Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-05-19
"COUSIN FRANK"

Miss Ogden; my train is about starting
/ am sorry you are obliged to remain
here until tomorrow. in consequence o
the break in the road; but you will fin,
everything pleasant here at the Sher
man House. I have entered your nam,
y ON the books, and have also given tn,
name and address of your father, which
will be all the guarantee you will re
quire for the best treatment they car
give you"
''That is all right, Mr.. Werden, and
am greatly obliged for your kindness,
was the pleasant response.
The lady whose attendent had thu
bowed himself out and away was happy
young girl of eighteen, who had beer
spending the holidays with some rel
atives in st. Louis, and was now on hel
way to her home in Rochester. She
had been accustomed TO travel, both il
company and alone, and did not regarC
it as yerp serious calamity when SHE
learned from the gentleman in WHOSE
charge she had been placed, and who
had accompanied her as far as Chicago
that she would be obliged to remain
day or two.
1t was now eight O'clock in the morn.
ing, and having breakfasted in her room
and while thinking how pleasant ii
would be to find some one in that great
city whom she knew, she CHANGED to
remember having heard her father say
that ha l,pa no. H.,
the name OF Charles Brown, a dealer in
hardware.
The city directory having been sent
for, gave her the address of "Charles
Brown, Hardware and within the next
twenty minutes Il cab placed the young
lady, with her satchel in her hand, at the
door OF his residence.
The bell had been rung, and steps
were approaching the door, when our
heroine began for the first time to query
with herself as to whether she had gone
into the CONSUMING business in the most
prudent way. Would it not have been
better to have sent her card and inform
ed these cousins that she was at the no.
tel, and would be glad to see them? She
must now go in and say to the lady:
81 am cousin of your husband. My
name is Agatha Ogden, and 1 am a
daughter of Ralph Ogden, of Rochester,
New York"
How different an awkward transaction
looks, when We get fairly into it, from
what it does when thought of or seen at
!. distance!
g am much pleased to see you, Miss
Ogdenw was the form in which the
young lady was received by Mrs. Brown.
PLEASE let me take your hat and wraps.
My sister, Miss Williams" she added,
! as the lady thus introduced entered the
room. My husband is out of the city,
but will return TO morrow. His brother,
Frank, is at the store, aud will be home
to lunch. l know very little in regard
to my husbands relatives, and do not
Believe Frank knows much about them,
he having left home when not more
than ten years old"
81 do wish | was back at the Sherman
House" Agatha said to herself, the first
moment she was alone. These ladies
seem very kind; but how extremely
awkward | shall feel if the gentleman
should not be Il relative of mine, after
ALL" They will think, and so shall I,
that ] have made very great fool of my
self. And even if they are nv cousins,
they will no doubt suppose that | came
here to save my hotel bill. But l am
here now, and they are making me well
come; of course, | cannot do otherwise
than remain here until the elder brother
comes home. do wonder if other peo-
pie ever act as fOolishly as I do some
times? How father and mother would
scold mew
Frank Brown, the cousin who would
be home to lunch, was an earnest young
fellow, twenty-five years old, overflow
ing with life, and had seen just enough
of the world to make him somewhat
bold and self-reliant.
To make sure of Franks company to
lunch, Miss Williams went down to the
store soon after the visitor came in, and
told him the whole story, ending with:
"She is really a very pretty girl,
Frank. We are just delighted with her"
Frank Brown had never heard of any
cousin OF that name; but that only made
the discovery more Interesting.
Having put himself through the hands
of his barber and boot-embellisher, and
given each part of his wardrobe a few
extra touches, he ordered cab to set
him down at the door-that unusual pre-
caution having been taken in order to
bring himself into the presence of hs
new cousin in an unsoiled conditio D..
Then, after giving himself a few more
touches and scrutinizing chances on en-
tering the hall, the young man marched
boldly in, and having been duly announ-
ced, said:
81 am delighted to meet you, cousinl"
At the same time-for the whole |
story may as we'll be toid-he took her
fondly and affectionately by the hand,
and placing his left arm gently around |
her, waited a second or two, until he |
saw her fair blue eyes looking firmly, |
a4plr ny,I bn JOhf I1yyI
tingly, right into his own, and then gave !
her cousinly kiss, not roughly or hasti- |
ly, but in a very becoming and orderly |
way. He said, again:
81 arr delighted to meet you, Cousin
Agathaw
To which the young lady responded:
"And [ am pleased to meet you,
Cousin Frank"
The young man remained at home |
that day an hour longer than usual-in
fact did not return to the store until one |
of the clerks came for him, and then
remained only long enough to answer
question or two. A little business at the
Sherman House required his attention.
Cousin Agatha's trunk, the check for
which he had received from her, must
be sent over to their house, and her
name withdrawn from the books. Miss
w ucIl Wtulu We GIotT SlGSI Nllllo SIio |
remained in the city, and she had al
ready kindly consented to prolong her
visit some two or three days.
Well, my DEAR" said the elder Mr..
Brown, on hearing the whole story from
his wife, Immediately after he came
home: this is a comical adventnrf--pne.
however, that does not seem likely to |
damage any of us. The young lady is
certainly not my cousin, nor in any
manner related to me. l understand,
however, exactly how the mistake has
occurred. There was another Charles
Brown, who left here year ago, whom
/ knew very well, for he was also IN the
hardware business, and he had, as he
told me, an uncle bv the name of Raj phi
Ogden. in Rochester. We were talking
one day in regard to our respective fami-
lies, when he incidentally mentioned
that fact, and spoke, as [ RENE .nber, in
very high terms of that uncle. The
young lady is, of course, the daughter of
that gentleman. She is now, as you say,
down in the city with your sister,"