Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-21
Madge's Cousin.

guardian by saying it was "only Jacks"
my DEAR" said Mr.. Sclwin, walking
up and down and stroking his gray
beard in perplexity, Il want to talk to
you about Jack
''Oh please, not now, Papa Selwyn p
She called him Papa Selwin when she
meant to be coaxing. and that was near
ly always
"But, my dear, that is all nonsense.
must talk about Jack some. Yester-
day it was 'Oh please don't-my head
is aching and the day before, oh
please don't-I 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 unmanageable
charge on the endless subject of "Jack "
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 du-
tiful girl fulfil her dying fathers re-
quest and marry her cousin and the
second was a eulogium on the many
good qualities of Jack Hawkesbury.
"Do, Mr.. Sclwyn," 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 daugh-
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, child!' be exclaimed !;
his annoyance for moment escaping his
control. 81 wish you had half Gertrude's
good sense. You fancy Jack thinks of
hers that it? He is the soul of honor
and as far as it depends on him your
fathers word will be kept"
"Oh! Papa Selwyn, don't be vexed
with me; am so sorry!" and her face
was hidden on his large, rough hands in
a burst of sorrow, quite childish in its
passing intensity.
"Cheer up, my darling girl, he said !;
"you made mistake-that's all. Why,
one of these days you will forget poor
Papa Selwyn altogether, when you fall
in love with your cousin"
"Then won't !' cried Madge, with
all the strength of her hot heart.
All her life, even so far back as her
childhood, she had dreaded the fate that
bound her to marry her cousin. When
Jack Hawkesb bury came on the scene and
staid on visits at the house, she disliked
and ridiculcd him without mercy. And
now there was only one month left before
her twenty first birthday and betrothal.
Often she told Gertrude she wished he
would go home and stay there; and
Gertrude would only laugh, with deep.
er tinge of color on her fair face.
The girls went out little. an arrange.
ment against which Madge often REBEL
ed, believing it was in some way con.
nected with the safe management of the
marriage with her cousin. But there
were two pleasures in prospect now, ar
afternoons boating with Jack and 6
friend of his and Gertrude, and party
that the Ponsonby-Joneses were going tt
give, to which the Selwyn family were
soon to be invited. All that ever
memorable day how many years it would
take to make Madge forget it There
were four in the boat that passed, will
the measured beat and ripple of jack
pair of sculls. along by the reedy shall
lows and green wooded banks of tn,
upper Thames. The two girls shared
the cushioned seat at the stern, thei
white woolen shawls guarding them from
the chill of the autumn wind. Gertrud,
was watching the shores and the runnin,
ripples, thinking in her quiet, easy
, going way. Madge, bright with excite
: ment was talking-not with Jack, bu
with the dark. bearded, travel-bronze,
man, who was resting from his turn a
the sculls. He was charmed with tn
, way she chatted and listened to hi
a tales of half the world with refreshin,
absence of self-consciousness. Wha
would he have said if he had known tn
+ thought that strove entrance into he
heart? ? Oh if Jack-awkward, blum
: dering. good-natured Jack-could b
! changed into this stranger that sh
called timidly Mr.. Fitzallan, and JAG
e and her guardian had greeted as Her
Y bert
: At last there was pause in the tall
. She gave deep sigh, prompted by
: sad longing to do right, vague fear,
d first suspicion of the change that wa
coming over her impetuous heart.
care you cold, Madge?" asked Jacl
s pulling away and bending to his stron
It stroke. keep your shawl we'll abou
# your shoulders. And my dear girl, loo
= !, to your steering. You have been send