The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-27
MADGE'S COUSIN.


Madge was sitting upon the hearth
rug, pulling to pieces q white cameIia
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, {" want to talk to
you about Jack"
''Oh please, not now, Papa Selwynl"
She called him Papa Selwyn when she
meant to be coaxing, and that was nearly
always.
But, my dear, that is all nonsense.
[ must talk about Jack some time. Yes
terday it was, D please don't-my hesd
is aching;' and the day before, co.
please don't-I want to go out with
Gerty.' Come, let us face this affair"
And sitting in the easy chair behind his
hassock, he drew up on his knees the
hand that held the broken AOwer, aud
proceeded to lecture his u1manageable
charge on the endless subject "Jack."
Madge was q charming charge for any
kind old mans heart to have. no one
could leok into her large gray eyes with
out seeing great warm heart, whose tale
they told every moment and yet the
bright quick glances and the saucy set of
the lips showed that Madga had a viii
of her own, and wit and cleverness
enough to carry it out
This lecture on Jack was the same as
many others had been. It consisted OF
two parts, the first part being devoted to
proving that she ought TO throw her own
Whims snd pleasures aside, and IS a du-
tiful girl, fulfil her dying father's request
and marry her cousin and the second
rErrr on +Ha el
tiles of Jack Hawkesbury.
edo, 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 l shall make him over to her, and
they will be happy tor life" ame a
Gerty was Mr.. Selwyn's own " hich
ter, and at the mention of her
strange expression crossed his face,
Madge could not read.
Throw him at GeTty's head what
words you use, childl' ne exclaimed; mis-
annoyance for a moment escaping his
control. "I wish you had halt Ger
trude's good sense. You fancy Jack
thinks OF her-is that it? He is the
soul of honor, and as far as it depends
on him your fathers word viii be kept
"Ohl Papa Selwyn, don't be vexed
with me; am so sorry !" and her face
was hidden on his large rough hands il
burst of sorrow, quite childish in it
passing intensity.
Cheer up, my darling girl" he said
you made mistake-that's all. Why
one of these days you will forget poo,
Papa Selwyl altogether, when you fal
in love with your cousin"
That I WON'T |" cried Madge, will
all the strength of her hot heart.
All her life, even so far back as he
childhood, she had dreaded the fate tina
bound her to marry her cousin. WheI
JACK Hawkesbury came on the scene anC
stayed on visits at the house, she dis
liked and ridiculed him without mercy
Another, one ike fair-haired Gertrud
for instance, might have accepted tn,
inevitable and been happy; but Madge'
active and independent nature made he
run against fste. And now there wa
only one month left before her twenty
first birthday and the betrothal. Ortel
she told Gertrude she wished he woul,
go home and stay there; and GertFud
would only laugh with deeper tinge o
color in her fair face.
The girls went out but little, an 81
rangement sgains' which Madge tel
rebelled, believing it was in some wa
connected with the safe management o
: the marriage with her cousin. But ther
we're two pleasures in prospect now; a
afternoons boating with Jack and
friend of his and Gertrude, and q part
, that the PonsOnby-Joneses were goin
/. to give, to which the Selwyn famil
a were sure to be invited. First cam
0 boating. All that ever memorabl
: day how many years it would tax
; to make Madge forget it There weI
four in the boat that passed, with th
: measured beat and ripple of Jacks pa
+. of sculIs, along by the reedy shallow
D and green wooded banks of the UppS
z Thames The two girls shared the cusl
e ioned seat at the stern, their viii
It wooden shaWls guarding them from tt
chill of the autumn wind. GertruC
was watching the shores and TunniI
ripples, thinking in her quiet, easy-goiI
g. way. AIadge, bright with excitemen
was talking-not with Jack, but wit
d the dark bearded, travel bronzed ma
il who was resting from his turn at Il
"a sculls. He was charmed with the wa
n she chstted and listened TO his tales
1e half the world, with refreshing absen
-e eff self consciousness. What would
L have said if he had known the thoug
"a that strOye for entrance into her hear
d Oh if Jsck-swkward, blunderin
ir good natured Jack-cOuld be chang
ct into TINS stranger that sne called III
d idly Mr. Fitzallen, and JACK and b
n guardian had greeted at the house
.is Herbert
ne At last there was a pause in the tai
r. She gave a deep sigh, prompted by q s
n longing to DO right, vague fear, q Fl
2 suspicion of the change that was comi
Il over her impetuous heart.
be 9 Are you cold, Madge ssked Us
T. pulling sway and bending 10 his stro
| stroke, Keep your shawl well abc