Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-03-22
MADGE'S COUSIN!

hAAAS was blttluB uPUH tue uSdrIh'
rug, pulling to pieces . white camelia
and excusing herself to her kind Old
guardian by saying it was only Jacks"
My DEAR" said Mr.. SelWyn walking
up and down and stroking his gray
beard in perplexity, Il want to talk to
you about Jack"
ooh please, not now, Papa Selwyn!"
She called him Papa Selwyn when she
meant to be coaxing and tpaC vas nearly
always.
But, my DEAR that is all nonsense
| must talk about Jack some time Yes
teIday il was, Q please don my head
is aching and the day before, %!
please d0n't--I want to 60 out with
Gerty' Come, let US face this affair" !"
And sitting in the easy chair behind his
haasock, he drew up On his knees the
hand that held the broken flower, aud
proceeded TO lecture his u2manageabe
charge on the endless subject o "Jsck." !"
Madge was a charming charge for any
kind old mans heart to have. 30 one
could look into her large gray eyes with
out seeing 4 grea. warm heart, whose tale
they told every moment; AID yet the
bright quick glances and the ssucy set OF
the lips showed that Msdge had s. viii
OF her own, and wit and cleverness
enough to carry il out
This lecture on Jack was the same as
many others had been. 1t consisted OF
two parts, the first part being devoted to
proving that she ought to throw her own
whims and pleasures aside, and as du-
tilul girl, fulfil her dying father request
and marry her cousin; and the secSnd
was q eHIogium on the many good quail
tiles of Jack Hawkesbury.
"Do, Mr., Selwyn," laughed Msdge
after he had been making out that even
jacks awkwardness came from an over
plus OF good nature "do throw him at
Gerty's head as you throw him at mine
and | shall make him over TO her, and
they will be happy Tor life"
Gerty was Mr Selwyn's own daugh-
ter, and al the mention of her name a
strange expression crossed his face, which
Madge could not read.
Throw him at GeTty's head what
words you use, child" he exclaimed; his
annoyance for a moment escaping his
control. II wish you had halt Ger
trude's good sense. You fancy Jack
links o. her-is that it? He is the
soul of honor, and as far as it depends
on him your fathers word will be kept "
con! Papa Selwyn, don't be vexed
with NE; am 30 sorry /" and her face
was hidden on his large rough hands in
burst OF sorrow, quite childish in its
passing intensity.
"Checr up, my darling girl" he said ;
you made mstaks-thats sll, Why,
one of these days you will forget poor
Papa Selwya altogether, when you fall
in love with your cousin"
"Tnat | won't!" cried Msdge, with
all the strength of her hot heart.
All her life, even 30 far back as her
childhood, she had dreaded the tate that
bound her 10 mary her cousin. When
JACK Hswkesbury came on the scene and
stayed ca visits az the house, she dis'
liked and ridiculed him without mercy.
Another one like fair.haired Gertrude
lor instance, might have accepted the
inevitable aud been happy; but Madge 1
active and independent nature made hel
run against late, And now there wal
only one month left before her twenty
first birthday and the botrothal. Otter
she told Gertrude she wished he woulC
90 home and stay there; and Gertrud,
would only laugh with deeper tinge o
color in her fair face.
The girls went out but little, an ar
ranCement agains which Madge ter
rebelled, believing it was in some way
connected with the safe management o
the marriage with her cousin. But Their
were two pleasures in prospect now al
afternoons boating with Jack and |
friend of his and Gertrude, and part,
that the Ponsonby-Joneses were goinI
to give, to which the Selwyn famil,
we're sure to be invited. First cam
boating. ALL that ever memorable
day Il how many years it would tax
to make Msdge forget 1t There wer
four in the boat that passed, with tn
measured beat and ripple of Jacks pal
of sculls, along by the reedy shallow
and green wooded banks of the Ippe
Thames. The two girls shared the cush
ioned seat at the stern, their whit
woolen shawls guarding them from tn
chill of the autumn wind. Gertrud
was watching the shores and runnin
ripplos, thinking in her quiet, easY-goin
way. Madge, bright with excitement
was talking-not with Jack, but wit
the dark bearded, travel bronzed mar
who was resting from his turn at tn
sculls. He was charmed with the wa
ahe chatted and listened 10 his tales {
half the world, with q refreshing sbsenC
Of self consciousness. What would b
| L.~,. .st1 40 hr had knnvry, the thnysgh