Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-23
COUSIN ALMA.
BY BELLE MONTICELLO.

1t was large, old fashioned farm.
house, but very pleasant it seemed, with
its broad piaZzas extending the entire
length of the building, the narrow,
paned Windows set in deep, oaken
frames, and although it was late spring
they were still shaded by rich crimson
curtains. The large bay.window was
filled with rare plants, freighting the
atmosphere with their fragrance.
A cage of canaries hung near, chirp.
ing and twittering as if in answer to the
merry swallows that few past the open
window, busily engaged In building
their nests under the dropping caves.
Stretched at full length on one Of the
benches that ran along the side of the
piazza was George, the only son of
Squire Darrell. Isl & aLol1l H..
George had been practicing law in the
city for two years or more, but spent
several months of each year with his
parents. Ed g-astl ls5d saa e.5
The old house seemed dull and lonely
to him, having no sister to brighten it
with her presence, and he hailed with
delight the arrival of distant cousin
whose visit was unexpected. She was
now seated in large armchair near
him, and. in true girlish fashion, was
teasing him most numerically. 5aL
"Don't, Cousin Alma!" he cried, as
she pelted him with ths flowers with
which her lap was filled, trying to shield
himself with his newspaper. "I'll take
it all back and declare | never said it,
for he had just been telling her that the
women were all humbugs, and that it
would be policy to have them trans
ported to the Fiji islands, where it would
be impossible for them to practice their
arts of witchery. sea- t.-lall1s-
She was in the act of again deluging
him with floral shower, her blue eyes
sparkling with mischief, her ruby lips
parted in silvery laugh; her yellow hair
escaped from its confinement, was
thrown back from her snowy brow and
rippled over her shoulders. As,i il
George, peeping up from behind his
newspaper, was admiring her loveliness
when they were both startled by the
sharp click of the gate, and aquick, firm
tread on the graveled walk. cd ss-
Before she had time to retreat, Alma
found herself face to face with the
young gentleman, stranger to herself
but not to George, who sprung quickly
to his feet, exclaiming: "Walter How
ell! from what cloud have you Drop
ped 2" 5t1a 81! . slF
Grasping his hand cordially, he glanc-
ed upward as if in search of the suppos-
ed cloud. sfEe .ls2i 8 iis- g
"Welcome to Darrell farm! It has
been a long time since you have hon.
Ored it with your presence. Not since
we were college chums together, eh ?"
Then turning to his fair cousin, who
from astonishment had remained mos
tionless, looking more like a statue of
Flora than living woman, he said :
cousin Alma, my friend, Mr.. Howell,
of whom you have often heard me
speak" il. -An We
Walter Howell, bowling low, thought,
as he gazed, that never before had he
seen q creature of such rare loveliness.
miss Darrell, presufne?u and Alma,
with slight inclination of her stately
head, answered in the affirmative then,
excusing herself, Immediately with
drew, leaving them to talk over their
college pranks and enjoy their fragrant
cigars. '' A'JF s'sf 20
Tney sat thus talking until supper
was announced. Alma did not appear
at the table. ZEE a'1 afla 7tst1-
After supper. George led the way to
the cozy library, where they would not
be disturbed" he said-and, although
Walter would have preferred the society
of Cousin Alma. he had not the courage
to express his preference-hei followed
in silence. t -Gan rar> .ei2-
"Why couldn't you have told fellow
you was coming, and not take one so by
surprise ?" asked George, throwing him.
self into an easy chair, and pushing an
other toward his friend
"The fact is, Darrell, that I knew
nothing about it myself until an hour
previous to my departure''-taking the
proffered seat. III ~.