The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-01
THE COUSINS.


ut is too bud that you should be
sighted, Nina; but ! suppose the Ora
hams think that you are but child vet
too young for parties"
The brown eyes flashed.
81 am not child, though you may
wish to keep me so; and if | am disap-
pointed, il is no, wonder, for DR.. Ora
ham and his sister have always seemed
to like me, and now | alone of all the
girls am left OUT
The first speaker shrugs her shoulders
rs she replies, smiling little:
Excuse me, Miss Nina, for not think
ing seventeen to be most venerable
age. But another time I'd be a little
more delicate about saying that you
think people like you, for you may run
the risk Of making the same mistake as
II is evident you have now"
Nina does not answer her cousins
taunt, but the rosy color raises and
bathcs her eloquent face in one tide of
indignation as she turns and goes into
the house.
Connected little thngl" Edna ejacu-
lates as she looks after her. 80 DR..
Graham likes her. does he?n
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
narrow unloying nature, and never has
understood, OF cared 10, 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 Proyi-
dence has placed in her keeping.
The most eligible match in Rose
mount (as Edna expresses iD is GER
tainly Dr. Launt Graham. Handsome,
finely educated, and well supplied with
this worlds goods, it is no wonder that
the young physician has made himself
q general favorite.
For long time Edna has set her
mind upon captivating and bringing to
her feet this prize but though she has
dressed herself charmingly, and manag-
ed 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 eyes, too, have found a
charm in Launt Grahams noble face
that has drawn her fancy irresistibly to
him; but that he has given more than
passing thought TO her little self she
does not dream, though, as she has
said, she has seen that he liked her.
And now invitations have been sent
out for very unique kind Of lawn-party,
TO be given at the pleasant home where
DIR. Graham and his maiden sister live.
II is to be character-party, each guest
being required to represent some noted
creation OF fiction and 10 90 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
daring idea.
IL will not be left out" thinks little
Nina. Edna has all the fun, and all
the work. ] will go, but no one will be
any the wiser, for before the time comes
for unmaskiug | 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, II is not long beforea 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
probationary she had purchased piece
of gaily-lowered chintz with which 20
make coverings and hangings.
A few moments diligent perusal OF a
particular part of "Barnaby Rudge,"
and few evenings of work after all the
rest have retired, have suiliced for her
clever fingers to fashion u very pretty
Dolly Warden costume.
And so, with her tell-tale curls comb
ed high up on her head, aud hidden
beneath a 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 fear:
may recognize her, despite her mask.
But the bright hours fly swiftly by, anc
Nina knows that the time has come
when she must slip away.
IL will steal unnoticed into the lilac
path, and take of my mask" she thinks
TO herself, land from there il is but ;
step to the gate
But, standing with his back to th,
gate as she approaches it, she sees, t
her CONSERVATION, DR.. Graham's well
known form. His mask is in his hand
and he is seemingly lost in reverie. II,
looks up as her light step falls upon hi
ear.
why, Miss Nina! Whittier q way SC
oarlyP he exclaims gaily, coming for
ward with outstretched hand.
With u little cry Nina starts back, fill
cd with u sudden sense of how wron,
she has been in coming and what
rude forward girl he must think her.
The color battles all her face in ,
crimson glow rs, claspng her small
hands together, she says earnestly: