The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-02-09
THE COUSINS.

THE COUSINS.
Such pretty bewitching face, troub
led though it is, with a suspicion of tear
in the great brown eyes and q sensitiv
quiver around the mobile lips.
at is too bad that you should b.
slighted, Nina; but l suppose the Ora
hams think that you are but child yet
too young for parties
The brown eyes flashed.
81 am not child, though You ma,
wish to keep me SO; and if l am disap
ham and his sister have always seemed
| to like me, and now l alone of all tn,
girls am left OUT
The first speaker shrugs her shoulder
as she replies, smiling little:
Excuse me, Miss Nina, for not think
ing seventeen to be a most venerable
| age. But another time I'd be little
more delicate about saving that yol
| the risk of making the same mistake a:
it is evident you have now"
Nina does not answer her cousins
taunt, but the rosy color raises ant
bathes her eloquent face in one tide OF
the house.
'Conccitcd little thing!' Edna eiacu.
lates as she looks after her. $50 DR.
Graham likes her. does he?'
For the last twelve years of her life
Nina Ogden has been an inmate of the
Eltings' home, ever since her mother,
dying, left her orphan child to her sis
ter's care and love.
1t cannot be justly said that the girl
has lacked for care; but the love has
been sadly missing. Mrs. Elting has a
narrow unloving nature, and never has
understood, or cared to, the full mean
ing of that word-charity.
Having one daughter of her own. all
the affection she is capable of feeling
has been bestowed upon her to the eX-
clusion of the gentle girl whom Provi-
dence has placed in her keeping.
The most eligible match in Rose
mount Gas Edna expresses iD is cer-
tainly DIR. Launt Graham. Handsome,
finely educated, and well supplied with
this worlds goods, it is no wonder that
the young physician has made himself
a general favOrite.
For long time Edna has set her
mind upon captivating and bringing to
dressed herself charmingly, and managg-
cd To meet him whenever his profession
al duty has brought him to the house,
she cannot help but see that as yet her
point has not been gained.
Nina's bright ewes, too, have found q
charm in Launt Graham's noble face
that has drawn her fancy irresistibly to
him; but that he has given more than a
TO l,s,v. csIf nn
does not dream, though, as she has
said, she has seen that he liked her.
And now invitations have been sent
out for a very unique kind of lawn-party,
to be given at the pleasant home where
DIR. Graham and his maiden sister live.
1t is to be character-party, each guest
being required to represent some noted
creation of fiction, and to 60 masked, so
as to keep up the mystery as long AS
possible.
But though all the young ladies of
the village have been asked, Nina alone
has received no invitation.
Edna's taunting words do not die
away this time from her cousins mind
as readily as they generally do, but stay
and rankle and bear the fruit finally OF
a daring idea.
Il will not be left out" thinks little
Nina "Edna has all the fun, and / all
the work. 1 will go, but no one will be
any the wiser, for before the time comes
for unmasking will disappear"
The afternoon arrives at last, and
Mrs. Elting as Lady Teazle, and her
daughter as Juliet-a character nature
has certainly not fitted her fOr-have
gone. 1t is not long before a quaint little
figure follows.
Nina is very dainty about all the be-
longings of her tiny room, and some
time since from her slender store OF
pocket-money she had purchased piece
of gaily-howered chintZ with which to
make coverings and hangings.
A few moments diligent per,isal of a
particular part of "Barnaby Rudge,"
and few evenings of work after all the
rest have retired, have sufficed for hel
clever fingers to fashion a very pretty
Dolly Warden costume.
And so, with her tell-tale curls comb
ed high up on her head, and hidden
beneath dainty hat, also evolved from
her own inventive genius, Nina starts
for the party.
There is such throng that she has
no difficulty in keeping out of the way
of her cousin, whose keen eyes she fears
may recognize her, despite her mask.
But the bright hours fly swiftly by, ant
Nina knows that the time has come
when she must slip away.
Il will steal unnoticcd into the lilac
path, and take off my mask" she thinks
to herself, land from there it is but ;
step to the gate.
But, standing with his back to thu
gate rs she approaches it, she sees, tt
her CONSERVATION, DIR. Graham's well
known form. His mask is in his hand
and he is seemingly lost in reverie. He
looks up as her light step falls upon hi
ear.
..Why, Miss Nina! Whittier a way SC
early?'' he exclaims gaily, coming for
ward with outstretched hand.
With little cry Nina starts back, fill
cd with n sudden sense of how wrong
she has been in coming, and what ,
rude forward girl he must think her.
The color bathes all her. face in {
crimson glow as, clasping her small
hands together, she says earnestly:
Please do not detain me, Mr.. Ora
ham, for if my aunt knows have beer
here she will be very angry. must g
ut once. and ] wish. oh! wish / baa
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