Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-11-17

boarders' towels.
"It's the old gentleman In the barn
chamber" answered Hannah Ann.
"He's sittin' on the rustic seat under
the apple tree, with his white umberil,
a-waitin' for you"
81 wonder what he wants, Hannah
Ann?"
Goodness knowsp said Hannah
Ann.
And with the most dignifed air
which she could assume on such short
notice libby descended to the apple
tree, where the gillifower apples
(called "sheep's noses" by the rustic
inhabitants of the neighboring vales)
were just beginning to stripe their
emerald spheres into crimson.
The old gentleman was not SO very
old after all. He might have been
forty, but he was certainly not older.
He was straight, ruddy- comprehend,
handsome, with dark, piercing eyes,
and only here and there silver streak
in his dark brown hair.
He rose and bowed to libby. libby
inclined her head to him, and secretly
thought that if she were well acquaint-
ed with him she should like him very
much.
81 hope, sir, that you have nothing
to complain off" said libby, rather
royalty.
Not in the least" said the gentle
man. "On the contrary, highly APP
prove of the manner in which things
are conducted here.
libby drew herself up.
What did it matter 10 her whether
this tall parsonage approved or other
wise?
~ am Southener," said the gentle
man.
care you" said libby, still with
hauteur.
~ came here to enjoy the trout fish
ing" he went on. ~ had other business
in these mountains, but stopped here
to enjoy the July sweetness. Not un-
til now had the least idea that you
and your mother kept this place"
eve DON'T" said libby, with a rog-
ush sparkle IN her eyes, "Hannah Ann
keeps it. We keep Hannah Ann! But
we have no income, and it was imper-
atively necessary that the tradesmen's
bills should be met. We are ladies,
mamma and /! And"
at is no discredit to ladies to study
their selfrespect by earning an honest
livelihood" said the gentleman, quiet
ly.
"My opinion, exactly" said libby.
"But" remembering her dignity, II
don't know why you should be so in
terested in nv affairs"
libby tried to look very frozen in
deed!
Because" said the gentleman, 81
am your Cousin Falconer."
The rosy blood mounted to the very
roots of the girls hair. Involuntary
she started.
Yes" he said smiling composedly
81 came to the North to find you out,
and acquaint myself with the true
character of my unknown relatives.
To my surprise, ! accidently learned
that the name of my landladies
was Wayne. / had expected to find
you languid, fine ladies, without an
idea beyond dress and fashion. On
the contrary 1 discover that you have
spirit, energy, noble independence. I
don't know whether to congratulate
you or myself the mosG."
And libby, 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 wods and
thoughts-the cold, courteous gentle
man whom she had taught herself to
hate. But do what she could, it was
not possible to hate him any longer
"4ou are my cousin" said Mr.. Fail
coner.
eyes" acknowledged libby, 81 am
your cousin. Your second cousin at
least"
Second or third, it matters but lit
tle," said Mr.. Falconer. ave are all
that is left of the old family. l have
come north to ask you and your
mother to return with nae to Cressida
Vale, in Alabama, to be my mother
and sister We will divide the fortune
which should at first have been equally
distributed"
libby flushed vivid red.
"No /" she said, involurtarily closing
her tiny. fist, 81 will accept nothing
which the law doesn't award me !"
"But you will at least come thither
as my guests ?" he pleaded, almost
with humility.
And libby, who had always felt a
longing desire to see the "Sunny
South" of her dreams, did not quite
say No"
So they left the Halfway house to
the generalship of Hannah Ann, whom
nothing could induce to go.
At the end of six months libby came
back to the mountains with Mr.. Fal-
coner, as bright as human sunbeam.
"Humph |" said Hannah Ann, who
was seated before n roaring fire of logs,
"piecing" calico bedquilts for the next
seasons boarders. 81 amt surprised
to see you. 81 calculated you'd get
tired of the South"
"But Pm not tired of it, Hannah
Ann" said libby. "I shall live there
always now. Pm only here on my
wedding trip"
"What p cried Hannah Ann.
81 am married." said libby, show
ing her wedding ring, with sweet,
happy laugh. TO my cousin Falcon
er. Because there was no other way
of settling the disputed estates, and
and because / liked him |"
"Well, l declare !" said Hannah
Ann. "But if you'll remember, Miss
Falconer. l should
say always told you that the gentle
man in the barn-chamber was the incest
of all our boarders."
And Mr.. Falconer smiled goo1-hu-
as he thanked Hannah Ann
for her good opinion of him.
cater all, libby" he said to his
young wife, "if Hannah Ann hadn't
taken me for boarder, / never should
have read your character in its true
light. And if had missed you out of
my life, dearest" bending to kiss her
brow, al should have missed jewel
indeed r"-Helen Forest Graves.
Charity the Bond of Perteetness.
Governor Littletield, of Rhode Island,
in appointing Thursday, the 30th in
slant. rs a day of THANKSGIVING, saws: