMI mO;heTieS-,''
MIS- JeHnlIcF rolled up le1 eyes sanCtimOni-
1--WE always endeavOred 20 act a maternal
part toward her, Moses she sighed.
Bat not until olive Martin safely In
stalled in Mrs. Parkman's wOrk-rooms did Mas.
Jennifer breathe freely.
d" She was actually luriug Clarence Walbridge
away from Elsie under my very eyes and nose"
thought the vrtuOus matrOn. - Clarence Wal
bridge, who Is the best PIT'i in town. Well,
there's no end 70 the pretentiOns OF these
country-bre girls. wonder what he could
possibly have seen IN her big eyes, and melan-
chOly pursed up mouth. But now Elsie will
have chance, poor dear"
And Mrs Elsie Jennifer was duly posted in
what chs ought 10 do and say upon the occasion
OF Mr.. Walbridge's next vista washed-Out
PINK and white beauty, with frecklsd cheeks
haSen hair, frizzled into the similtGde OF yell
low cloud, and very red lips. which she was
bloom.
.' III do my best ma" said Elsie. ..but
never knew y hat 70 tax about when L m with
Mr.. WdlbTiige"
PshsW." quOth Mrs. Jennifer. I'm sure
Olive Martin could talk fast enough"
% But Cousin Olive knows more than do
confessed innocent Elsie
Mr.. Walbridge came as usual that evening,
shd was simperingiy welcomed by Elsie .Ienni-
5Fg h1saa -rYIy Araa5
rose N her yellow hossy hair and blue knots
tHtteIlng wherever blue LnOt could be
e. l. your cousin at hOme9'' the xouny mn,
asked rather unceremOniOUsIy, and Miss Elsie
reflected her lesson.
..o ~ on didn't you know qaOth she, srtlessy,
LEFT yOu!' echoed Clarence wllbri5,e.
more disappointed thaU be chose 10 own ~ him
self. What fOTs''
Elsie lifted her brow, looked at the carnat.
and tried 10 assume an arch expression OF
"Of course, can't be expected 70 know car
tainly,' she said, '.but mamma and both had
our suspicious. In snort don { really know
how to explain. but I've reason 10 suppose she
has gone a~sy.to be married"
ITO be married."
% Some faithful cavalier, believe. who knew
her IN the days before her dear rather died-jr's
Al very romantic, aud were 50 s)rrg 70 loss
What is bis name ?" bIun.ly asked Mr.. Wal
bridge,
TINS point. but she knew she must saw some
thing and hspingly vered.
hofTlU- OdiCus uAIn'-Mr. j Ohm SIN tn -
~ This moment Nrs. Jenniier came In, all
" am 20 busy since nv niece left us" she
sad biAhdly' 81 miss her terribly; but OF course
u Wa my duty 10 oppose no obstacles since Mr.
darcy had been 50 faithful
- Mr.. DaTcy?"
. es the young gentleman in question
Elsie turned the color OF Carmine but she bab
not presence of mind 10 eXtricate herself from
abe gulf OF misrepresentation into which sbs
had fallen, and Mr. Walbridge quietly laid All
these things up in her mind
"Oh, mamma" cried Elsie, when their visi
tor was gone. 81 how could you say his name was
Darcy when i bad just told Mr.. Wal0ridge il
was John smith,
Mrs. Jennifer looked bIank-but hope. that
springs eternal in the human breast " came
10 her relief, most fortunately.
" oh, don't believe he noticed IL ;" said she
81 Darcy u better name than Smith-we'I
stick to Darcy for the future, nv love-"
And Clarence Walbridge, who had somehow
allowed himself 20 become strangely interested
IN Miss Martins blooming face and lovely.
pleading eyes, went straight TO Mr.. Jennifer's
Law Office.
"He, at least can speak the truth" he
thought, which Is more than one can venture