The Russellville Democrat., 1880-06-10
--------------- ----=--=T--------------------------~ A COUSIN FROM OMAHA.

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 A COUSIN FROM OMAHA.
 "Companyp' said Matty Carver, witt her hanas raised toward the ceiling, as if invoking some unknown power. "Anc come to dinner, and not thing to eat ir the house. Lucilla, do think we arc the unluckiest people in the world"
 Matty Carver was sitting in the midst of whirlpool of red merino cuttings and clippings-for Matty Carver was altering her "street suit" over for the third time and the Worth in his studio WAS never more absorbed or intent than this village girl in her "breadths" and "pipings,' and "bias trimmings"
 "Matty," said Lucilla, solemnly, "pui away that dress. We must contrive g decent dinHer as soon as we can."
 q won'tl" said Matty, with an ominous flash of her hazel eyes. q must finish this dress, or shall have nothing to sing in at the concert"
 But, Matty, reflect" argued the elder sister, Tit is our cousin from Omahap
 "Oh, bother our cousin from Omahav tartly responded the little brunette stitching away until her needle seemed to glance in and out of the ruby red ma. terial, like miniature lightning. "What business have cousins from Om aha to come bouncing in upon people in this sort of a way without word of warningi People, too, whom one has never seen 1 dare say he's a great awkward lout with 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 sleneeIly fur. nished portemonnaie.
 No, it isn't" said Matty, turning red and pale, as she started from her work "It is our cousin from Omaha" s.s
 "Nonsensel" said demure Lucilla. '1 left him looking at the honeysuckle ir the front porch"
 But tell you saw his coat-ta1s."
 "Its your guilty conscience" said Lu cilla, laughing. "Now, look here, Mat ty, here's dollar in change. Run out with that little covered basket, and buy a pound and halt of beefsteak, and : quart of sweet potatoes, and half pound of coffee-the very best Java, mind fresh ground--and stop at Mrs. Mix's for pint of milk, and half dozen eggs and I'll stir up a custard for desert. And be sure to make haste" ...
 Matty looked longingly at the bright little circlets of silver as they lay in hel hand. ,-...... ..
 "Lucilla." she said, "this was to buy ribbons for my dress"
 eve can do without ribbons, but we must treat company decently.'
 "1 hate company" said Matty, land know 1 shall scream out to see that back woodsman eating up my ribbon loops iu the shape of custard, and swallowing my crepe lisse frills in his coffee! Must ] get Java, Lucilla? Maracaibo is gooe enough for us." r...
 Do make hastep' said Lucilla, with : little imperative nod of the head.
 And Matty caught her cherry rib bened hat, only pausing on the thres hold to say:
 q hate cousins from Omaha! And the red merino dress went be fit to be seer without the cardinal loops." ..
 While Mir. Julius Burgoyne, composed ly smoking his cigar under the honey suckle trails in the front porch, smiled quietly to himself at this peep into tho domestic economy of the two orphan sisters.
 He had considerably walked out O the parlor to avoid becoming an invol untary spy upon the domestic dialogue but the porch close to the sitting-roon window was equally objectionable.
 "Poor and proud" he said to himself as he watched the fiutter of the cherry ribbons disappearing down the back path. Ut is what have always heard of the Carver girls. But the little one is as beautiful and spicy as the tiger-lily blossom, and rather like her way o expressing herself"
 And MT. Burgoyne strolled in a leis urely way toward the telegraph office and stopped in the United States Hote as he returned, to give an order or st and glance at the hotel register.
 'Where is he?" said Matty as she hur ried breathlessly back with her littl wicker basket on her arm.
 Its past noon" said Lucilla, reproach fully.
 She had been down stairs, brighten ing up the last remnant of family silve with chamoise-leather and whiting, il order that they might present a credita ble appearance. .......
 q know it." said Matty, "but l had t wait for the coffee to be ground, am Mrs. Mix wasn't in, and oh, Lucilla, met such a handsome young fellow Il the park, with diamond studs, and h picked up my scarf, and"
 "He wears diamonds" said Lucilla soberly.
 "Who? TT cousin from Omaha? C he isn't the sort of person at all Thi one has lovely almond eyes, and long silken moustache. and--n a.I mc7l
 Do stop rattling, Matty," said Lucill with gesture of despalr, land help ge the table set, It's late now, and"
 But to the utter anazement of both c the sisters, colored waiter, in whit apron, and generously displayed teet to correspond, appeared then, just at tn head of the stairs, announcing:
 Dinners ready, ladies, If you please. Matte looked at Lucilla and 1ucilla re turned her gaze with equal astonist nent.
 What does she mean?" said Matty. I'm sure haven't the least idea, said Lucilla.
 Up in the little dinins-roon an uney pected sight met their eyes. The table