The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-15
COUSIN JANE.

When my little cousin Jane Lum-
ley came to me one morning, and said
in her blushing way, "Cousin Will
liam, Mr.. Forbes has proposed to me,
and I have accepted him." I felt that
| must be q very old cousin indeed, a
very safe cousin as girls would say,
or she would never have chosen me
for 5confdant.
Twas pleased, and I was sorry, to
hear the tidings. I was pleased, be-
cause it was a very good offer and
I was sorry, because Mr.. Forbes would
take Jane away-selfsh animal -
and though had never cared to mar
ry her myself, I thought it a hard
case to see her marry another. How
ever, as pleasure had come first, so it
was the predominant feeling, and I
shook hands with Jane, and congratu-
lated her on her good fortune. Forit
was decidedly good fortune. Mr..
Forbes, though a widower, was not
thirty he was good looking and ac-
complished ; he was we'll off. too, and
had charming home within a con-
venient distance of London in short,
he was most eligible husband for
Jane, who had not a farthing Of her
own, and who owned the very clothes
she wore to my fathers kindness. Not
that he thought it much kindness,
dear old boy. Jane was his pet, and
Ifeel pretty sure that he considered
Mr.. Forbes q very fortsnate man in
having secured her. Of course, I
thought so too, for I knew James val
ue. Still, MI. Forbes's offer puzzled
me.
Jane had come with her little story
to me in the garden; we were alone
in one of the green arbors. She stood
in the shade, bareheaded, modest,
with happy blush on her cheek, and
a soft dewy light in her brown eyes.
I had never seen her look half SO well
in her whole life as she looked then,
and-shall I say it?-Jane did not
look at all pretty! No, not at all.
No one, indeed, could call Jane ugly
or even plain; but there was an ab-
sence Of beauty in her face, which was
the more remarkable that pretty girls
abounded in our country, She had a
figure, q graceful carriage, a pleasant
voice, and happy look; that she
had, and no more. She was also a
sensible girl, clever, well bred, and
amiable, though dreadfully shy with
strangers; but how could MI. Forbes
know anything of Jane save her shy
nessf He had not seen her more than
a dozen times in all, and Jane was 90
quiet, that he must bea very penetrat'
ing and far-seeing man indeed it. he
had discovered her merits during
those brief interviews. Iventured on
expressing some surprise. "How 'gly
you both have been, Jenny"
| said.
"No, William, not at all sly, I as
sure you," she replied, gravely. 81
had no idea Mr.. Forbes thought o.
such thing till he mentioned it the
other day."
"Then you did not say yes at once
Jenny
"How could I? I was so confused
that I should not even have asked fol
time to think over it, if he had no
made the suggestion"
It was very plain that Jane wa
not in love; but then how odd if h
we're! I had seen them together tn
day before this, and Mr.. Forbes, for
young man, was a cool lover, to sa,
the least of it. Despite her inexpe1
ience in such matters, Jane felt som
surprise too, and she expressed it witt
a mixture of sauciness and simplicit,
which she often displayed with me
but which she had certainly neve
showed to Mr.. Forbes.
"Do you know, cousin William,
she said, looking up at me, II mus
be a very fascinating person after sl
I am not pretty, I am twenty-three;,
am not rich, I am quiet, and yet M
Forbes, who has only to pick an
choose, is smitten with me"
elbow do you know he is 'smitten
I I inquired.
I repented the question at once
but, luckily, Jane only laughed.
"Why should he want to marry n
:. if he were not smitten?" she askt
gayly.
"Ahlst to be sure. And you ? q
smitten, Of course, Jenny?"
r, NO" wsa her rather serious repl
"I admire Mr.. Forbes, and I q
1 grateful for bis ,, affection; fec but thoul
!. T hope TO- be very happy with bin,
Ea1asnot what is called in love- oons
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