The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-14

The idea was delightfully."- exciting to
Maud, and she entered into it with all
her girlish enthusiasm; and when she
drove over to the steamboat landing, at
Alexandria Bay, the next day, she was
gaily important
There's no telling who or what III
bring back she thought. And how rid
iculous it seems to think | cannot tell
who to look forl | suppose l must be
governed by appearances and the gen
eral strange awkwardness my cousin
from the country-be he boy or be she
girl, will manifest
So, when the boat landed her passen-
gers, there were not so many but that
Maud, standing little aside, could scru-
tinize every possible cousin among them,
there was no boy or girl of any kind,
awkward or polished, among them. A
little feeling of disappointment went over
her as she turned away.
Il think it very singular that nobody
came. | wonder if,
She never finished the thought, for
she suddenly discovered pair of the
handsomest gray eyes she had ever seen
looking cautiously and admiringly at her
and they belonged to n young gentle
man who was dressed in the most nobby
of travelling suits, with the finest dia
mond studs in his linen, and an imma
culate, pale gray tie.
i beg your pardon, but | would like
to inquire if you know where the Cleve.
land Farm ISL
What charming voice it was, and
how gracefully he lifted his hat, and
how--oh! how handsome those half
smiling gray eyes
| Maud looked demurely up in them.
| Cleveland Farm is just about two
miles in that direction, where the clump
of trees are.
The handsome gray eyes followed the
direction indicated, and then came back
to the sweet, girlish face.
Il expected somebody would meet me,
but dare say the detention was un-
avoldabe.'
All at once it flashed over Maud, this
was zone of the children invited to come
over to the farm. 1t seemed absurd to
think of making such a mistake but it
Grandma Cleveland always called her
married daughters the girls, why should
not the se;fsame girls speak of their
family as the children.
Then a roguish little snap of mischief
flashed up in Maud's eyes.
| who did you expect to be here 2
He laughed.
i didn't know exactly whether my
grandfather would come, or send my lit
tie cousin to direct me-a stranger to
me, although she is my cousin. Perhaps
you may know her--her name is Daven
port.
Maud frowned thoughtfully. This
handsome young man was her cousin
beyond shadow of doubt.
Davenport? Davenport? The nam'
sounds familiar. Oh, yes that's th'
little girl up at the Clevelan d Farm
Yes l know her quite we'll
i suppose she is very nice little cir
Grandmother has sent for one of us t.
come amuse her. I'll try anyhow.
Il dare say you'll succeed
He laughed. and lifted his hat again.
) Il am afraid have bothered you yer
much, but am sure am greatly obi
ged to you. Good-morning.
And, as he went away, on foot he dc
~ cided that he would search out the littl
Il beauty before long.
! While Maud, inspired by her wicke
|, little ain,.made Nellie fairly fly hom
L and-was in the parlor, demure an
proper, when the young man was ushe
=, ed in by grandma, so proud and su
-, ~ prised.
'e Il never thought your mother'd sen
> you, she said deightedly. ..
70 We'll, you see | was so awfully di
m appointed in my calculations for ii
+ summer, grandma, that they conclude
trip up here would heal my wounde
- heart, and he laughed very cheerily f
~ fellow with sorrow.
:, DO tell! grandma said.
- There's nothing to tell, except all II
~ arrangements were made to visit Ne,
&c port and Saratoga with Aunt Dave
u port and the girls but Herrick, at Il
:. Office had to change his plans, and cou
81 not spare me at the time
- A look of sudden amazement tinishC
y his sentence, for he saw Maud sitting
the window, fair and sweet, dimpliI
s and flushing with rougish satisfaction,
she stepped demurely up to him.
'u Il am Maud Davenport, she sa
y laughing
ne and am Willard Maurice! B'
IT. why didn't you tell me so down at t
gu landing2
e. why didn't you ask me? she retort
o. saucily.
ee Because | was so heart broken at t
deep disappointment of not spending
Is summer at Newport with you, he ;
~ swered, quickly, with look in his ey
" that brought the warm blood char
'er ingly to her cheeks.
en- And her mother had sent her aw
NJ up here to avoid this splendid fello
eir with the gray eyes and curling, gold
nd brown hair Well
ice you can't help what fate has ordair
Mr.. Davenport said, consolingly, wi
IS, the news of the engagement came
hd them.
ge, Don't talk such nonsenee ! she
I'D swered, hysterically. Ifyou were a l
olute, positive man, you would put "
vo, foot down against it
md A merry, sarcastic twinkle came il
for his eyes
at MY dear, if had put my foot do
Int, against many things, am convinced
eek would all be better off But in the p
I'D, ent instance, III be resolute for once-'
the let Maud marry the man she loves
the And Mauds summering was II
lite blessed after all