The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-04


Her hostess bowed, and murmured |
something of delight, pleasure, happi- |
Bess; then led the way to her IOom-
the grsndest, incest, best i'm the house, |
In spite of the possib BILE invasion of Aunt |
Landon or Mrs. johnson. Important
and remarkable personages as they
might be, they were not more so, 1t ap-
peared, than this ''musty, fusty, crusty
old maid.u u.s.. aElH 7sgu1 sG5
Poor Mrs. Davenport,s fears now took
an entirely different direction. How
should she entertain her elegant guest ,
Two full hours till dinner and her lord
and masters return. Simple, timid,
nervous Mrs. Davenport hurried to the
mOrning-roOm after giving some direc-
tiOns to the servants, and sitting down
in an agony, began her dreaded task.
You have never been in this part of
the country before, believe, Miss Fan
shaw Z" she asked, with a most praise
worthy attempt at being interesting. u I
"No, never" replied her guest, in
cheering, encouraging tone.
| HWas not your Journey fatiguing ?"
continued her interlocutor, in the same
monotonOus manner. rFT
/ HOh, no." rejoined Miss Fanshaw,
with animation, "the day was so charm
ing, and the air perfectly exhilarating
and delightful. l enjoyed it amaz-
ingly." ..,.- TEll-
1 aHow do YOU like our part of the
country ?" said Mrs. Davenport, the
very instant her guest had concluded
her speech; but Miss Fanshaw did not
hear her, for she had, in quiet voice,
overthrown Willie's stock of wisdom by
the query of "How many blue beans
made five? Frank and Julia were in
paroxysms of laughter at his perplexity,
while the youngest child, seated in her
lap, was triumphantly grasping the
glossy eurls, on the beauty and gloss of
which he had been for some time COW
etously gazing.
Mr.. Davenport just then entered, and
Miss Fanshaw rose hurriedly to meet
him. For q moment the gentleman,
calm and composed as he had grown,
struggled with unutterable emotion;
her romp with the child had sent the
bright, rich bloom to her cheeks, her
wild eyes danced with glee, her face
absolutely glowed with animation /;
years, time, space were annihilated; it
was the Cousin Kate of his youth, the
object of a world of devotion, idolatry,
dreams, who stood before him. 1t was
but for moment, however; he met her
lusJ dS n6 nave uOll6, Y,
although most gravely and kindly.
AS for the lady, as she had never par
ticipated in the feeling which excited
it, she had not the slightest suspicion
of his emotion; indeed, it is doubtful
whether she remembered that Mr.. DaV-
export had been her lover-he was her
Cousin Alfred, her mothers sisters
child; to whom could she come if not to
him? -
The evening passed on wings-never
was dreaded guest more cGurteousIy
treated. She had taken them by storm
I-barricades fell, GOODNESS and reserve
vanished. She was pronounced, in a
confidential family conclave, to be dir
resistible"
''You must not think of leaving us,
Kate" said Mrs. Davenport, some two
months after that lady's first appear
ance.
"No, indeed, not this winter" con-
tinued Miss Julia, with a most entreat-
ing face; "we never can live without
you, dear cousin"
I.'What will become of our dances and
charades in the EVENING"" broke in,
tumultuously, Master Frank. "Who
will sing us songs and tell us funny
stories? o, Cousin Kate, you are the
oiA hAoiN CNCl cdN---
"Frank :" exclaimed his mother and
sister, in an agony but Miss Fanshaw
laughed.
"You will always live with us, won't
you ?' cried little Willie, giving her at
the same time hearty kiss.
A peculiar expression passed over the
lady's face, aud she did not answer.
"There are Mr.. Donaldson and Mr.
Williams coming to see you, Cousin
Kate ~ exclaimed Julia, from her place
near the window; "they are really very
devoted in their attentions If you'll
promise not to tell, Tll tell yOu some.
thing, dear cousin"
Miss Fansbaw gave the required
promise, and Julia continues:
"When you first came they told Mrs.
Flint, who lives with them, that they
supposed, as Mr.. Davenport had been
exceedingly kind and hospitabIe to
them, they must call and see his ole
maiden cousin. You remember, deaI
cousin, they came and found you sc
charming that they stayed till twelve
o'clock, and the next morning appeared
again to make a lengthy apology"
Miss Fanshaw laughed, and was ex.
: ceedingly polite both to Mr.. Donaldson
and Mr.. Williams, who just then en-.
! bOlCNs LbNSCui bO COuoGdub udu DeeL
the visits of these two gentlemen, thai
Mrs. Davenport, good, simple soul
began to imagine that Miss Julia, al.
though she was not yet brought out, haC
achieved a conquest. "Kate," she
: argued, "is very agreeable, but they
are perfect boys to her" So they were
but boys do occasionally very foolish
things; for Miss Fanshaw left the parlol
one morning, after a long conference
with Mr., Donaldson, looking vexed anC
Indignant beyond measure.
When Mr.. Davenport came home thai
day, he met his cousin with a most pro-
voking glance of Intelligence, and &C
costed her with sundry very agreea biz
queries as to the purport of Mr.. Don,
aldson's visit; light flashed through hi.
helPmate's brain, and her ideas matri
mOnially respecting her daughter van
ished. AS for Miss Fanshaw, she haC
what the French call a grand success
: not only in the family of her relative
but in the little town in general-tha
: is, for an old maid But, alas /! to tn,
conclusion which truth ompels-wholly
foreign to my aim and intention, which
was to hold up spinsterhood as admira
bic, engaging, all worthy to be EN-
: braced; to represent those whom ever
{ Jean Paul, the tender-hearted, demon
! mates SOLITARY, unknown, withou
: friends" as lovable and loving-pitifu
, is 1t that truth compels me to deviate
On one Identical sorrowful evening, a
i Mr. nauapnOrfiS q ranflapooy, - -, ,-.o,l