The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-07
MY COUSIN HORACE.


My aunIs gentle voice uttered the
word in a reproachful tone, and 1 knew
that her son, whom we had been expect
ing home from his French trip for some
days, had arrived.
"k did not mean to greve you,
MOTHER" said the first voice; ~ do love
you, tfyou are woman; but, oh mother,
il you only knewW
"Knew what, Horacep
81 wrote to you about Anyhow l
loved her-how gentle, true, and fair she
seemed, and she made me believe 1 was
the only one she loved"
swell, Horace, you wrote that she
had promised to be your vile next
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 es-
tranged she met me. They met again
were reconciled; and We'll, it is
overp
sprang up from the sofa, ashamed OF
the part OF leayesdropper had beeu unin-
tentlonally playing. and FASTENED to
dress for dinuer. AS stood before the
glass, L mentally drew a contrast be-
tween the Amy he had SO often de-
scribed i'll his letters, and the face be-
fore me. bhe had lair, light curls, blue
eyes, ana blonde complexion, with u
fairy-llke 1gure. l was tall, with full
ngure, Jetty hair and eyes, gypsy com
pleXlon, and crimson roses on my
cheeks.
Cousin Horace was tall, too-not very
handsome, but manly and talented, with
an erect, tree carriage, flushing eyes,
and loud, ringing voice; all this
knew from his mother, Tor we had not
. l 10 nj
80 he has determined 10 hate me be-
cause am woman,' l thought, as
braided tue black halr, and looped IL
near my cheek. "Well, it won't break
t my heart, 1 dare say"
, came INTO the parlor with quiet self
| possession, and was introduced to my
cousin. He started 70 lind the little girl
ne remembered tall woman, but
think lelL relieved that [ did not in any
way resemble the lost Amy.
Coldiy, disAntly pollLe was his greet.
lng;ana mine matched it. We cnalted ON
inu Herent subjects till dinner-tlme, and
LOOK the earliest opportunity to retire
and leave the leng-parted mother and
son together.
We were in pleasant tcountry-house on
the banks of the Derwent, passing the
, summer; but we knew none of the neigh.
; DOrs, and Horace and l were forced TO
become friends. We walked and rode
iloSether, but always chatLed Oh general
SUBJECTS, and with the tormality of per-
feet strangers.
IL was exceedingly tiresome. All my
otuer cousins, when l had occasionally
: visited them, had treated me like sis
ter-and enjoyed ii; but this ice berg of
man talked, III his stately, composed
way, as II We were entire strangers
meeting III crowded saloon. And vet
: strange as IL may seem-I looked ior-
ward with lmpatlence to our walk or
evening chaLs-l0nged, wished ior them.
My cousin was talented, and had
= trayeled-not returning to prate idly OF
the wonders he had seen, but to profit
t by them, and improve the great mind
I Heaven had given him.
Il He never relerred to Amy, but some
: times, when speaking OF his stay on the
: Continent, bitter smile would fit over
, his face, as II the "reminiscences he spoke
: OF were connected with others buried
deep in his own breast.
, One morning, while we were at break
,, fast, van drove up, and from it was
! hoisted large package containing a
:, , piano.
"Cousin," said Horace, "you were
lamenting the absence of a piano last
week. VIII you use this one?'
The delight and gratitude felt at his
kind thoughIulness were chilled,
crushed, by the cold, business.like tone
, OF his voice. l bowed, tried TO speak,
finally ran up stairs and cried-I could
not tell why. 1t was very Kind OF him to
indulge me In my favorite pleasure, but
he evidently hated me all the while
else why that chilling toner 1t was a
merely polite attention offered by a
gentleman to lady-nothing more.
, "He has no heart, no ieellng?" l
thought, as dried my eyes; but before
night l changed my opinion.
. We were seated in the parlor, with no
/ light but that given by The moon as 1t
poured III at the open windows, and |
a opened the piano. 1t had a fine deep
: tone, and alter my fingers ouce lighted
upon 1t forgot everything else. Horace
$ and my aunt were silent. l played for
= some time, When Il deep, bitter sigh
: made me LOOK up. AunLie was gone; nv
cousin sat upon the sofa, his head bowed
down, and MS face buried in the cush-
lions.
o .'Are you in% l asked, crossing the
r room.
y mo, no! But music-such music as
q yours recalls many things. You are u
! tiue performer, cousin, but that is moth
+ ing Compared to the soul music you pour
> out. l could be better man ii heard
such oiten."
My heart bounded high at this, his first
: compliment.
81 love music" said gently.
Il love it, too! Cousin, l have sat for
) hours listening to harp played by"
, He paused; knew what he meant,
and, my heart full OF sympathy, solty
aid my hand upon his mead. The action,
slight as it was, recalled MIN.
sit is getting late! l viii close the
piano; aud then good night, cousin"
Cold, distant, stately, he rose, letting
my hand lall from his mead, never heeu-
ing it.
went up stairs. 1t was the drop too
much in my cup; and humiliated by the
. thought that L nad given my love un-
sought, uucared Ior, passed the night
in sleepIess, fearful agony.
The next morning resolved to return
I home, anu was more determined Dy hear
ing one phrase Whicn iell from Horace's
: lips lust as entered the breakfas room.
IL was: Never, mother! l can never
, trust another womauW
turned from the room and went out
into the air. l was choking, sitting.
An unloading where | straypd want