Daily globe., 1880-03-28
TIE POOR COUSINS STORY;
GoW CAME TO BE MARRIED

ASA4CA4L44-AA Ct1l lii44, sNAISA LII "S
Of his earthly possessions.
So the Poor Cousin named above is
myself. Why I call myself the poor cousin
but that Will appear. Three years ago,
in the month of July, q month so full of
flowers, fresh from the hand Of the crea-
tor; of gentle winds and bright unclouded
skies, that one can scarcely wonder that it
was intended for lovers and that so many
troths are plighted and marriages solemn
lied in Il; well! in this glorious month
l went to pass a fortnight with ray uncle
Montgomery in his old but elegant home
stead in one Of the most lovely and pictur-
esque parts of the country, though
situated nearly twenty miles from
any city and several miles from q
railroad. The nearest village was fully
two miles away, so my uncle's family found
time hang heavily on their hands, now and
then, and were only too glad to have
guest even though he were poor relation,
to assist them in the arduous task of en-
ioyirg themselves.
James 3. Montgomery was retired
Colonel Of the old army, and of Southern
extraction, wealthy, well-bred and thor
oughly gentleman of the old school. Mrs.
Montgomery was the eldest sister of my
mother, long since deceased.
1 had at the time but a very small in
come, and on account of my education and
some extravagances was somewhat heavily
in debt. My reputation, however, was
wholly unsullied and 1 trusted to time.
labor and economy to make myself wholly
right with the world.
My only crime with my relations was my
poverty.
was certainly deeply in love with my
cousin, Col. Montgomery's daughter. But
could dare aspire to her hand? 1 felt
that my love was not unreciprocated. but
considered that my case, with her proud
and wealthy parents would be entirely
hopeless refrained therefore from allow
ing any thought of love to escape my lips,
feeling, young as 1 was, that it would be
unjustifable in me to bring unhappiness to
the young girl, by such an avowal as would
not only develope in her, feelings and hopes
which could not be realized, but bring her
into such collision with her parents as must
render her life miserable. Indeed, expert
ence seems to tell us, that in almost all
these cases, q love which brings its object in
to direct collision with a young womans
natural protectors, is not often crowned with
happiness.
1--WE must wait" thought I, ga gracious
Providence, or some unheard-of thing in
the chapter of accidents, may possibly do
something for real true lovers in distress.
Was to be disappointed?
Jane Montgomery, my cousin, was beau
tiful and lovely minded girl, intelligent as
Nadine de Stael, brilliant as La Valliere,
pure as Florence Nightingale. All of this,
rs matter of course. She was just eigh-
teen, her hair was soft and waving and fin
color warm and bright as newest gold.
And talking of gold, not the least of her
attractions to others, though my own
stumbling block, her marriage portion
was calculated at from $l5O,O00 to 100000.
mountainous obstacle.
This fact was serious h;ndrance to the
comfort Of the old gentleman, for he was
always referring to her Value and of the
awful things that would befall the unhap-
py wretch, who should demand her beauti-
full and valuable hand, without being able
to show the most unquestionable evidences
of Il fortune, at least equal to her own. Her
mother too, as 1 well knew, for was much
frightened while the matter was in abey-
ance, had refused with marked emphasis
candidate, with pedigree as long as
peoples petition" but purse so short
that it could not be said to have a visible
existence. The title was very good, but
money for money, dollar for dollar, was|the
Montgomery motto. They had often in
deed prohibited gentlemen quite well-off,
some of them really rich and in other re-
spects worthy, from paying their respects
to their daghter, from the simple fact
that though in good circumstances and
otherwise eligible and desirable. they failed
to come up to the exact and immovable
money-mark fixed by the inexorahle Colo
lel.
All this would have set me to thinking,
and would have directed my attention to
Oracle, even if the impulses of my own
heart had not carried me with loves
strong impulse in that direction.
Was 1 really loved How often the
question occurred and reoccurred to me.
She was younger by some years than I. 1
could even remember those old days in
which I had amused her on my knee, and
stayed her child-tears with such odd scraps
of fairy-tales and dragons, and giants as I
could call to mind.
But now; how changed it all was.