West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-05
MADGE'S COUSIN.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER ].

Madge was sitting upon the hearth
rug, pulling to pieces a white camelIia.
and excusing herself to her kind old
guardian, by saying it was only
Jacks"
"My dear" said Mr.. Selwyn, walk
ing up.and down, and stroking his gray
beard in perpiexity, want to talk to
you about Jack"
"Ol please, not now, Papa Selwyn %
She called him Papa Selwyn when she
meant to be coaxing, and that was
nearly always
But, my dear, this is all nonsense.
must talk about Jack some time. Yes
terday it was, o! please don't-mv
head is aching and the day before,
'Ol please DON'T want to go out with
Gerty.' Come let us face this affair"
And, sitting in the easy-chair behind
her hassock, he drew up on his knees
the hand that held the broken flower.
and proceeded to lecture his unman.
ageable charge on the endless subject of
Jack"
Madge was charming charge for any
kind old mans heart to have No one
could look into her large gray eyes with
out seeing the great warm heart, whose
tale they told every moment; and vet
the bright quick glances and the saucy
set OF the lips showed that Madge had n
will of her own, and wit and cleverness
enough to carry it out.
This lecture on Jack was the same as
many others had been. 1t consisted of
two parts, the first being devoted to
proving that she ought TO throw her own
whims and pleasures aside. and as n
dutiful girl fulfill her dying fathers re-
quest and marry her cousin; and the
second was eulogium ON the many
good qualities of Jack Hawkesburv.
DO, Mr.. Selwyn," laughed Madge.
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 for life"
Gerty was Mr.. Selwyn's own daupb-
ter, and at the mention of her name a
strange expression crossed his face.
which Madge could not read.
Throw him at Gerty's head what
words you use, childY' he exclaimed ::
his annoyance, for a moment, escaping
his control. wish you had half
Gertrude's good sense You fancy Jack
thinks Of her-is that it2 He is the soul
OF honor, and as far as il depends on him.
your fathers word will be kept"
"Ol Papa Selwyn, don't be vexed
with me; / am 30 sOrry!" and her face
was hidden on his large rough hands i'm
burst Of sorrow, quite childish i'm it,
passing intensity.
Cheer up, my darling girl" he said ;
you made mistake-thaFs all. Whv.
one OF these days you will forget poor
Papa Selwyn altogether, when you fall
IN love with your cousin"
That I won'tw cried Madpe. with
al the strength Of her hot heart.
All her life, even 80 far back as her
childhood, she had dreaded the fate that
bound her to marry her cousin. When
Jack HaWkesbury came on the scene and
stayed ON visits at the house. she dis
liked and ridiculed him without mercy.
Another, one ike fair-haired Gertrude
for instance, might have accented the
inevitable and been happy butMadee's g
active and independent nature made
her run against fate. And now there
was only one month left before her
twenty y-frst birthday and the betrothaI.
Often she told Gertrude she wished he
would 60 home, and stay there and
Gertrude would only laugh with a
deeper hnge Of color on her fair face.
Inc girls went out but little, an ar.
Tangemeut against which Madge often