Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-19
COUSIN EDITH.

CaSomollb Ol jill open WIuOOW l0dO1nS OH
to a sloping lawn, at whose base flowed
a sunny, ripping stream of water.
1t was one of Englands fairest daugh-
tiers. Even at this moment, spite of the
fact that her brow is gathered in a
frown, and the full, red lips are unmis-
takably pouting, her beauty is undenia-
BILE.
A few bold spirits have declared there
was little soul in the face; but the large
hazel eyes could melt or flash at will; the
dark lashes shaded cheek white as pa
rian marble, with rarely even q touch of
color upon its velvety surface, and the
1.-THE, graceful figure even unconsciously
assumed new grace in each unstudied
poise, until one forgot the question of
soul In its perfect outward hesh-and-
blood tabernacle.
Near her, reclining on a low easy
chair, sat a young girl of about her own
age. At first glance the exquisite soul
loneliness of her face paled In Miss Ames'
more brilliant beauty, but there were
more to love its possessor, and fewerto
envy her. Something like Indignation
was in her voice, as she addressed her
friend.
81 cannot believe that you mean it,
Lillian" she said "You have been en-
gagged to Oscar Dering for year, and
how you can say so carelessly that your
engagement shall be broken"
"Beg pardon!" interrupted the other,
in low, ironical tones. 81 have not yet
been engaged to Oscar Dering twenty
four hours. It was to Lord Oscar Der
ng I gave my pledge
sob, but, Lillian, because he has lost
title and estate must he also lose the
woman of his love? Think a minute.
You surely will not give him up SO
easily?"
"Nonsense, Edith I am twenty-one
no longer girl of an age to live upon
sentimentalism, but to look upon the
everyday realities of life. When [ en-
gagged myself to Lord Dering, I was the
subject of congratrllation among all my
friends. Now that the cousin who was
supposed to be- dead crops into life in
some remote portion of the globe, and
that Oscar insists upon renouncing the
property in his behalf without even a
struggle, [ am not content to let these
same congratulations lapse into pity"
cob, Lillian, do you think any one
could pity you for possessing SO royal a
gift as the love of such man? Think
better of it, dear, [ know you care for
him. Do not so lightly renounce your
LIES happiness.
"You plead his cause eloquently, my
dear. ReallyI did not know possessed
a rival in my fair cousin. Perhaps, a
heart caught in the rebound-you know
the rest, of course, and can point the
moral"
LILLIAN, you are cruel-cruel! L.
D,,4 1o4o IL
through the window out of hearing, and
advanced to meet man quickly ap-
preaching on the green sward, while the
young girl left behind fell back in her
chair, the great tears coursing down her
cheeks, on which the crimson color signal
famed
It was as though some ruthless hand
had snatched the veil from her own heart.
leaving exposed its most cherished Sc
cret-a secret she had not known her
self, until now betrayed by her shame.
&C must leave this place. [ cannot
meet him again; must go home But,
oh, how can she give him upI'
Edith Loring and Lillian Ames were
cousins, but the one was the daughter
of clergyman whose rectory was some
ten miles distant from Ames court, one
Of the noblest estates Of England, and of
which Lillian was sole heiress.
The girls, however, had been closely
united, more by the tie of friendship
than cousinship, since the latter was
distant bond, and Ames court was almost
as much Edith's home as her own. Now.
however, the homelier charms of therec-
tory were very grateful to her. Here no
one could probe the discovery so new to
herself-to trace the scarlet blush which
seemed SO often to burn her cheek, until
she wondered that it did not leave it's
brand
She had been home six weeks and
twice Oscar Dering had driven over to
see her, but she had always denied her
self to him on some household pretext.
until one morning he overlook her in the
road.
She had been busy with thoughts of
him, wondering how he had borne his
ruptured troth, and reproaching herself
for the cowardice which heretofore had
forbidden her meeting him, when she
heard behind her the quick tramp of a
horses hoofs. His rider drew rein at
her side.
$50 I am to find you at last, he said.
His voice sounded the same as of old;
tu6 UT1SHt, CHoeIy GOH0 WAS uncnang6Q.
He was not broken-hearted, then, or at
least he did not wear that cruel y-used
portion of his body upon his steed.
Have you seen Lillian lately she
at last found courage to ask.
"No," he answered, and then she saw
the frown gather on his brow, and an ex-
preston of pain come about his lips.
g see as little of your cousin as posi-
BILE now. You know, Miss Loring, I
am no longer subject for congratula-
ton"
eyes, know" she said. CT"
"Don't pity me, he interrupted. 81
can't bear that quite yet"
81 did not mean to pity you," she re-
piled.
And then the conversation drifted into
other channels.
ooh, if Lillian had not spoken of the