The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-04-22

MIN Cousln Harry.
Cousin Harryw I screamed start
| ing forward, and staring at her with
eyes wide open.
"Yes; but what ails you, child =?
You glare upon me like maniac"
"Hush! hush! don't speak," said
II.
"| As I sank back, in sort of dream,
into the rockingham in which I had
been idling, the garden caught my
eye through the open window. The
gate overarched with honeysuckle,
the long alley with its fragrant Aow-
ering border, the steep green hill be-
hind, lay before me in the still, rich
beauty Of June. In twinkling, mem
ory had swept the dust from my little
cabinet picture, and let in upon it a
sudden light. Then intervening years
vanished like dream, and that long
forgotten garden scene started up,
vivid as in the hour when it actually
passed before my eyes. The clue to
that mystery which had so spellbound
my childish fancy was atlength found.
I sat for a time in silence, lost in a
delicious, confused reverie
"The Button-Rose was gift from
him, then % were my first words.
"What, Kate o. said Aunt Linny,
now opening her large blue eyes with
a strange look.
"Did you give away the flewer-pot
too? That was so pretty! Whom did
you give it to-"
Incredible !" she exclaimed, color
ing, and with the strongest expression
of surprise. Truly, little pitchers
have not been siandered !"
"But the wonderful humming-bird,
Aunty! What had that to do with
itr"
"Kate," said my aunt, "you talk
like one in sleep. Wake up, and let
me know what all this means
II see it all nowr" I ratified on
more to myself than her. "First young
love,-parting gift,-Cousin Harry
fckle,-Aunt Linny banishes the
Button Rose from her window,-take:
to books, and educating naughty
nieces, and doing good to everybody
|-'bearing to live,' as more heroic
| than daring to die,'-in ten years
gets so that she can speak of it with
composure, as lesson to romantic
girls. So?"
Even 80, Katy?' she replied
quietly ;i'and to that early disappoint
mentment I owe more than to any
thing that ever befell me-
| She said this with smile but hel
voice trembled little, and I perceiv
| ed that soft dew had gathered owe
her eyes. By an irresistible impuls'
I l rose. and stealing softly behind her
T clasped my arms round her neck, ane
I kissing her forehead whispered, ''For
1give me, sweet Aunty !''
'"Not a bit of harm, Katy" she re
piled, drawing me down for warm
kiss. "But what gypsy you must
be-" she added, in her usual ivel,
tone, ''to have trudged along ST. many
years with this precious little bundle
| and said never a word to anybody y
"Ive not thought of it myself, these
ever so many years." said I, "and i
seems like witchwork that it should
| all have come to me at this moment.
| I then related to her my childisl
"reminiscences and speculations, which
amused her not a little. Her hearty
mirthful zest showed that the theme
was not disquieting one. I nov
begged her to proceed with her story
l "But stay moment" said I /; ale
me fetch our garden bonnets, that W
may enjoy it in the very scene of tn
romance"
"Ah, Kate, you are bent on maxim!
a heroine of me p was the reply, a
he took her seat in the grape arbor
"but there are really no materials.
shall finish in fifteen minutes by m
watch, and you'll drop me an Ophelia
l venture to say. Cousin Harry ha'
left us, as | told you, to visit hi
brother. For some months his letter
we're very frequent, and as the tim
approached for his return they gre,
increasingly cheerful, and-Katy,
;, cannot but excuse myself in par
,when I recall the magic charm c
II lthose letters. But no matter; all G
a sudden they ceased, and for severa
weeks not word was heard from
Ehim by his own family. At length
csiwhen my anxiety had become well
nigh intolerable, there came a brie
''Iletter to his father, announcing h
" marriage with the sister of this brotl
er's wife, and his decision to enter il
to business with his brother"
"Did you know anything of tt
young lady p
"He had once or twice mentione
> hef in his letters as a beautiful, amiab
creature, whose education had bee
! shamefully neglected. Her kindne
to him in his illness and lonelines
e added to her natural charms, won b
l. heart, no doubt. Many a wise ma
has been caught in that snare.'
II "But what base conduct towart
+ you y ~. .
+ "Not at all, my dear! My drea
had suffused his words with its ov
q coloriug, that was: all. As soon {
t. reason could make her voice hear
n l acquitted him of all blame. 81
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