The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-04-16
Fleeing From a Fortune.

uONu uCstSAOrA".
Just presented on a silver salyeT.
"Augusta Ii is terrible F! What
can possess the creature, and now
of all timesi Your cousin, Peter
Bellingham, is actually coming TO
visit us-actaally coming to risit as !!
Mrs. Bellingham's tones were
piteous in their Mortified despair,
aud she let fall the yellow envelope
that so seldom is the harbinger OF
the good news we want, with a ges-
ture of impotent rage.
Augusta Bellingham lifted her
beautiful straight brows in horror
of questioning.
"Oh, mamma, coming to visit u.s.
Surely there is some mistake! He
never would be so stupid as to
come unless We sent him all invita-
tion n
Mrs. Bellingham picked up the
telegram again, aud read it through
aloud:
"Will be at your house Tuesday
for short visit. p. Bellingham.n
What mistake can there possi.
bly, be- No its directed plain
enough-'Mrs. De Bruse Belling-
ham, SSS 5thlavenue, and it is sign
ed plainly enough. Ican't receive
him. | never, never could intro
duce him to our friends
Augusta looked thoughtfully at
the carpet, and tapped one of her
pretty little feet.
Suddenly she lifted up her long
lashed lids to her lady lnoteer's
face.
Perhaps he won't be so terrible,
after all, mamma. Couldn't you
manage to keep him in his room
most Of the time, and let Bessie
take charge of himi 1t would just
suit her"
Mrs. Bellingham uttered a little
shrek of dismay.
"Did you ever see your fathers
counsin Peter, Augusta 7"
" Well, no mamma. l have nev.
or seen him, OF course, but l should
think
"You should think nothing about
IL! 1 will tell you. Peter Belling.
ham is middle aged, and Augusta,
he actually wears the same suit of
clothes year in and year out! His
hair is long, down to the top of his
collar, aud plasters IL tight to his
head with horrid pomatum. lie
wears red and green cravats; bis
hands and face are freckled, and
you couldn't keep him from going
wherever we went, and poking into
the parlor to be presented to the
company. He visited here once be-
fore years ago, and | declare it al.
most killed me. Why, Augusta, he
insisted--and your poor, dear papa
had to permit, or turn him bodily
out OF the h0use-he insisted on
reading prayer before and after
eyery meal, guests or no guests"
"Oh, mamma, | don't wonder
you are so nervous over it. What
shall We doi Why, its to-day
this very afternoon-bc's to be
here.n
"It seems as il fate had a partic.
ular grndge against me-" she said
piteously. When l married your
pa 1t was distinctly understood that
/ was not to be troubled with any
of his poor relations, and before we
had been keeping house a year his
grandfather died, and the old lady
had to come and make her home
with us, because DE Bruse was able
to keep her. Then your aunt Ade-
laide died, and De Bruse had to
take Bessie and bring her up. Well
l will confess l have kept Bessie
pretty well down, aud made her
pay her way by helping me
with the sewing and the chill.
dren's music. But now, it seems to
me this visit is worse than all. He'll
stay six weeks at the least, 1 know
"Oh, mamma, / know exactly
what we'll do! The idea of know.
ing how TO get rid of cousin Peter.
Why, nothing could be easier. Put
up that dispatch, have our trunks
packed this morning, and let's take
the afternoon boat for Long Branch.
Send the servants away, as we al.
ways do, and when old Peter Bel
lingham comes to the house to-
night, he'll find nobody in it but
Bessie. Aud if she wants to enter
tain him, let her. OF course, nam
ma, that is the only way to do.
just consider we never received
this telegram"
"Mrs. Bellingham drew a long
breath Of relief and surprise.
How strange l never once
thonght Of such an easy, natural
way out Of our dilemma! Child,
you're q born diplomatist, do you
know itn
II don't know that, mamma, but
lido know this one thing-I never
wanted 10 90 to Long Branch If.
badly, because--because--n j.
She blushed and hesitated.
Yes, | know, dear. A certain
gentleman, who shall be nameless,
is there, or will be shortly. Well,
Augusta, henis rich and handsome,