The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-06
THE COUSINS.

He had got himself into scrape, and
manlke, had no definite idea how he was IL
get out Of IT,
Last winter, in flush of enthusiasm, he
had rewarded Miss Mowbray's seraphic
smiles by an offer of his hand and fortune,
and she had accepted the prize with show
of tenderness that was perfect in its way.
The marriage, in all human probabilities,
would have been consummated, had not the
grim hand of Fate beckoned the unfortunate
Con up to little village on a fishing excur
sion ostensibly, but, in reality, to fall in love
with pretty little Dora Blair.
lie met her alta village gathering, and it
being fixed principle of his to attach him
self to the pretteist girl in the room, he adj
hered to his purpose with a rigidity which
would have been extremely amusing, had it
not so soon become serious, for after two or
three meetings, Master Con was fairly in
| fatuated.
For week the dream was bright and I'm.
disturbed.
Then Con began to feel uncomfortable.
With the prospect of being married to one
| girl in month he was hardly dishonerable
enough to propose the same course with an
other.
But being neither very clever nor original
he couldn't see the slightest loophole so he
fingered Oh at Dora's side, and she, poor
child was happy, even in the uncertainty
of course people talked as they always dc
talk, and some more daring than the rest
encompassed Con, and looked unutterable
things as they spoke of Dora's parentage.
olives with her father and mOtherH Oh
yes but then they don't happen to be .hel
father and mother. She is their daughters
daughter, and as to who was her father
well, we don't know, and the Blairs take
care to give us no information"
Then Con was angry.
He was just young enough to be Quixotic
and, of course, he wanted to marry her; tc
take his little star-laced angel to himself; tc
transplant his little field daisy to a more
luxuriant soil.
He went up to see her with letter from
Miss Mowbray in his pocket and an omin.
ously guilty feeling about bis heart.
Pretty Dora, sat with her white face up
raised, and her wondrous hair falling around
her like glorious golden cloud.
81 thought you would come" she saic
slyly, the color family flushing her rai
cheeks, and then, though Nature hadn'
made him so, Con felt more utterly foolisl
than ever.
r GAS if could stay away" he answered
half reproachfully. "At least, until hav,
, to, for I'm going away in a day or two"
Her eyes wandered down the road an,
she leaned more heavily than ever agains
: the garden gate.
) ooh! are you ?" very FAINT and tremu
3 lous.
eyes, but I'll come back again if any on
wants me-"
She stole one quick glance at him iron
under her downcast lids.
"Do you want me, Dora7 Will I com
l back to you ?"
No answer came from the parted lips, bu
] think he knew she wanted him, for leanin
over the garden gate, answered her silenc
by saying;
"Very we'll, dear, I'll be back in a yer
little while and you'll be waiting for m'
won't you?"
1t was not very definite, to say the lea'
oft
Con went home that night ecstatically bu
guiltily happy.
And when he reached home he found
letter awaiting him.
A letter from bis mother, the dowage
a Mrs. Creighton, demanding his instant re
turn.
"Gertrude is very ill, she said, "aud eel
tainly your place should be beside the lad
who in four weeks will become your vii,
have heard, but totally disbelieve, . rune
ii OF some girl whose pretty face has attracte
your attentions. 1t might haYe trouble
NV A"N NV hAo"A NAieN NNNAA - Not l"u
dignity as being member of the Creighto
ismilyi and your honor as being engeged I
Gertrude Mowbray."
D. Con crushed the letter in his hand, an
'e tried TO stare circumstances in the face, bu
II circumstances bafiled him, and in state {
semi torture, he retired To his dream di;
), turbed couch.
The next morning he returned /
London.
Miss Moybray S much better when h
teached home.
Mrs. Creighton greeted him with dign
fed pleasure, aud poor Con felt as utterl
mean and dishunorable as his most invete
y ate enemy could have desired
10 "Mr Creightoni | would like to TRa
' With you for mument, please"
Con was wslking down the strand consi,
ering now he should break of his engag,
> ment, When the words struck his ear.
Z Con turned with start and encounters
his lawyer, Arthur Cray.
1 "Cersniy, Mr.. Gray Whats tae bus
, hess nowT'
,s "Rs'hrf an uup,edssu. Jaauess. a
srry tn say, sir, But you will step into N
oihoo, where can fully explaiu|