The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-10-10
COUSIN DICh

Mr.. and Mrs. WoodfJrd were en-.
ioying confidential matrimonial
chat over their iete-G iei; dessert,
and discussing al some length the an
tecedents aud probable future Of u
cousin, Mr.. Richard Broughion, who
mad lately dropped down on :hem,
not from The clouds, but from Liv-
erpool express train. This gealle-
man had in his youth been crossed
in love" Always musical enthu.
siast be had become attached to an
amiable girl, young concert singer,
who was the mainstay of her moth
er-the widcw of captain in the
army-and some younger sisters; and
having himself not made fair start
in life, the elders Of both families rose
up in arms against the alliance.
Mrs. Woodford, of nearly the same
age as Cousin Dick, had been his
confdant in their boy aaS girl days.
had sympathized warmly with bis
disappointment, without very pre-
cisely understanding how il had
come about, and was now assuring
her husband that the attachment had
been far more serious affair than
very youthful fancies generally are.
1t was true the gentleman lad SO far
consoled himself as to marry another
lady; though it was reported that be
had welded a shrew who had not
made him supremely happy. But he
had lost his wife sometime before
leaving Australia; and now after So
journ Of nearly twenty years in the
colonies. be had returned to England
with something more than a compe-
tence.
"But what has become Of Miss
Clifton ~ asked Mr.. Woodford.
That | DO not know" returned the
lady. Clifton was only her profes-
sional name her real one l quite for
get therefore, il from any eireum-
stances she passed into private lite,
it would not be easy TO track her
Dick called her Alice to me-"
Probably she is also married"
said Mr.. Woodford.
Possibly" replied his wife,
though women are more constan.
than men and though she ceased to
answer Dicks letters, and really
brought hipl into state Of misery
which drove him out of England.
never thought the fault was quite her
own
While Mrs. Woodford was vet
speaking there was a knock at the
door, aad Mr. Brougbton was an
nounced.
Why did you Rot come to din
ner :" cried Mr.. Woodiord. rising to
greet bis visitor. "Bat We can have
the lamb brought back" be added.
Thanks, thanks, "said Mr. Bcough-
ton but dined at the hotel. II
am sure ought to apologise for call
ing at such time, and for having
brought Dandy with me-"
Dandy was terrier, and his mss
ter's almost inseparable companion.
NOW Dandy, behave aud go and
beg pardon for both of us Say We
know We are two unmannerly coloni-
al boors, at present unfit for good So
cietyn
Very much as if the sagscious ami
NAL understood every word of this /
address, be approached Mrs. Wood /
ford, aud sat on his launches 10 a
begging at iiude.
.He means biscuit" said The lady
with laugh, and suiiing the action
TO the word she gave him one, with
a caressing pat into the bargain.
Seriously, however" said Mr..
Broughtop, Il would 10; have come
at such an hour, bat | wanted so
much to tell you that at last / have
found lodgings which l think viii
just suit me- Or rather, should say
that Dandy found them for me-"
DANDY Well, be is a clever
dog. He will talk next, | suppose.
But" continued Mrs Woodford, "at
present his master must explain
cit sounds ridiculous to talk of
such irifes," replied her cousin, "but
for the last three or four days-ever
since the bot weather set in, / have
elt quite interested in shop in your
oeigh ighborhood-mainly, | think, from
he humanity displayed by the own
sr in setting large bowl of spark
ing water by the door for the con-
renience of the poor, painting dogs.
or which Dandy has been grateful
more than once. Ii is a music ware
house ou a small scale; but where
hey also sell fine ornaments and
adies' Berlin work aud 20 ob."
IL know the shop" interrupted
Mrs. Woodicrd; it's kept by o wild
wv and her maiden sister, who seem
7ery superior people"
"Oh. I'm glad you know the place,
continued Mr.. Broughton. "Well.