The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-11-10
COUSIN JOR'g PLACE
BY HELEN NJ. WHITNEY.

"Of course it's our luck I" chimed her
sister Betty. SIT was just our luck when
Uncle Lyman Perry left all his property
to Joe Ferris-the best farm In the State,
with twenty acres in woodland, and
big orchard, and some of the finest
blooded stock, all thoroughbred. And
Joe Ferris was no nearer kin to him
than we are"
"He's an old miser to take all the pro-
perty and keep it !" snapped Viola, tart
"But it's just our luck ~ groaned their
mother.
In the meantime, Joe Ferris, the old
miser, as Viola had dubbed him, but in
reality very gOod-looking young man,
was taking survey OF his new possess
sions.
every nice, indeed, but lonely as Sa-
hara !" he soliloquized, with compre-
bensive glance at the big brown farm
house, with its wide gables overrun with
clematis and wistaria vines. "Might as
we'll turn hermit, or Robertson Crusoe at
once, as to live in this rambling old
place without kith or kin. Hold on,
though Haven't l got some kith or
kin somewhere, after all ? "Pears like
l hev,' as old Granny Griggs used to say.
/ must ask Dinah, or whoever the color
ed genius is that presides over the inter-
nal arrangements of my bachelor estab-
lishment. And if there are any pretty
cousins, they might possibly be persuade
ed to honor me with a visit, properly
chaperoned, of course"
Joe Ferris had lived nearly all his life
in San Francisco, consequently his Mis-
souri, cousins were entire strangers to
him, personally.
And so it CHANGED that Mrs. Perry and
her daughters were delightfully."- surpris-
ed by an invitation to spend the summer
at Cousin Joe's place-Pinkdale, as he
had christened it.
But there is no rose without a thorn,
and the thorn in this case was the post
script to Mr.. Ferris letter.
81 find l have two other cousins" he
wrote, "Miss Barbara Perry and Tom
Briggs. Tom in his poor circumstances,
l understand, and shall try to get him
q good situation. You are already ac-
quainted with Barbara, I believe. They
will come by the same train as your
selves, and 1 hope will help to make
your journey agreeable"
"WeIl, upon my word !" cried Viola,
her black eyes swapping angrily.
ooh, of course !" grumbled Betty,
"Bab must be invited, I'll warrant She
always does contrive to have finger in
our pie"
"oh, of course /" echoed their moth
er.
"And she'll do her best to catch Cous-
in Joe with them owlish great eyes and
elfn curls," added Betty.
Miss Betty had small eyes and the
straightest of black hair herself, and
therefore pretended great disdain Of her
Cousins yellow cuTls.
az know what I'll doP' declared
Viola, theoretically. "I'll 90 and offer TO
pay Bah if she'll stay here and keep
house for us while we are gone. She's
absolutely pinched for money just now,
know, so think Wen agree"
''The very thing" chorused Betty and
her mother, Frightening up; while Vio-
la tripped over to the dressmaker's shop
on the the next square, whore Bah earn
ed a scanty living by sewing, all day
and half the night, and made known
her errand.
'And itll be so much better for you
than sewing all the time, Bah" she
added persuasiVely, being better pay
But to Viola's appointment, Bah
declined the generous offer.
She wanted so much to get into the
country, she said; and, besides, Cousin
Joe had Mt her a cheque to cover al
expenses" she added, with a grateful
flush lighting her pale cheek.
Viola fiounced off in high dudgeon.
''Bab's mean. artful thing" she de
clared, "and Just wants a chance to foo
Cousin Joe and marry him for his
money I"
And her mother and sister conceded
in her opinion.
They were still pouting over the clouC
which threatened to dampen their en-
Joyment, when the dOor-bell rang, anC
the servant handed in Mr.. Briggs card
with a few words written on the back
to say that he had ventured to call anC
offer his services for the contemplated
journey; but his offer was scornfully de
clined.
''Tell him we are engaged, and have
not the slightest need of him or his ser.
vice either |" commanded Viola, in sucI
loud tones that the young man, who was
waiting in the hall, heard the words
distinctly.
He tnrned away, with disappointed
look, before Bridget had time to repea
the scornful message.
can shure he's a gintleman born,
muttered the girl, locking after MIN, 81
he does be wearin' the ovid, shabby
coat with darned howl on the should
erp'
"To do Bridget justice, she was limo
cent of any intention to indulge in slams
talk, for the hole in the shoulder of Mr.
Briggs coat was very neatly darned in
deed.
And pretty Bah, in her new travelling
dress of silver-gray, wide-brimmed ha
shading her shy blue eyes, was quit
content to accept the escort of Mr.. Thorn
as Briggs, and allowed him to walk be
side her to the depot and carry he
modest travelling bag, with a feeling o
comfort and security she had neve
known before.
Evidently, Toms Spanish black eye
and tawny mustache had made impress
sion on her inexperienced heart.
Tom had Just found comfortab bic sea
for Bah and himself on the shady side o
the coach, where they could look out OF
the broad waters of the Mississippi
which lay stretched out like a silver rib
bon before their gaze, when Mrs. PER-,
and her daughters rustled by in thei
hounced dresses.
They bestowed a distant nod on Bah
but ignored Tom altogether.
Just see how they are flirting !!
sneered Betty. az shall take care tina
Cousin Joe hears about that"
A two-seated spring wagon, behind
team of prancing sorrels, with stou
farmland at their heads, stood await
ing the visitors.
The two girls and their mother imme
diately took possession of the seats, Will
Tom and Bah sqeezed themselves in tn
back part of the wagon, which was file,
with straw.
otis more comfortable down here oil
this nice, yellow straw, than sitting OIL
those seats, anyway" whispered Bah
consoliDgly, to her companion; and b
smiled back at her in such a way tina
she blushed till her cheeks were as re-
as the bitter-sweet berries, growing in
tangled thicket by the roadside.
The sorrels made good time, and a fey