The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-23

why, 80 OOcS mine, SalU Sncs laugh
ing, and giving me a quick, curious
glance" wonder"
~ WONDER" said l, if you are my
Cousin Marcia's Cousin Rose?''
"And then you are my Cousin Marcia.
cousin Ferguson
'Allan Ferguson, at your SERVICE
said l..
"Do you know" she said, slyly, and
colorlng again in the same charming way
81 thought it must be you-for have
seen your photograph"
mo photograph would look like you, u
l said and then, as she half drew back,
hastened to ask for her luggage.
"Oh, DIR. Wilder took that for me yes.
terday," she answered. He is our old
rector, you know"
II know he is NINE"
Yours! why, you don't belong in
Brentford!''
II belong in his parish, wherever it is. d
How very pleasant! WE'LL" she end.
co, with sigh, g wish he had taken me,
too, for don't see but that may as we'll
so home, the wedding will be over before
can get there"
II dom: know about that" said 1.
1.-THE world went ON before there were
railways, and there are plenty of cross.
country roads left. And if there is team
to be hal in this village"
"Oh. l don't think it would do" she
interrupted, shrinkingly.
Mot do!" said. "Pray, why not /!
All. you are doubtful concerning the pro-
prieties. Perhaps my credentials are not
enough. Let me see. There is my name
on my umbrella. But as that may he
stolen, here it is again on my wallet; there
L sc cnA 20
Ferguson
"Oh | know you are Allan Ferguson,
she said. Marcia showed me your pict.
1re. l have always known all about you.
"But your Cousin Marcia's Cousin Fer
| guson is not sufficient escort" said l.
"You-you mustn't he offended" she
cried. Indeed, it is very kind 1 am
extremely obliged. But-but-Dr. Wilder
Mrs: Burbank. Oh, it disappoints me
dreadfully, but"
But we are all fools once in our lives.
And here was Allan Ferguson infatuated
at one glance, in one instant, over pretty
face, sweet voice, blushing cheek, a
| shining eye-Over another mans bride,
another mans wife, for aught he knew;
for who keeps the run of his cousins
cousins lives? Not SO; that virginia.
glance. that dewy lip-,he dew of the
morning was on them yet. Instinct is as
good as knowledge. "You shall not be
disappointed; don't intend to be my
self" AND in two minutes more the tele.
graph instrumentwas clicking for special
engine for Waterway. 1t was getting to
be very expensive umbrella.
Before had fairly explained to the lit.
tie Rose what We -.sye to do, an engine
came numbering back from the Junction,
| took us aboard, ran up, and shifted; and
an hour of ground and lofty tumbling in
that jumping cab landed us at Water.
way. And, to tell the truth, felt that
my handsome treasury note but cheaply
purchased the pleasure of seeing this lit
tie Rose in the white silk and shining
veil and blue forget. me- nots that all Of
| Marcia's bridesmaids wore next day. l
| myself was grOOmsman; but what are
groomsmen? mere punctuation points,
marks of exclamation, lines of shadow,
behind the glory and the grace of we'd
ding garments. Personally less than
that, l was cipher, had no existence,
| was mere mote in the air before this
being to whose revelation on this day
the whole universe had creation! Only
once was l conscious of my identity.
as the bridal party left the church, l be-
thought me of my silk umbrella-and
had not brought it with me. And while
was hesitating If l might, some caitiff
had lifted her in his arms, and hidden
her and her finery in the coach, and left
me to drive back with another brjdemaid.
a creature OF common clay
spent a fortnight and more with my
aunt-in-law after the bride and groom had
gone, and DR.. Wilder and little Rose and
some others staid, too, to break the edge
of the first lonesomeness for the gooa
| lady, who, however, wanted none of us
in reality; but it was Marcia's arrange
| ment. The doctor prolonged his visit,
and we left little Rose there, with him,
and lame ankle. What time it was !!
in the clear, bracing December weather,
all life seemed mere frolic; and sleigh
ing and skating, singing and dancing,
watching the high heavens of stars, sit
ting in the twilight by the fire, up to see
winter sunrises-we forgot it was ever
going TO stop. passed through it in a
state of exhilaration amounting to light
headedness. have since understood that
my behavior at the time was a credit to
me. But an intoxicated man has as much
remembrance of himself as have of ex-
actly what did on any fixed moment of
those seventeen days. l lived inside q
gigantic bubble full Of sweet colOrs,
sweet tones, sweet smiles, which only
| broke and dissolved into worthless, life
less air when I found myself tramping
over the fields in dri-ing rain to my pig
sites, without my umbrella, which had
left at Waterway.
Of course for some days was in all the
flatness of that despair in which people
are apt to find themselves after fall
from any great height of exuberant spir-
its. could recover my umbrella; but
how was to recover my old equanimity
| or peace, or gain in its place that crown
of content which belongs to the conscious
ness of the accepted lover? l was child
crying for the moon. My Cousin Marcia's
Cousin Rose was just as far beyond me.
What right had 1, with my little farm.
my narrow means, my quiet life, to think
of this petted beauty, the darling OF
wealth and pleasure. who had only fed
They we're on the sunny side; was in
the shadow. All the lands and title deeds
of the family had gone on Marcia's side;
had my two hands and my few acres.
Why, could not allow q wife for her
whole years outfit the price of the silk
and lace and pearls Rose wore at Marcia's
wedding. Ifshe had no money of her
own, as once she limited, she was used to
other peoples money. I must put that
life, that people, out Of NY thoughts. As
las well. the best way 10 do 1t, went
back to Waterway for that umbrella.
My aunt was SO sorry that DR.. Wilder
had taken it by mistake, and left that
morning with Rose for Brentford-her
leave was more than up. The Bdrbanks
of Brentford were very particular people,
and her position-my aunt had had SO
much trouble to get it for her, she WIS SO
young and 80 prettyl-as governess there,
allowed no trifling..
"Governessl Why, I thought"
Yes, suppose So" said my sunt,
enigmatically. 81 told Rose she must
let you know she had no fortune"
"TOld herr'
"You have been apart from Us SO much,
Allan, and your side of the house has al.
ways married for love and grown poorer,
and Ours-.well, ours is like the old farm.