Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-21
NO.. 73.
Gales ano Skettbes.
COUSIN JOHN.
An English STORY.
Continued from yesterday }

men look Dack upon tnat perlou Oh
my existence cannot make myself out
why should the sight of a pretty face i'll
church have turned the current of my
thoughts and plans? Why did | consti
tute myself her champion before knowing
even her name, and determine to rescue
her from the ogreSS? Why
Every human life has romance and Il
tragedy attached to it--a love and death
SO the chances are that YOU can recall II
precedent for my aberlations an explana-
ton despair Of
became a prowler; in the morning be-
fore starting for the office, and in the even
ing after returning from it. | prowled.
The back gardens of the two houses were
separated by low, rickety paling, over
grown with laurel and syringa shrubbery,
which was favorable to prowling. The
time of the year being spring, the even
ngs were pleasantly fresh for young peo-
Pile. rheumatical to the feelings of the
elderly; and that also was good for prowl-
ing. And so somehow, really do not
know exactly how, managed to establish
clandestine communication with Edith
Maine. the niece of the ogress. OfcOurse
it was very shocking for a young lady to
make lads acquaintance without prop
er introduction, but 1t was all the FAULT OF
her aunt, who was tyrannical, and drove
her to deception. Only think what it must
have been for the poor thing to live in an
ogress : den, with no one to like her, or
talk to her. or take interest in anything
she cared for. First our eyes met; then
entrusted a note to the care of a plaster
woodman on the Maine side of the paling.
and he managed to deliver it. Then the
letters became habitual. Then we had an
interview-on opposite sides of the pal
ing. understand; then the interviews be-
came habitual Before MAY was out we
were engaged, Edith being seventeen, and
| within seven weeks of twenty-one. 4
prudent piece of business, was it not9
cousin john. said to my only conf
dant, "have you ever been engaged to be
married."
Yes, | think so, very nearly" he re-
piled.
Dear me and why did not the event
come OFF,"
There was another man who wished
very much to marry the same lady. and
really he was a nice fellow, and it was
very awkward. and could not bear to see
him veXed. and so somehow | gave way"
"And have you ever regretted it ?'
Never. You see. ladies are so help
less, and like to wait on myself; they
don't care what trouble they give"
"Ah Cousin John. You never loved as
do ~
81 dare say not"
''Don't You think | might marry very
well on my present income ?'
no. said Cousin John, after long
rumination.
''But We have settled to live in two
rooms, just like laboring people. and not
try to be gentlefolks in dress and that, at
all"
"Ahr' said Cousin John, shaking his
head doubtfullv
| suppose that this juvenile Irritation
would have shared the fate of ninetv-nine
out of a hundred such crude affairs, had it
not been for an accident-a public holiday
which released me from my office for
days prowl mt a particular crisis.
had seen the ogre depart Londonwards
in the omnibus, alone, and my parents
had gone off into the country directly after
breakfast, on a visit of inspection to some
retormatory, so that it was without exer-
cising the usual precaution that advanced
through the shrubbery. There was di-
apidated arbor in the Maine garden near
the woodman, and from it came sound of
sobbng which made me feel wild in two
seconds was endeavoring to administer
spoony consolation to the hysterical beauty.
"I'll bear it no longer she sobbed,
I'll not put up with it -
don't darling"
'I'll run away
"Quite right, pet. What has hap
pened?"
learned by degrees that the ogress, at
ter bullying her niece for some time with
her tongue. had gone farther that morn
ing and boxed her ears" You may imag-
inc the state of mind into which the infor-
nation threw me. What, strike Edith. |
wondered that a bolt from heaven had not
fallen to avenge the sacrilegous blow. |
raved so Edith grew calm. and then re-
covered sufficient reason t. consider what
was best to be done, and came to the con-
cusion that the only prudent way out of
the situation was an immediate elopement
We were very young. utterly inexperi-
enced, and we positively adopted that ro-
mantle expedient. with the firm conviction
that it was the wisest possible.
We passed out of the garden into back
lane. and soavoidcd the common, got upon
the London road, which we followed, un-
| till IN empty cab passed, which | hailed;
and WE drove to Cousin Johns lodgings.
Poor dear man. he was SO unused to the
society of ladies that his natural shyness
had become intensified to mania and when
introduced Edith he retired to corner
of the room blushing like peony. How
ever soothed him, brought him forward,
made him shake hands with her, and pres
emily he recovered far enough to express
his pleasure that the affair had been settled
to the satisfaction of all parties.
''l}ut the other parties know nothing
about it, | exclaimed, land they must be
kept in ignorance too. We have eloped.
BLESS me - said Cousin John.
Yes" | continued; there are lodg-
ings to be let in this house, and shall
take them for Edith, who must remain I'M
der your protection until we can be mar
ried"
Cousin John looked faint. but put him
in chair, and knowing where he kept his
sherry. got it out and administered glass.
What made the situation more awkward
was that Edith now began to realize the