Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-20
THE COUSINS.

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manlike, had no definite idea OF how he
was to get out Of it.
Last winter, in a flush Of enthusiasm,
he had rewarded Miss Mowbray's sera-
phic smiles by an offer OF his hand and
fortune, and she hal accepted the prize
with a show Of tenderness that was per-
feet in its way.
The marriage, in all human probabih-
ties, would have been consummated had
not the grim hand Of Fate beckoned the
unfortunate Con up to a little village on
a fishing excursion ostensibly, but, in
reality, to fall in love with pretty little
Dora BLAIR.
Tie met her at a village gathering, and
il being fixed principle OF his TO attach
himself to the prettiest girl in the room,
he adhered 70 his purpose with rigtdl'
" which would have been extremely
amusing, had il not SO soon become serl-
Gus, for. after two or three meetings,
Master Con was fairly infatuated.
For a week the dream was bright and
undisturhed.
Then Con began TO feel uncomforta-
bic.
With the prospect Of being married to
one girl i'm q month he was hardly dis
honorable enough 10 propose the same
course with another.
But being neither very clever nor
original, he couldn't see the slightest
lOOphOle; so he fingered on at DOra's
side, and she, poor child, was happy,
even I'm the uncertainty.
OF course people talked as they always
do talk, amt some more daring than
the rest enCOm passed Con, and looked
uuuuerable things - they spoke OF
Dora parentdge.
Lives with her father and mother?
Oh, YES. but then they don't happen to
beher father and mother. She Is their
daughters daughter, and rs 10 who was
her hther-well, We don't know, and
the Blairs take care to give Us no intor-
nation.
Then Con was angry.
lie was Just young enough 10 be
/ QuiNOtic, and, OF course, he wanted 10
marry her; % take his little star faced
angel To himself; % transplant his little
field daisy % a more luXuriant soil.
He went up 10 see her with letter
from Miss MOwbray in his pocket and
an ominously guilty feeling about his
heart.
Pretty Dora sat with her white face
appraised, and her wondrous hair falling
around her like a glorious golden cloud.
81 thought YOU would come she
/ said, slyly, the color family flushing her
fair cheeks, and then, though nature
I hadn't made him 50, Con felt more ut
terly foolish than ever.
"As II could STAY away he answer
Ell. hall rrproachiully. "At least until
. have to, Tor I'm going away in a day
/ or two
Her eyes wandered down the road
/ and she leaned more heavily than ever
against the garden gate.
ooh are yOu?' veryltaint and tremu-
! lOuS.
"Yes, but I'll cone back again il any
/ one wants me.
She stole one quick glance at him from
/ under her downcaSt lids.
"Do YOU want me, Dora? Will come
back to you2'
No answer came from the parted lips,
7 but think he knew she wanted him, Tor
/ leaning over the garden gate, he answer
I Ell her silence by saving:
every well dear, III be back in a
very little while, and you'll be waiting
/ for me, won't you?
Ii was not very definite, to say the
| least OF 10.
Con went home that night extatically
but guiltily happy.
And when he reached home ne found
| letter awaiting him.
A letter from his mother, the dOwager
Mrs. Creighton, demanding his instant
/ return.
gertrude is very ill.," she said, "and
certainly your place should be beside
| the lady who in four weeks will become
| YOUR wife. l have heard, but totally
disbelieve, a rumOr of some girl whose
prettv face has attracted your attentions.
! liz might have troubled me had / not
/ known that could trust your dignity
as being a member. OF the Creighton fam
I ilv, and your honor as being engaged to
Gertrude MOwbray."
Con crushed the letter in his hand,
and tried to stare circumstances in the
face. but circumstance baffled him, and
in a state ofsemi-torture, he returned to
| his dream-disturbed couch.
The next morning he returned to Lon
don.
Miss MOwbray was much better when
he reached home.
Mrs. Creighton greeted him with dig
nihed pleasure, and poor Con felt as ut
tsriy mean and dishOnarble as his most
'"SsS.efate enemy could have desired.
- UT. creighton, would like to speak
Coy you lor moment, please"
eonsi5o sas walking down the strand
ns now he should break off hi,