Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-25
The Cousin From Omaha.

III HfOhlhR SOule unhuonb PV"NA'
come to dinner! And not thing to eat
in the house! Lucilla, [ do think we
are the unluckiest people in the world!
Matty Carver was sitting IN the midst
Of whirlpool ofred merino cuttings and
cllppings-for Matty Carver was alter
ing her street-suit over, for the third
tlme-and the great Worth himself, in
his studio, in the act Of creating new
design was never more absorbed and
intent than this village girl in her
'breadths and pippings,' and bias
trimmings
'Matty,' said Lucllla, solemnly, put
away that dress. We must contriye 4
decent dinner as soon as we can.'
Il won'tv said Matty, with an omin-
GUS dash of her hazel eyes. l must
finish this dress, or 1 shall have nothing
to sing in at the concert
But. Matty, renectD argued the
elder sister. It's our cousin from
Omaha =
'Oh. bother our cousin from Omaha!
tartly responded the little brunette,
stitching away until her needle seemed
to glance in and out Of the ruby-red
material like miniature lightning. What
business have cousins from Omaha TO
come pouncing in upon people IN this
sort of way, wlthouta word Of warning"
People, TOO, whom one has never seen {!
1 dare say he's a great awkward lout,
with a freckled face and red hair, and
what's that?' as the sound Of something
falling, in the adjoining apartment at
tracted her attention.
IT'S the cat, said Lucilla, who, with
a pair Of intent little wrinkles between
her brows, had been counting out the
contents of somewhat slenderly furn-
ished po-temonnaie,
No, 1t isn't, SAID Matty, turning red
and pale, as she started from her work,
'it's our cousin from Omahan
Nonsense said demure Lucilla.
1 left him looking at tie honeysuckles
on the front porch
But tell you saw his coat tails
It's your guilty conscience said Luz
ella, laughing. Now look here, Mat
ty, here's dollar in change. Run out
with that little covered basket and buy
a pound and a-half of beefsteak, and a
quarter peck of sweet potatoes, and a
half pound of fcofee-the very best Java,
mind. fetch ground-and stop at Mrs.
Mix's for pint of milk and half dozen
eggs, and III stir up custard for des>
sert. Aud be sure you make haste
Matty looked longingly at the bright
little circlets of silver, as they lay in
her hand.
'Lucilla,' said she, this was to buy
ribbons for my dress
we can do without the ribbons, but
we must treat company decontly.'
4 hate company said Matty. and 1
know shall scream out to see that
backwoodsman eating up my ribbon
loops,in the shape ofcustard, and swal-
loving my crepe lisse frills in his coffee!
Must get Java, Lucilla:' Maracaibo
is good enough for u.s.
DO make haste y said Lucllla, with
a little imperative nod Of the head.
And Matty caught up her cherry'lb-
boned hat and went out, only pauslug
to say, on the threshold
1 hate cousins from Omaha And
the red merino dress won't be fit to he
seen without :he cardinal loops
While Mr.. julius Burgoyne. compos-
edly smoking his cigar, under the hon.
eysuckle trails in the front porch, smil-
ed quietly 10 himself at this peep into
the domestic economy Of the two Or
phaned sisters.
He had considerably walked out Of
the parlor, to avoid becoming an inyol-
untary spy upon the domestic dialogue;
but the porch, close to the open sitting
room window, was equally objectiona-
bic.
Poor and proud lie SAID to himself
as he watched the hutter ofthe cherry
ribbons disappearing down the back
path. 1T is what have always heard
of the Carver girls. But the little one
is as beautiful aud spicy as a tiger-lilly
blossom, and 1 rather like her way OF
expressing herself
And Mr., Burgyne strolled in a leas-
urely way toward the telegraph Office,
and stopped IN at the United States
Hotel, as he returned, to give an order
or so, and glance at the hotel register.
'Wnere Is be p said Matty, as she
hurried breathlessly back, with her III
tie wicken basket OH her arm.
It's past noon,' said Lucilla, re-
proachfully.
She had been down stairs Frightening
up the last remnant Of family SILVER
} with chamois leather and whiting, IN
order that they might present a credit
able appearance.
L know 1t, said Matty, but lad to
wait for the cofre 10 be ground, and
Mrs. Nix wasn't in and-oh. l-ucllla /!
,, met such handsome young fellow
: in the park, with diamond studs, and he
picked my upzscarf, and
He wears diamonds studs y said Lu-
ella, soberly.
' Who the cousin from Omaha! U
be isn't this sort Of a person at all!
Thi, one has lovely almond-shaped
eyes, and long silk mustacha, and
But to the utter amazement OF both
sisters colored waiter IN white apron
and generously displayed teeth 10 cor