Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-04-27
on! COUSIN CHARLEY.
BY MARGARET LIVINGSTON.


"Cousin Charley's coming home =
Cousin Charley's coming homeW cried
little, twelve-year-old Maud Bentley
darting breathIessly, full of the impor,
tant news, into the breakfastroom. "Pa
has just had letter. heard him tell,
ing mamma, in the dressingrOom, as |
went in to kiss her.
Her eldest sister, Kate, who presided
at the urn, changed color, and her heart
began to beat fast; but she said nothing,
an omission which excited Maud's in.
dignation.
"Why don't you say something, Sister
Kate " she cried, shaking her by the
sleeve.
Z" Are you not glad : If | were a boy,
I'd hurrah."
"Tll hurrah for you" said Master
Freddy, youngster Of eight, with his
mouth full Of buttered toast "I don't
remember Cousin Charley, but they say
he's brick, He'll bring me, maybe a
big knife with twenty blades from New
York jim Stanley has a sumner, that
his father bought there for him, Hur-
rah w
Freddy, dear" said Kate, mildly,
don't use such slang phrases, please.
Gentlemen never do"
Just So" answered Freddy, coolly.
But then, you see, I'm not gentleman
yet. I'm only a school boy" And he
went on stulling himself with toast.
Notwithstanding her assumed indiaer.
ence, Kate's heart was beating like a
forge-hammer. Up to four years ago,
when Cousin Charley had gone abroad
to finish his education at German uni
versity, Kateand he had been all in all
to each other. She was, at that time,
nearly sixteen, and he four years older
Charley had been, rs it we're, brought up
in the family, for when his parents died
he was only five years old, and as his
father had been Mr.. BentIey's cousin.
the boy had been committed to the lat.
ters guardianship. All Charley's holi-
days, therefore, had been spent at the
BentIeys ; in winter at their town,
house; in summer at their country seat.
As Kate developed into girlhood, he and
she became lnse eparable He would have
no other partner at the children's parties
they attended together in town. In the
country she would go out with no one
else fishing, or rambling in the woods. 1t
was one OF those childish attachments
at which the elders OF the family smile
gOOd-naturedly, aware that they gener-
ally come to nothing 1t began to look
more serious, however, when, at twenty,
Cousin Charley still persisted in his de-
yotiOn.
"He is going abroad, however, for four
years" said Nj Bentley, when bis wife
expressed some anxiety on the subject
"and when he comes back, he will
probably have forgotten Kate. OF course
there is no objection to Charley in him
self He has a good fortune, ard is
everything that is desirable. But Kate,
at least, is too young to think of mar
riage.o
Cousin Charley received a hint of his
uncles opinion on this subject, and went
away without any formal engagement to
Kate. 1t must be confessed she was
surprised. But she remained true,
nevertheless. A year after, when she |
began to 60 into society, his image still
hadsuch power over her that no one of
her many suitors was able to supplaut it,
Thus she had reached the age Of twenty,
and was still unmarried. People called |
her cold. Even her parents thought it
odd, for they had long ceased to connect |
her and Cousin Charley together.
But now we know why Kate's heart |
beat so fast on that December morning |
and why, nevertheless, she assumed such
an air of uncOncern.
Cousin Charley came, and more than
realized her maiden ideal, for he was still |
as merry and kind-hearted as of old, with
the most distinguished manners super
added. But alas for poor Kate, there
was no renewal of the old intimacy. At
their first interview she held back and
Cousin Charley had little to say, in fact,
seemed embarrassed. The secret was
soon out. Kate had an old schoolmate
who had come that day to spend the hol-
idays with her, a beautiful, Juno,like
girl. The moment that Livia Randolph
entered the room, Cousin Charley whole
manner changed 1t came out that he
and Livia were old friends, and had
spent most of the preceding winter in
Paris together. Kate was quite left out
of the conversation. Nevertheless, she
could not help admiring Cousin Charley's
quick wit, his eloquent language, his
warm enthusiasm as to all things noble
and good.
"f am nobody" said she to herself"
with sigh, "He forgets the old times
i"
As the days went on, and Christmas
drew near, this conviction became more
fixed. Cousin Charley came constantly
to the house; but it was always with
Livia ho talked. There seemed COM
plete understanding between them. She
was invariably in the drawing room
awaiting his visit, and before he had been
there long, she and he managed to be
together on some distant sofa whispering.
Kate could not help thinking this was
rude; but her heart was sore, and she
forgot that the same law cannot be applied
to lovers as to Others. Now and then
Cousin Charley, IS if recollecting his good
manners, would address himself to Kate,
but it was always in stiff, constrained
way and Kate instinctively answered in
the same cold and reserved fashion,
Great preparations were being made
at the Bentleys' to celebrate Christmas
and New Year. There was to be
dancing party and supper on Christmas
eve, and the dining room was to have,
from a chandelier, huge
bunch of mistletoe; and woe to the
pretty girl that was caught under it, for
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