South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-01-30
Mary Thorne's Cousin.
MARY, I am astonishcd ?

astonished. In truth and in fact, she
lived in chronic state OF amaxemeut !;
for Mary Thorne was always doing
something to aslonish her friends and
relatives. Miss Ruth could scarcely
credit the evidence OF her own senses.
in the hazy glow Of the August morn.
ing, when she came out OF the clematis
shadows o: the little south porch, and
discovered that yondcr moving object
halfway up among tho outrageous
branches OF the huge oil pear-tree was
not spray Of leaves. nor yet a russell
plnmed robin. nor a cluster of sun.
checked pears swinging in the blue
empyrean. but-Miss Mary Thorne.
comfortably porche, in the crook of
gnarled tree, her curls all flecked with
The siftcd rain o.. sunshine that came
down through the shifting canopy Of
leaves. and book in her lap.
Il don't care said the little aiamsel.
laughing saucy defiance. It's the MI
cest place in the world up here. | feel
just like bird. with the leaves flutter.
ing against my face, and the wind
blowing so softly, and I intend to stav
here. Wouldn't you like TO come up
here. Ruthy? lis easily done. just
put your foot on that knot, and then
Ruth. who was thirty. and weighed
hundred and sixty pounds. bristied up
with amaZement.
Mary Thorne, are you crazy? Come
down this instantr
Il shan't!' said naughty Mary, toss
ing the silky shower Of curls away
from her forehead. AMI CHANGING down
with eyes that sLone and sparkcd like
TWO blue jewels.
But we are all going
Yes. understand; you are all 60
ing in triumphai procession TO the de-
pot 10 render an ovation to tie great
professor La Place, tie wisest. saces
and gran'lesl OF mankind, 10 whom the
Thorne family have the unu,erable hon.
or of being second cousins, and to es.
cort him snlemnly TO months soiourn
ut Thorne Hall. Oh. dcar!' calculated
Mary. i wish could run away some
where anil hide. hate this paragon
Of prim precision. 1 shan't marry him
if he asks, and 1 mean TO behave so
badly that he won't dream of il. No, |
am not going with you. l hate the
close barouche. and it's too warm to
ride on horseback. shall STAY at
home.
And M.ry settled herselr so snugly,
with one tiny, shppere'. foot swinging
down, anil her pretty head close to &
nest OF blue speckled birds eggs, that
Ruth gave it UP with sigh Of despair
vi ell, then, have it your own way,
you incorrigihle romp. / wish YOU
weren't too big TO shut up in dark
closet, or have your ears we'll boxed
1T Is pity, isn't i,?' said Mary de-
mu:ely.
OF course it il, Mary. If Cousin
tcm Bradley comes this morning, be
sure to explain to him why vs. are alb.
sent, and behave like young lady,
mind
All right said Mary, dauntless. i
always liked Tom. We used TO have
grand romrs together when we were
children.
She sat there in the old pear.tree
preitier than any hamadryad that ever
might have haunted the messy old vet
eran oil the garden, her cheeks touched
with sunshine and carmine, her dim
pied lips apart, now reading q line or
two from the hook in her lap, now look.
ing up rapt in girIish revcrie into the
blue sky, rs it sparkled down through
ever-moving leaves, and now breaking
into soft little MARBLE of song, that
tile very robins themselves put their
heals Oh one SHE TO listen.
The carriage bad driven away long
since-she bad watched it beyond the
curve Of the winding road the dark
mantle of shadow wac slowly following
The creeping sun-glow across the velvet
lawn below, and the old church. spire
among the far-of woods had .chmcd
out eleven. AMI still Mary Thorne
sat there in those forked branches oil
the giant pear-trce.
Suddenly there foated up into her
leafy sanctuary n pnDgeut, aromatic
odor, which made her lean curiously
forward, shading her eyes with one
hand tie better to penetrate the green
foliage below. Not the late monthly
roses, not the amethyst borders of he
iiotrop", nor the spicy geraniums-none
OF these blossoms distilled that peculiar
smell.
MY patience sail little Mary; it:
n cigar
a cigar IL was, a1d The owner there.
of-she could just sec n white linen
coat, and tall head covered will
black, wavy curls, stood on the porch
steps quietly smoking and indulgina
in n leDgthered view OF the garden.
! slopes.
That's Tom Bradley said Mary "a
herself. Nov, If he thinks I'm coming
down out OF this delicious cool place
TO sit up straight in the hot parlors.
he's mistaken. Tom J. she called out,
In silver accent Of imperative sum.
mons. and then burst into merry laugh
Ger at the evident amazement with wbicl
the stranger gazed round him, vainly
trying to conjecture whence the call had
proceeded. You dear, stupid Cousin
Tom J she CIRCULATED, don't stare of