Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-07-14
Selected 8listellanv.
THE COUNTRY COUSIN.
BY CHARLIE NJ. GREY

"Well, mother what are we to do p
You know there is to be a ball at Mrs.
Sinclair's tomorrow evening, and if Mil
dred comes she will certainly expect to
attend it. For my part, | shall be
ashamed to be seen with her, for, of
course, she will be dressed in old Aunt
Peabody style. So suppose that shall
have to stay at home, and that will be
too bad for | have promised to 90 with
VIII Lee; and | am sure he intends to
ask me to be bis wife, as he was very
attentive to me the other evening at the
opera. Say, mother what shall do 2"
"Well, my dear ! am sure | don't
know OF course she is not so pretty
as you arc When you are dressed in
your blue silk, which contrasts so well
with the golden hair and bright blue eyes
of my Maud, | defy any one in the city
to compete with you; and the idea that
your cousin can be more beautiful is per-
fectly ridiculous You had better 20; |
would not have you lose VIII for a good
deal. You are old enough now to be
thinking Of matrimony, and he is wealthy
and has much better position in life
than any Of your numerous admirers. -
You can dress Mile in your old white
muslin, and think, with a bow here
and there, it will do quite we'll But
bark there is the door bell | suppose
she has come. Let us 90 to our rooms,
and not cause her to think we have been
anxiously awaiting her arrival"
4 moment after, Mildred Vane entered
the room. She was lovely girl--quite
the opposite of Maud Deane She was
ushered into the parlor, where she was
soon Joined by her aunt and cousin. She
would have kissed them, but the GOODNESS
with which they greeted her, chilled and
love she might have had. They all
spent a very uncomfortable evening, and
after Mile had retired to her room Many
exclaimed, -
sit will not do for her to 90 to that ball.
She is much more beautiful than / and
| dare not have her meet viii. Besides,
she must be rich, and perhaps will dress
more elegantly 1t is true that Will
never paid me any marked attention be-
fore that evening, but | am sure that /
could make decided impression to-mor-
row night"
"Well, my dear, she is wealthy, /
know by her dress and therefore you
must not slight her. She can 20 with
you to the party, but, if you wish, by a
little exertion on your part, you can pre-
vent Will from showing her the slightest
attention. But it is bedtime, and you
must sleep well in order to look as fresh
and charming as possible"
The next evening was cloudless the
stars shonc in all their brilliancy; all
were happy but Maud, who awaited the
coming of her lover in the greatest sus-
pense.
Mile had accepted the invitation. 49,
She would have declined at any other
time, but she determined to show her
cousin that she need not be ashamed of
her. She refused Maud's offer to 90
shopping, resolving to surprise her by
the elegance of her toilet. That night.
as she stood before her mirror, she
could not help thinking. II am even as
beautiful as Maud" A lovely rose
tinted silk, covered with the richest lace,
formed her dress: her jewels we're cost
ly pearls, which contrasted finely with
the dark braids into which they were
twired. She threw costly opera cloak
over her shoulders, and FASTENED to an
swer the summons of Maud, as the car
riage was waiting. Maud's countenance
her surprise as with one glance
she took in the richness Of her cousins
attire, and realized how beautiful she
was. She said, pettishly,-
well, | hope you were long enough"