Ellsworth American., 1879-05-08

| dnaIlv decided to 90 down to Blackheath
and see his cousins, and look them up the
following morning. according to the hints
| Of his wary counsellor. He might have
been seen. therefore, walking from the
Biackheath Station up to his uncle's house
on the hill at about half past eleven. A. NJ.
the next day. with perturbed expression
on his face, and with many muttered I'm
precstions on the heat coming from him In
short grunts. The weather was certainly
warm for June, and the nature Of his mis-
sion To that hospiiable home he was ap-
| preaching did not tend to cool him; so that
| by the time he reached the gate, and had
solemnly walked slong the broad pathway
to the front-door. he felt slngularly uncom-
| fortable. When he had been let Into the
| house he went to his aunt's room, where
| he found her half doxiug In The warm sun
! light over account books. She greeted him.
however. with delight, (wss he not her
| dead brothers childf) and showed an In
terest 10 his concerns and his welfare that
| had something mo'herly In u.
II was almost asleep, ! do believe, she
| said. presently, when you came In; the
| sun Is so warm. you know. and 1t came
| straight into this room; and the account
books are so wesrisome that ] really do
| not think am to be blamed. Won't you
20 aud see the girls. Harry
"Of course | will" replied Onslow; "hut
where are they all p
They are In the school ROOM" replied
Mrs. Latimer; .'you remember IT, They
sit there In the morning over their reading
and sewing, and so on. They will be
pleased TO see you.'
OnsIow went of, and presently . sound
as Of cheer from a number OF feminine
,hroa,s announced his arrival In the school
room.
What a fearful lot OF girls," he ex-
claimed. as he stood inside the school room,
the door safely shut behind him. and sur
veyed the scene before him. very pleas
ant scene II was too. and the party OF
healthy. happy. pretty English girls gath
cred about their books. their necdls-~ork,
their drawing. with the summer sun shining
In the room. the flowers and creepers nod
ding Ia Mt the open windows. and the broad
expanse Of green lawn and sturdy shrub
and bush In the garden beyond just visible.
msde a picture worthy the painters brush.
Onslow's exclamation provoked con-
siderable number of ejaculstions from the
girls" assembled. of the nature of We'll.
I'm sure" IT'S like your impertinence
"A forrfai lot too" and so on; bat they
were too pleased Mt the advent of a young
man. and good looking one, and n cousin
to the bargain, with whom they could
laugh and talk freely, TO be reseutiui. aud
he was besieged with questions a. TO the
hour OF hi. arrival. the length OF his stay,
and the reason OF his long absence.
Now look here. girls" cried Onslow.
still standing AZ the head OF the table. and
contemplating the half dozen or more prsi
~ faces before him. "beiore answer your
questions somebody must answer mine.
A
At this startling proposition there was a
general shrek OF laughter and protest.
20. Harry. how can your" What dread
! ful idea" so unromantIc" ~ Nobody
! wants you :" they cried. while Gertrude. a
I quieter aud milder young lady than her sis
( ters said. sobsrly:
No, p> wouldn't marry you because We
I know you too well, bnt Peg would. She
has Just been saying she wanted a husband.
( 30 that she might be her own mistress
"Bu, couldn't marry any one called
| Peg" said onsiow; II couldn't hang my
bat up there"
20. Harry "Oh. isn't he ruder' was
! exclaimed by the cousins.
''Rat this is In confidence, of course =
( said Onslow. Peg isn't present. is sheT'
There was another bubble Of delighted
I laughter. and very pretty head that had
I been bent over some muslin work, and OF
| which he had only as Yet seen the ripples
OF golden hair and the white parting, was
raised. a psir of brilliant gray eyes looked
him In the face. and a soft voice said:
Peg is present. aud Is anxious 10 know
how you are going TO excuse yourself"
"Oh, cone, | say" said Onslow. consid-
| erAbly abashed. do you mean to say that
| had forgotten your nAme-arc you one of
| nv cousins?'
DO you mean TO say that you don't
know whether or not l am your cousin r.
said Peg.
well, how the deuce Is a man TO know r
cxpostulated Onslow. There are about a
dozen OF you girls In the room. and you all
look very much alike. aud you have all 90,
your hair done. or put on. alike; and the
( suns dazzling. too, coming rigat across
the table; and-the long and the short OF
II. upon my honor. is that do not know II
you be my cousin or not"
"Tbi. young man is much more amusln (
| than Willie Ashford. Of whom you girls
rave" said Peg, with sn air OF conviction.
Il must really have = look at him; do you
think he is likely to stay, Gertyg'
And so saying. Peg slowly produced the
daiptiest OF eyeglasses, and lifting 1t 10 hei
eyes, looked calmly and leisurely at Harry
| Onslow. as he stood lounging against the
| door Al the nesu OF the tADie.
Hes not bad-looking, girls, said Peg
| playing with her eye-glass. when the sur
vey was completed. Hes very much like
other young men OF the day, OF course; he
wants ripsning; ne's like that port your
father has got on hand; he wants putting
| away for q few years, and then he will be
q credit TO you. His features are not bad
his nose is, perhaps, tribe too big. and
his hair too short; reminds one OF terrier
you know; but really, II any one OF yot
| girls should feel lingering pity Tor him Ii
his present miserable unmarried state, my
advice 10, marry him, take him away, ths
farther the better; train him and educate
him properly, and when you bring hin
back again you would have quite q success:
with him, upon my word you would"
Onslow had listened In amazed amuse
ment TO Pegs little discourse, and wber
she had finished, he exclaimed involuntari
~.
peg can't be Q cousin OF mine!"
And yet he felt BY no means sure
There were such . number OF girls. Of var
ious ages. and somewhat alike in style AND
feature; some of them had been away a
school during his last visit. others ha(
been away with friends; In short, he coult
not remember exactly which was which
OF one thing was he ceftain-that th'
name OF Peg had not been connected will
the Latimers before; still It might be
nickname recently given ss q joke. II b.
could only have good look at Peg. b.
thought he might soon discover any fami
ly likeness, II there were any; but directly
he glanced at the young lady she caugb
him and he was obliged to turn his eye
away.
why don't you come and sit down
Harry:" said Gertrude, 10 q moment.
"You will spoil your coat II you rub
much longer against the door," said Pc g
Thus adjured. Onslow moved slowl!
; down the room.
Where will you sitr' asked one or tw
Of the girls.
Near Peg, Of COURSE" he replied wit
Q smile.
Not too near. please" said Peg, impsI
furbabiy.
"And why not prAyg' asked Onsiow
seating himself In . chair beside her.
snow, Harry. let me warn you" sal
] his cousin Laura; "Peg is going to mir
and you had better take care; the resul
. are always dreadful. She is sure to q