The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-06
THE RIVAL COUSINS
--OR--
Frances vaughan's Secret.

when strongly moved. Then che glanc-
ed up at her Cousin Edith.
They were so different,t the two women
who sat In the eosey room overlooking
the lawn at Woodlea, reach of emerald
grass FURNISHED by the May sunshine.
Cousins on their fathers side, but the
relationship was family told in looks.
Edith was five years the elder, and proud
of her distinctive Vaughan inheritance.
She had always passed for beauty;
her regal air, her calm, classic face, her
abundant blonde hair, and her exquisite
figure, certainly established her claim.
Somewhat naughty, but that was in the
Vaughan blood. Her grandfather was
all the prouder of her for 1t. Sitting in
her crimson cushioned chair she made
very lovely picture, though she reused
herself trifle at her cousins speech.
" 1t will never do, Frances"
s. Perhaps might make it do" and
the young girl clinched her hand with
fierce determination.
" Grandfather would consent to
suitable marriage, but never to this"
"Suitable indeed ~ for something in
the cool tone of Edith reused every fibre
of resistance in the small frame. Mr..
Harold, for instanceV'
" Mr.. Harold makes no secret of his
admiration for you.''
The bright face flushed, and sharp
frown settled between the straight
brows.
"I've some wayward blood in me.
The Vaughan current runs in straight
channels, never pausing to daily with
wayside trifles. To marry Mr.. Harold
would kill me. His precision, his
formality, his everlasting platitudes,
would wear me out body and soul. L
should have handsome establishment,
but Of what use is great white tomb
stone when one is dead ?'
"You are always unreasonable, Fran
ces.''
This calm superiority had been very
hard for Frances Vaughan to bear. At
flashed to her face.
4" was not born after your fashion,
Edith. Thank Heaven that am
Vaughan only in name, and that 1 can
change that at moments notice."
you don't mean" and Edith
Vaughan hesitated to utter treason with
her proud lips.
81 mean that Ross Stanhope has ask
ed me to marry him, and fearing that it
would be impossible to win grandfa-
theirs consent, has proposed speedier
PLAN"
Frances, you will not, you can
not
Pm not so sure" Frances Vaughan
rose with proud gesture. A slight,
childish thing she was, looking really
younger than her eighteen years, and
though not regularly handsome, was
bright and brilliant. Every thing about
her seemed warm and glowing, and you
read in her face large capacity for ten
derness, perhaps unreasoning devotion
to any cause she espoused. "I'm not so
sure" she went on. +" I have some for
tune of my own, and this life here
doesn't appear all engrossing to me. L
am not enough of Vaughan to appre-
ciate it. want love-"
The sneer did not touch Edith. She
said, calmly
"a poor artist with no position, a
man we know very little about. 1 should
advise you to give up the acquaintance.
1t frets grandfather to have him come to
the house."
Thank you" The ripe lip curled.
II have warned you," Edith said,
ioftily. II will not risk any completely
with such termination. Whatever
you do is upon your own responsible
ity."
Left to herself, Frances buried her
face in her hands and wept a few pas
sionate tears. Why was it that her
cousins counsel always exasperated
instead of convincing her? Her feel
ings were strong, but her moods evanes-
cent? Ten minutes later she was ramb.
ling through the shrubbery, lured
thither by figure she had seen linger-
ing under the trees.
Edith watched them from the window
of her own room. She could go to hel
grandfather and explain the danger
Frances was in, for Ross Stanhope's
friends had not given him very strong
endorsement. But if the girl inherited
taste for such people, opposition woult
only make her the more resolute. She
smoothed the matter over to her con
science, and went to her grandfather'