The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-05-07
OH COUSIN CHARLIE.

! little, twelve-year-oid nlauu Dcn'iey
dartiug treathlessly. full of the impor-
tant news, into the breakfast room
"Pa has just had letter. I heard him
telling mamma, in the dressing-room, 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 indignation.
"Why don't you say something, SIS
ter Kate ?" she cried, shaking her by
the sleeve.
"Are you not glad? If 1 were boy
Id burrah."
"I'il burrah for you," said Master
Freddy, youngster Of eight, with his
mouth full Of buttered toast. Il don
remember G ousin Charley, but they say
he's brick. He'll bring me. maybe, a
big knife with twenty blades from New
York; Jim Stanley has s,unner. that
his father bought there for him. Hur-
rah !"
FREDDY, dear, said Kate, mildly
''dou't use such slang phrases. please
Gentlemen never do."
Just So" answered Freddy, coolly
But then, you see, I'm not gentle.
man yet. I'm only school.boy." And
he went on stufing himself with his
toast.
Notwithstanding her assumed indiffer
ence, Hates heart was beating like
forge hammer. Up to four years age
when Cousin Charley had gone abroad
to finish his education at German uni
versity, Kate and he had been all in al
to each other. She was, at that time
nearly sixteen. and he was four years ol
der. Charley had been, as it were
brought up in the family, for when his
parents died. he was only five years old
and as his father had been Mr.. Bent
ley's cousin, the boy had been commit
ted to the latter's guardianship. AL
| Charley's holidays, therefore, had beer
spent at the Bentley's; in winter at the
town house; in summer at their country
scat. As Kate developed into girlhood
he and she became inseparable. H'
would have no other partner at the chill
dren's parties they attended together ii
town. In the country she would 90 on
with no one else fishing, or rambling IL
the woods. 1t was one of those childish
attachments at which the elders of th'
family smile good d-naturcdly, aware tha
they generally come to nothing. 1t be
gan to look more serious, when a
twenty, Cousin Charley still persisted ii
his devotion.
"Hc is going abroad, however, fol
fonr ycars," said Mr.. Bentley, when hi
wife expressed some anxiety on the sub
iect; "and when he comes back. he will
prubably have forgotten Kate. 0
course there is no objection to CHARLEY
in himself. He has n good fortune, ant
is everything that is desirable. Blu
Kate. at least, is too young to think o
marriage"
Cousin Charley received a hint O.
his uucle's opinions on this subject, ant
went away without any formal engage
ment to Kate. 1t must be- confessed
she was surprised. But she remained
true. nevertheless. A. year after, hi
image still had such power over her tha
no one Of her many suitors was able Il
supplant it. Thus she had reached the
age of twenty, and was still unmarried
People called her cold. Even her par
ents thought it odd, for they had lonl
ceased to connect her and Cousin G har
ley together.
But now we know why Kate's hear
beat 20 fast on that December morning
and why, nevertheless, she assumed sucf
an air of uuconcern.
Cousin Charley came, and more that
realized her maiden ideal, for he wa
still as merry and kind-hearted as o
old, with the most distinguished man
ners superadded. But alas! for poo
Kate, there was no renewal Of the oil
intimacy. At their first interview sh
held back and Cousin Charley had lit
tle to say-in fact, seemed rather em
barrassed. The secret was soon out
4 Kate had an old school.mate who hat
con that day TO spend the hollis
s,,,h hsr, b bAA,,tiful. fuutANkt pirl