Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-06-03

by the otilcIous Iete, and placing l
rather close to the one occupied b
Miss Lou, who bIushed at the appa
rently unintentional act 1T gives III
real pleasure to say, that have til,
hoTU!> - be acquainted with all thoS,
families YOU have mentioued.' Ant
as Mrs Spaldlng and Mr.. Loudoun en-
tered into conversation about lheil
Virginia friends, Charlie avaled him.
self of the opportunity of indulging
in a tefe-a-fete with Miss Lon, who
would much rather have listened tc
the musical tones of the strangers
voice.
"Wrll, my fair cousin, it seems an
ase since saw You last" said Lester
Though only eight months have
passe since | left YOU at Rosedale
1 up~ have YOU spent the winter; |
nee,fil ask You how have Won been
yoar app. arance this morning is Il
sufficient assertion Of the fact, that
/ Your health has been excellent.
"Do please, cousin Charlie, put me
one question AT time. With SO mnch
excitement. around me, can hardly
succeed IN answering u half dozen at
once in an intelligible manner"
| She called Lester cousin, although
40 one could exactly tell the degree OF
relationship, that existed between
them. The peculiar custom exists 10
this day in Maryland and Virginia
/ II the heads of two families happen TO
+ be cousins. their descendants 10 the
twentieth generation call each other
cousins, IN imitation of their proseni-
tors.
Ham, as positive and epigrasl-
matte rs ever ! perceive, exclaimed
Charlie. 1T seems to me that asked
You only one question. ! presumed.
that you had enJoyed good health du-
ring my absence. and | ventured All
inquiry as to now YOU had spen! the
winter.
Noticing the tone of vexation. in
which Charlie uttered these wor,ls,
aud the evident look Of chagrin, that
swept across his handsome isce. Miss
Louisa. coloFing slightly, replied in
her sweetest tones: Quick as usual
IN taking offence, where none was in
tended. Pardon me, II seemed DIS
fraiie. spent the winter in the us
usl wav. Went To Baltimore at
Christmas frequeutsd the theatres
aud operas, attended balls and parties,
dlsslpated generally till Ash Wedres.
day, then rvturncd home and Was u
good glEl until Easter; aud here am
to-day, making NV first appearance IN
public, since | dotied the sack cloth
aud ashes Of the lsnteu SEASON Aud
nov, cousin Charlie, after this full
general confession. presume have
The right 10 ca;echsse your lordship as
10 your doings IN the meanwhile.
"Ynl certainly missed your soca-
cation. my FAIR cousin. Were YOU uot
50 pretty aud aewitching. should
s.y you oughI 10 DC msek-eyed Sis
t-r ol Charity, lnstrGctlug the rising
generation Ia the paths they should
Iecai lu search Of virtue and happs-
ness. haren't K lied any body aud
certainly haven't Killed myself bv
hard labor. have the name of stud
y,ng law with Mr.. Brcntiu Baltimore,
bat I'm afraid | don't do much in the
studying line. Nv friend Loudoun
there, who - my room mate, my old
Chum, and my fellow student, does
enough studying for both OF us. In
Tact he does all the work and do all
the play. lou don't know Loudoun
yet ndsE that quiet, gentle man
ner OF hls he conceals the energy Of a
/ Hercules aud the courage Of lion. !"
As Miss Lou looAed towards Lou
doun, her eyes met hIs. She bIushed,
and he smiled one of his rare smiles,
and turned to Captain Humphrey.
"ho, al that moment, came hurryIug
toward The group, exclaimlng !:
Come on, Colonel, be quick. Every
thing is ready. The grand race will
begin in fifteen minutes. Aud you.
Young gertlemsu, IL YOU are going to
ride your own horses, YOU had better
make Sasts with your preparations
for We shall start the horses precisely
at 1880.
why gentlemen, you surely are not
going 10 ride to-day exclaimed all
the ladies in breath.
10 be sure We are" replied Char
lie laughing. "Loudoun rides that
handsome gray horse you perceive
yonder at the track, while your hum
ble servant intends to win if he can.
on that fine black tilly, you see being
led by my boy Sam"
And now, ladies, before we 90, per-
init us to beg your good wishes for
our success, quietly observed Mr.. Lou
doun.
Certainly, certainly, YOU shall have
them" said Mrs. Spalding.
"But you cannot both win" sug-
gestec Miss Lou, aud she looked awav
as she felt Loudoun's gaze again fixed
upon her.
That's true" said Charlie, "and
suppose now you crown the victor
with that scarlet kerchief you wear
about Your neck"
"A Very good idea," laughingly ad-
ded Loudoun, as he turned to depart.
Remember, Cousin Lou, that
wear the blue ribbon, said Charlie.
"And please bear in mind Mis-.
Spalding that sport the red rose to-
day. whispered Loudoun as they both
departed to prepare for the great ef-
fort.
CHAPTER III.