The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-16
COUSIN JoE's PLACE.
By HELEN NJ. WHITNEY.

UP mere III lilC hoA AZ, ee",'' ~-'
the summer. when other folks go to
the mountains, or the springs, or
lakes. or somewhere y
Viola Perry pouted and tossed
her head pettishly.
.Of course it's our luck" chimed
her sister Betty. "It 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 a 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
property and keep it" snapped Vi
ola, tartly.
But it's Just our luckl" grcancd
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 a survey OF
his new possessions.
"Very nice, indeed, but lonely as
Sahara he soliloquized, with a
comprehensive glance at the big
brown farm house, with its wide
gables overrun with clematis and
wisteria vines. "Might as well turn
hermit. or Robinson Crusoe, at once,
as to live in this rambling old place,
without kith or kin. Hold or,
though Haven't / got some kith or
kin somewhere, after all? Pears L
hev.' as old Granny Greggs used to
say. i must ask Dinah, or whoever
the colored genius is that presides
over the internal arrangements OF
nv bachelor establishment. And
if there are any pretty cousins, they
might possibly be persuaded to hon.
or me with a visit, properly chape-
roned, of course"
Joe Ferris had lived nearly all his
life in San Francisco, consequently
his Missouri cousins were entire
strangers to him, personally.
And so it chanced that Mrs. Perry
and Ter daughters were delightfully."-
surprised by an invitation to spend
the summer at Cousin Joe's place
Pinkdale-as he had christened it.
But there is no rose without q
thorn, and the thorn in this case
was the postscript to Mr.. Ferris
letter.
Il find | have two other cousins,
he wrote, Miss Barbara Perry and
Tom Briggs. Tom is in poor cir
cumstances, / understand, and l
shall try to get him good situation.
You are already acquainted with
Barbara, / believe. They will come
by the same train as yourselves, and
hope will help to make your jour.
ney agreeable"
"Well, upon my word J" cried
Viola, her black eyes swapping an
grily.
"Oh, of course" grumbled Betty,
"Bab must be invited, I'll warrant
She always does contriye to have a
finger in our pie"
''Oh, of course echoed their
mother.
"And she'll do her best to catch
Cousin Joe with those owlish great
ewes and elfin curls," added Betty.
81 know what I'll dow declared
Viola. energetically. "I'll 90 and
offer to pay Bah if she'll stay and
keep house for us while we are gone
She is absolutely pinched for money
Just now, l know, SO / think well
agree"
"The very thing" chorused Betty
and her mother, Frightening up
while Viola tripped over to the
dressmaker's shop on the next
square, where Bah earned scanty
living by sewing, all day and hall
the night, and made known her er-
rand.
"And it will be SO much better fol
you than sewing all the time, Bah, y
she added, persuasively, besides be-
ing better pay"
But, to Viola's disappointment,
Bah declined the generous offer.
She wanted so much to get into
the country. she said: and, besides,
Cousin Joe had sent her q cheque TO
cover all expenses, she added, with
a grateful flush lighting her pale
cheek.
Viola founced off in high dud
geon.
"Bab's a mean, artful thing" she
declared, "and Just wants a chance
to fool Cousin Joe, and marry him
for his money!
And her mother and sister coin.
cided in her opinion.
They were still pouting over the
cloud which threatened to damper
their enjoyment, when the door bell
rang, and the servant handed in Mr.
Briggs card, with a few words writ
ten on the back, to say that he had
ventured to call and offer his services
for the contemplated journey; but
his offer was scornfully declined.
Tell him we are engaged and
haye not the slightest need of him
or his services either!" commanded
Viola, in such loud tones that the
young man who was waiting in the
hall, heard the words distinctly.
He turned away with a disap
pointed look, before Bridget had
time to repeat the scornful message
"An shure he's gintleman born,
muttered the girl, looking after him
IF he does be wearin' the ovid
shabby coat, with darned hole on
the shoulder I"
To do Bridget justice, she was in
nocent of any intention to indulge
in slang talk, for the hole in the
shoulder of Mr.. Briggs coat was
very neatly darned indeed.
And pretty Bah, in her new tray-
cling dress of silyer-gray, a wide
brimmed hat shading her shy blue
eyes, was quite content to accept the
escort of Mr.. Thomas Briggs, and al.
lowed him TO walk beside her to the
depot and carry her modest travel
ing bag, with a feeling of comfort
and security she had never known
Defore.