Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-03-07
The Legacy Hunters.

with no known relatlonS save two
gentleman cousins.
Never was cousinly attachment
more beautifully Illustrated, or
cousinly jealousy less amiably ex-
empli6ed, than in the daily walk
and conversation of these two col
lateral kinsmen. They bestowed
SO much affection on their COM
mon relative, tn at they had none
left to waste between themselves.
Both were several years younger
than the lady, with a fair prospect,
according to the course of nature,
of surviving her and how to sup
plant each other in her will, which
she had at last begun to talk seri
ously of making, was the problem
which at present engaged their at.
tentioI.
On the morning in question,
when Cousin Roger called to wish
Cousin Abigail the usual "many
happy returns,' he was not little
chagrined to find Cousin Dick
there before him. However, he
presented his anhual gift, and went
through his annual speech without
missing a word and seeing Tabby,
the cousinly cat, perched on his
rivals knee, by way of not being
outdone in cousiuly attention, he
took up Pompey, the cousinly poo
die, though dogs We're his abomi-
nation.
"Well, Cousin Abigail, I hope
your health continues good" said
Cousin Roger, patting Pompey'
head and glancing suspiciously a.,
Cousin Dick, whom he devoutedly
wished at Jericho.
'Not so good lafterly as it has
been. The fact is the old lady
continued, 81 have been thinking
seriously of sending for Mr.. Park
er, with view to settling my
worldly affairs without delay"
"Oh, there is no Deed of haste,
Cousin" broke 10 Dick you have
many years before you yet men.
tally adding, What has possessed
the old ninny to put it off SO
long -
"Well, well, I suppose their is
no hurry abont it," said Cousin
Abigail.
"And yet" Cousin Roger ven-
tured to hint, sit is always well to
be prepared none of us can tell
the minute or the hour, you know" :"
"And, after all, calling in law.
yer is not so serious a matter as
calling in DOCTOR" said Cousin
Dick, facetiously.
The conversation was interrupt
ed by the entrance of a young and
beautiful girl, at whom Cousin Dick
stared with surprised and
troubled lock.
''Pardon me, ma'am," she said,
in voice remarkably sweet and
gentle. mot knowing you were en-
gagged, came to see if you wished
me, as usual, to read to you to
day"
presently, dear,' Mrs. Varley
answered, in a tone that plainly
hinted her visitors would not be
pressed to stay if they offered to
go.
After an awkward pause, the
two cousins took their departure
together.
"Who is that girl ?" inquired
Roger, as soon as they had reached
the street.
You may we'll ask said Cousin
Dick +; and STOPPING, he whispered
something in his companions ear,
at which the latter started sudden
ly.
"Good heaven The resemblance
is certainly striking. But what is
to be doue !? Do you think the
old-Cousin Abigail I mean, sus-
poets anything?"
mot yet, l think but no time is
to be lost. [ have plan which it
would be well for US 10 talk over
together
And the two hurried rapidly
along.
Mrs. Variey had occasionally
found time hanging heavy on her
hands, and so had advertised for a
person to fill the post of "compan-
ion" to an aged lady. 1t was thus
that Hester Darling had become
an inmate of the house.
AT as early an hour as was seem
ly on the morning following that
on which we introduced them to
the reader, Roger ana Dick again
presented themselves before their
cousin.
1--WE have thought it our duty,
Cousin" began Dick.
sOur bounden duty" put in
Roger.
"As painful as it is Imperative %
continued Dick.
"To put you on your guard,
a'aln," Roger added.
"Against deceltful and dcsi gn-
ing person." exclaimed Dick.
"Who is no better than she
should be y shouted Roger, indig-
lnantly.