Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-26
Madge's Cousin.

pulling TO pieces white camellia and excus.
ing herself to her kind old guardian by say.
ing II was only Jacks"
"My DEAR" said Mr.. Selwyn walking up
and down and stroking his gray beard in
perplexity, al want to talk to you about
Jack"
"Oh please, not now, Papa Selwyn p
She called him Papa Sewyn when she
meant TO be coaxing, and that was nearly
always.
"But, my dear, that is all nonsense. I
must talk about Jack some time. 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 unman-
ageable 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 pleas
ures aside, and as dutiful girl fulfill her
dying fathers request and marry her cousin
and the second was eulogium on the many
good qualities of Jack Hawkesbury.
"Do, Mr.. Selwyn," laughed Madge, after
he had been making out that even Jack S
awkwardness came from an overplus 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 daughter,
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, childr" he exclaimed; his
ANNOYANCE for a moment escaping his con.
troll. 81 wish YOU had half Gertrude's good
sense. You fancy Jack thinks of her-is
that it? He is the soul of honor, and as far
as il depends on him your fathers word will
be kent"
"Oh Papa Selwyn, don't be vexed with
me [ am SO sorry p and her face was hid
den on his large. rough hands in burst of
sorrow. quite childish in its passing intensity.
"Cheer up. nv darling girl" he said :
you made a mistake-that's all. Why.
one of these days Won will forget moor Papa
Selwyn altogether. when Won fall in love
with YOUR cousin"
"Then I WON'T" cried Madpe with all
the strength of her hot heart.
All her life. even so far hack as her child.
hood. she had dreaded the fate that bound
her to marry her cousin. When Jack
Hawkesbury came on the scene and STAYED
on visits at the house. she disliked and ridi
culed him without mercy. And now there
was only one month left before her twenty
first birthday and betrotbal. Often she told
Gertrude she wished he would 90 home anC
stay there and Gertrude would only laugh
with deeper tinge of color on her fair face
The girls went ont little AN Arrangement
against which Madge often rebelled, believing
it was in some way connected with the safe
management of the marriage with her cousin
But there were two pleasures in prospect
now, an afternoons boating with Jack ant
| a friend of his and Gertrude, and a part,
that the Ponsonby,Joneses were going t.
give, to which the Selwyn family were soor
| TO be invited. First came boating. All
that eyer-memorable dav-bow many year
it would take to make Madge forget it
There were four in the boat that passed
with the measured beat and ripple of Jack
pair of sculls, along by the reedy shallow
and green wooded banks of the uppe
| Thames. The two girls shared the cushioned
seat at the stern. their white woolen shawl
guarding them from the chill of the autumn
wind. Gertrude was watching the shore
aud the running ripples, thinking in he
quiet. easy.poing way. Madpe bright witt
excitement, was talking-not with Jack
but with the dark. bearded trayel-bronze,
man. who was resting from his turn at tn,
sculls. He was charmed with the way sh
cbatted and listened to his tales of half th
world with n refreshing absence of self.con
sciousness. What wonld he have said If h.
lbad known the tbongbt that strove for on
trance into her baartP Oh if .Iack-awk
ward. blunderinp. pood.natured Jack-coul,
be changed into his stranger that she calIe,
timidIv Mr. E;tyallan' and Jack and he
Guardian had greeted as Herbert
Al last there was a nanse in the talk. Sb
gave a deem sigh nrompted bv a sad lonpin
TO do rigbt a Sagne fear a first susnicion q
the cbange that was coming ovar her ;mne,
mons heart
Ara Won cold Madge ?" asked .Jact
milling away and bending to his stron
Stroke @Keep vour shawl well abont Won
sbonIdars And NV dear o;rl Iook 10 yon
staaring Won have haan sending the hoa
into cnrves like n corkscrew-oniy aid mo
want IN disturb vour tete n ,e,e
poor Cousin lack she draw the whit
shawl cloeeIv round bar cbiIlad NOT hy ~
w;nd hnt nv a snddan nang Of remorss m
foundation of which was varv small hu
enouph 10 trouble her neace
W6at need 10 teIl he irrar b;storv
Madge's life during the next faw vesks
More and more sbe Ionged for freedon
Fitzallan was stav;ng in t6e neigbborhoo,
and was freonsntiv n, the house and in m
thonsand little Incidents of everyday iii
she knew he cared for her. and honest lac
grew VET more distasteful 10 her SIGHT
In due time came the second promise
pleasure. The family that distipguishe
he name of Jones by the prefix of Ponsonb
gave their marty. Madpe was in her glor
tbat night. One looker.on called her charm
inq. another. the mother of fair daughter
admitted her expression was charming, bu
voted her features plain. Mrs. Pousonb,
Jones, weighed down with bright-colore
silk and jewelry, said, in her finest tone, tha
Mr.. Selwyn's ward would be quite feD,R
desprh. Madge had no lack OF society, bu
she kept a place in the conversation fc
Jack Hawkesbury, and her love of mischie
was gratifed to the full by his making G
!