The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1875-06-24

rOur ihlleS were on the piazza. -
And, toying with some worsted work
he recognized as the widow Ray.
mond; two others were reading the
latest novels while The fourth was
industriously sewing.
81 think my stay at Woodlawn will
be short" he thought TO himself. al
can't stand SO ma ay feminine charms
every day of my life."
AT that instant Mrs. Raymond
raised her eyes and observed the
stranger.
Paul was 30 bronzed and travel.
stained that she did not recognize
him, especially rs in her last letter
he had spoken Of an intended visit to
China
Fay, go down and order that
person off e she said, in tones shar1
enough to reach Paul's ears. "ile is
lounging around here to catch O
glimpse of Arabollo or Florence
sol" was the commanding retort
aud Fay obcyed her.
! thought she was one ofthe girls
Paul soliloquized to himself rs he
advanced slowly "shc must only be-
u servant. BY Jove"-as she neared
him what lovely face :"
He dofl'sd his hit, and stood be-
fore her respectfully, somewhat GU
rious to know how she would give
the commond,
II beg your pardon, sir" she com.
menced, without raising her eyes,
but Mrs. Raymond objects to having
any ono lettering around the
grounds. y
Il am sorry to have incurred her
displeasure, he returned. 81 was
only admiring the scenery and con.
trasting it with any / had ever seen
abroad.
1nvoluntarily she raised her eyes
to his face, and at that moment Mrs
Raymonds sharp voice came float
ing TO them in the one word Fay
Fay turned rs quickly rs if stuck.
II beg your pardon, sir Mrs.
Raymond will be angry with me-
Please to leave the grounds.
"Not yet he returned. "Do not
hasten; Mrs. Raymond will not oh
iect. when she learns who am
"lIr. Woodford !" Fay exclaimed,
unconsciously. "Am l right Aunt
was not looking for you.
! "One of the girls, after all :" Paul
muttercd to himself.
Mrs. Raymond began to sail airily
down the steps, when all ut once it
struck her who the visitor might be.
aud she hesitated.
/ At that moment Fay announced
him. The young ladies' canght the
name. and they dropped their books
and rushed impulsively down to
meet him, crying
1T is our cousin Puul II is our
cousin Paul :"
He was olmost dragged into the
house, aud the girls hung around
him in paroxysm of pleasure.
sour cousin Paul :" seemed to
have been the one thought of their
lives
lie noticed that Flay slipped away
that she had not welcomed him ;
and he wondered why he could be
Mr.. Woodford' to her, aud "Cousin
Paul" to the othrr two, when he had
treated them all alike.
The days went by aud heightened
into weeks. Paul found much to oc-
cupy his time. He went over all the
accounts with his steward, aud visit
cd every part of the estate. He was
bent on improvements, and together
they were very busy in forming plans
and carrying them out.
Whenever he returned to the
house he was lionized by the widow
and her two daughters. They hung
around him, and seemed almost to
worship him, but he scarcely ever
met Fay.
When he asked for her, he was
told that she was queer; she did not
like company she preferred to be
calmly buried in her books.
He thought it strange, but he had
no reason to doubt their assertion /;
yet he could not but contrast what
little he had seen of her with the
more forward cousins, and his men,
tai conclusion concerning them was
''pretty, but course,'
"He will never marry you unless
one of you charm him. Mrs, Ray
mond said to her daughters, 80 we
are sure of home here for life
time. He has seen women of all ma.
tions, aud am sure he is heart
free besides he is thirty-fv if he is
u day
One day Paul received word that
an old friend of his was coming into
the neighborhood, and large out
door party was to be held, to which
he and his three cousins had q spe-
cial invitation. OF course Mrs.
Raymond was to chaperone the
party.
81 don't know what the girls will
do for something to wear" said
Mrs. Raymond, thoughtfully. "They
have attended so many out door fes-
tivals, this season, that most of their
light clothing is spoiled. OF course,
they cannot wear silks
"Certainly not. Do not let that