Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-06-16
MY COUSIN HORACE.

"s'he is woman; that is enough to make
me dislike her..
The words fell upon my ear, as l lay just
waking from my afternoon nap, upon my
sofa.
"IIorace!
My aunts gentle voice uttered the word in a
rcproachfu tone, and l knew that her SON.,
whom VIC had been expecting home from his
French trip for somo days, had arrived
81 did not mean to srievo you," mother,
said the first voice; 81 do love you, if you are
n woman; but, oh mother, if you only
knew"
"Knew what Horaco?'
81 wrote to you about Anyhow loved
her--how gentle, true, and fair she seemed,
and she made me believe was the only one she
loved"
"Well, Horace, you wrote that she had prom
sed to be your wife next year.
"She was married TO another one week be-
fore left Paris and she had deceived me. She
loved him all the time, but they quareled aud
while they were c3tranged she met me. They
met agaiu-wcre reconciled and l. Well, it
is over ~
sprang up from the sofa, ashamed of the
playing, and hastened to dress for dinner. As
/ stood before the glass, mentally drew a con-
trast between the Amy he had 80 often de-
scribcd in his letters, and the face before me.
Sho had fair, light curls, blue eyes, and blonde
complexion with a fairy-like figure. l was tall.
with full figure, jetty hair and eyes, q gypsy
complexion, and crimson roses on my cheeks.
Cousin Horace was tall, too-not very hand
some, but manly and talented, with an erect,
free carriage, flashing eyes, and loud, ringing
voice; all this | knew from his mother, for we
had not met since we were children.
$50 he has determined to hate me because l
am woman," l thought, as l braided the
black hair, and looped it near my check.
swell, it won't break my heart, dare say"
came into the parlor with quiet self-posscs-
sion and was introduced to my COUSIN lie
started to find the little girl he remembered a
tall woman, but 1 think felt relieved that did
not in any way resemble tho LOST Amy.
Coldly, distanty polite was his greeting and
mine matched it. We chatted on Indifferent
subjects till dinner time and took the earliest
opportunity to retire and leave the long-pared
mother and son together.
We were in a pleasant country house on the
banks of the Dcrwent, passing tho summer
but We knew none of the neighoors and Horace
and l were forced to become friends. Wewalk-
cd and rode together, but always chatted on
general subjects, and with the formality of per-
feet strangers.
1t was exceedingly tiresome. All my other
cousins when l had occasionally visited them,
had treated me like a sister-and enjoyed it
but this iceberg of a man talked, in his stately,
composed way, as if we were cntiro strangers
meeting in crowded saloon. And yet strange
as it may seem-I looked forward with impa-
tience to our walks or evening chats longed,
wished for them. My cousin was talented, and
had traveled-not returning to pratc idly of the
wonders he had seen but to profit by them,
and improve the great mind Heaven had given
him.
He never referred to Amy, but sometimes,
when speaking of his stay on the continent,
bitter smile would fit over his fl &c, as if the
"reminiscences he spoke of were connected with
Others buried deep in his own breast
One morning, while we were at breakfast,
van drove up and from it was hoisted large
package containing piano.
"Cousin,' said Horace, "you were lament
ing the absence of piano last week. VIII you
use this one?"
The delight and gratitude felt at his kind
thoughtfulness were chilled, crushed, by Tie
cold, business-like tone of his voice. bowed, |
tried to speak, and finally ran up stairs and
cried-I could not tell why. 1t was very kind
fer him to indulge me in my favorite pleasure
but he evidently hated me al, the while-else
why that chilling tone? 1t was a merely polite
attention offered by gentleman to a lady
nothing more.
"He has no heart No feeling = thought, |
as dried my eyes, but before night changed |
my opinion.
We were seated in the parlor, with no light |
but that given by the moon as it poured in at |
the open windows, and l opened the piano. II |
had fine deep tone, and after my fingers once |
lighted upon it 1 forgot everything else. Hor-
ace and my aunt were silent. played for some |
time, when a deep, bitter sigh made me look |
up. Auntie was gone; my cousin sat upon the |
sofa, his head bowed down, and his face buried |
in the cushion.
"Aee You ill?' asked, crossing the room.
No, no! But music-such music as yours
recalls many things. You are fine perform
er, cousin but that is nothing compared to |
the soul music you pour out 1 could be bet |
ter man if heard such often"
My heart bounded high at this, his first COM
pliment.
II love music. l said, gently.