The daily gazette., 1877-11-17
My, Cousin Horace.
BY KATE CLARKE.

|
The words fell upon My ear, as I
lay just waking from my afternoon
nap on my sofa. .NF
"Horace!"
My aunts gentle voice uttered the
word In reproachful tone, and l
knew that her son, whom we had
been expecting home from his French
trip for some days, had arrived.
"I did not mean to grieve you,
MOTHER" said the first voice; 81 do
love you, if you are a woman; but oh |
mother, If you only knewi"
"Knew what, Horace?"
VI wrote to you about Anyhow l
loved her-how gentle; true and fair
she seemed, and she made me believe
l was the only one she loved"
"Well, Horace, you wrote that she
had promised to be your wife mex
year" -
"She was married to another one
week before left Paris, and she had
deceived me. She loved him all the
time. but they quarreled, and while
they were estranged she me: me.
They met again-were reconciled, and
I-well, II is al over"
1 sprang up from the sofa, ashamed
OF the port of eavesdropper l had been
unintentionally playing, and hasten
ed to dress for dinner. AS l stood be-
fore the glass / mentally drew a con-
trast between the Amy ne had 80 often
described in his letters and the face
before me. She had fair, light curls,
blue eyes, aad blonde complexion
a fairy-like figure. was tai |, with
a full figure, jetty hair and eyes, a
gipsy complexion, and crimson roses
on my cheeks. "tii
Cousin Horace was tall, too not
very handsome, bvt manly and talen-
ted with an erect free carriage.
| flashing eyes, and a loud ringing
voice all this knew from his mother
for we had not met since we were
children. 1t.e l..-
$50 he has determined to hate me be-
cause am woman,"I thought as |
braided the black hair, and looped it near
my cheek. "Well, it won't break my
heart, 1 dare say"
came into the parlor with quiet self
possession, and was introduced to my
cousin. He started to fiEd the little girl
he remembered tall woman, but think
felt relieved that did not in any way re-
sembled the lost Amy.
Coldly, distantly polite was his greet
ing; and mine matched it. We chatted
ON Indifferent subjects till dinner-time
and took the earliest opportunity to
retire and leave the long-parted mother
and son together. .a41
We were in pleasant country-house
on the banks of the Darwent, passing the
The summer; but we knew none of the
neighbors and Horace and were forced
to become friends. We walked and rode
together, but always chatted ON general
subjects, and with the formality of per-
feet strangers.
II was exceedingly tiresome. All my
other cousins, when had occasionally
visited them, had treated me like sister
land enjoyed it; but this iceberg of q
man talked, in his stately, composed
way, as if we were entire strangers meet.
ing in crowded saloon, And yet
strange as it may semi looked for
ward with impatience to our walks OF
levening chats-longed, wished for them.
My cousin was talented, and had trav
eled-not returning to prate idly of The
wonders he had seen, but to profit by
them, and improve the great mind Hea
ven had given him.
He never referred to Amy, but some
times, when speaking of his stay on the
Continent, bitter smile would fit over
his face, as if the "reminiscences he spoke
of were connected with others barieC
deep in his own breast.
One morning while wewere at breakfast
a van drove up, and from it was hoisted
a large package containing piano.
"Cousin." said Horace, "you were la
menting the absence of a piano las
week. Will you use this one?"
The delight and gratitude felt al
his kind thoughtfulness were chilled
crushed by the cold, business-like tone
of his voice. L bowed, tried to speak
and finally ran up stairs and cried
could not tell why. 1t was very kind
for him to indulge me in my favorite
pleasure, but he evidently hated me all
the while-else why that chilling tone?
IL was merely polite attention offered
by a gentleman to lady-nothine
more.
"He has ne heart, no feelingw
thought, as dried my eyes; but before
night L changed my opinion.
We were seated in the parlor, with nc
light but that given by the moon as il
Ipouredln at the open windows, and
opened the piano. 1t had a fine, deeI
tone, and after my fingers once lighted
upon it, l forgot everything else. Horace
and my aunt were silent. 1 played fol
some time, when deep, bitter sigh made
me look up. Auntie was gone. My
cousin sat upon the sofa, his head bow
ed down, and his face buried in the cush-
ion.
care you ill?' I asked, crossing the
room.
"No, no! But music-such music as
yours recalls many things. You are a
fine performer, cousin. but tbatis nothing
compared to the soul music you pour
out. could be better man if heard
such often"
My heart bounded high at this, his first
compliment
~ love music I said, gently.
"I love it, tool Cousin, l have sat for
hours, listening to harp played
by"
He paused, I knew what he meant
and, my heart full of sympathy, l softly
laid my hand upon his head. The actor
slight as it was, recalled him.
alt is getting late! 1 will close the
plano; and then good night, cousin"
Cold, distant, stately, he rose, let
ting my hand fall from his head, nevel
needing it.
L went upstairs. was the drop too
much in my cup and humiliated by th'