Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10

livelihood" said the gentleman, quietly
"My opinion, exactly" said Tibby
"But," remembering her dignity, "1
don't know why you should be SO in
terested in our affairs"
Tibby tried to look very frozen, in
deedi
Because" said the gentleman, 81
am your Cousin Falconer."
The rosy blood mounted to the very
roots OF the girls hair. Involuntary
she started.
eyes," he sai1 smiling composedly.
SET came to the North to find you out,
and acquaint myself with the true
character of my unknown relatives.
To my surprise, accidentally learned
that the name of my landladies was
Wayne. I had expected to find you
languid, fine ladies, without an idea
beyond dress and fashion. On the con-
trary, 1 discover that you have spirit,
energy, noble independence. I don't
know whether to congratulate you or
myself the most"
And Tibby, poor child, for her part,
did not know whether to smile or to
burst into tears.
This, then, was the Cousin Falconer
the Southern planter whose unknown
personality had always been the beau
ideal of her mothers words and thoughts
the cold, courteous gentleman whom
che had taught herself to hate. But,
do what she could, it was not possible
to hate him any longer.
"You are my COUSIN" said Mr.. Fal-
coner
eyes" acknowledged Tibby, ST am
your cousin. Your second cousin, at
least"
"Sscond or third, it matters but
little," said Mr.. Falconor. "We are
all that is left of the old family. Ihave
come North to ask you and your mother
to return with me to Cressida Vale, in
Alabama, to be my mother and my
sister. We will divide the fortune
which should at first have been equally
distributed"
Tibby flushed vivid red.
!" she said, involuntarily closing
her tiny fist, "I will accept nothing
which the law doesn't award me |"
Hp,1f mill loo af 10 ooxoa
thither as my guests ?" he pleaded, al
most with humility.
And Tibby, who had always felt
longing desire to see the "Sunny
South" of her dreams, did rot quite say
"No."
So they left the Halfway house to the
generalships of Hannah Ann, whom
nothing could induce to go.
At the end of six months Tibby came
back to the mountains with Mr.. Fal-
coner, as bright as human sunbeam.
"Humph ~ said Hannah Ann, who
was seated beside q roaring fire of logs
"piecing" calico bed quilts for the next
seasons boarders. "I amt surprised
to see you. I calculated you'd get tired
of the South"
"But I'm not tired of it, Hannah
Ann," said Tibny. "I shall live there
always now. I'm only here on my we'd
ding trip"
"What T. cried Hannah Ann.
st am married." said Tibby, showing
her wedding ring with sweet, happy
laugh. "To my Cousin Falconer. Be-
cause there was no other way of set
thing the disputed question of the es-
tates, and-and because liked him r.
"Well, I declared" said Hannah
Ann. "But if you'll remember, Miss
Elizabeth-M Falconer, should
say always told you that the gentle :
man in the barn chamber was the
incest of all our boarders."
Aud Mr.. Falconer smiled good-hu-
morodly as he thanked Hannah Ann
for her good opinion of him.
"After all, Tibby," he said to his
young wife, "if Hannah Ann hadn't
taken me for a boarder, 1 never should
have read your character in its true
light. Aud if had missed you out of
my life, dearest" bending to kiss her
brow, 'T should have missed jewel
indeed l"-Helen Forrest Grdres.