The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-05-03

nearly enough OF anything for all Of
them.
Meanwhile his aunt had spread her
self comfortably out in his armchair,
ard was untying her bonnet strings and
beaming al him until he was ready TO
expire with confusion. II do think"
she observed at last, ''that, when an
old aunt all the way from Australia
takes the trouble TO come end see you
like this, you might spare her just oac
kissis'
Washington dared not refuse; he tot
tered up ard kissed her somewhere
about the face, after which lie did not
know which way to look, he was SO ter
ribly afraid that he might have to 90
fhroegh The same ceremony with the
co sins, which he simply cnnld not have
survived
Happ " for him, they did not appear
to expect it, and he balanced chair on
its hind legs and. resting one knee
upon it. waited patiently for them 10
begin con ersation; he could not have
uttered q single word
The mt came to his rescue: "You
don ask after your uncle Samuel, who
used to send you the beetles?" she said,
reprovingly.
mo. said Flushington, who had
forgotten uncle Sam ell and his beetles,
too; "no. how is uncle Samuel-quite
well, hope'"
"Only tolerably so, thank you, Fred;
you see, he never got over his great
loss
NO" said Washington, desperate
", "of course not; it was IA large
sum of money 10 lose all at once"
~ was not referring to money"
said she, with slight touch of stoni-
ness in her manner; II was abiding
to the death of your cousin John"
Washington had felt himself getting
on rather well just before that, but
this awkward mistake-for he could not
recollect having heard Of cousin John
before threw him off his balance
again; he collapsed into silence once
more, inwardly resolving to be lured
into no more questions concerning rela-
tives.
His ignorance seemed to have
aroused pathetic sentiments in his aunt:
Il ought to have known" she said,
shaking her head, "that they soon for
get us in the old country; here's my
own sisters son, and he doesn't remem-
Der his cousins death! Well, well,
now we're here we must see if we can't
know one another little better Fred,
you must take the girls and me every
where and show US everything, like q
good nephew, you know"
Washington had horrible mental
vision OF himself careering about all
over Cambridge, followed by a long
procession of female relatives-a fear
iul possibility to so shy man. 'Shall
YOU be here long2" he asked.
"Only p week or so; were
you see; and I'm afraid you
think us very bod beggars, Fred, but
we're going to ask you to give us some
thing to eat. I've Sc my heart. so have
the girls thaven't you, dears?), or
lunching once with college student il
his own room. !"
There's nothing so extraordinary in
it, ] assure YOU" protested Flushing
ton, and-and I'm afraid there's very
little for YOU to eat The kitchen and
buttery are closed Che said this at 6
venture, as he felt absolutely unequal &c
/ facing the college cook and ordering
lunch from that tremendous parsonage
he would rather order it from his tutor
even. ..But, if you don't mind potteo
ham, there's little at the bottom o.
this tin, and there's some bread and an
inch of butter, and marmalade, and !;
few biscuits. And there was some
sherry this morning"
The girls all protested themselves very
hungry, and contented with anything
so they sat round the table, and poo
Washington served out meager ration:
of all the provisions he could find, ever
10 his figs and French plums; but there
was not nearly enough to go round. and
they lunched with evident disillusion
ment. thinking that the college luxury
of which they had heard so much had
been greatly exaggerated.
During luncheon the aunt begar
to study Flushington's feature:
attentively: There's a strong looh
of poor dear Simon about him
when he smiles" she said, looking al
him through her gold double glasses
"There, did you catch it. girls? Just
his mothers profile (turn your face {
ltttlC IttOlC lOh Nnitohp 81 as
to get the light on your nose); dom
you see the likeness to your aunt:
portrait. giris9'
And Washington had to sit still with
all the girls charming eyes fixed critic
ally upon his crimson conntenance; he
longed to be abe to slide down under
the table and evade them, but of course
he was obliged to remain above.
Hes got dear Caroline's nosew the
aunt went on. triumphantly; and the
cousins agreed that he certainly hao
4 Caroline's nose which made Flushing.
ton feel vaguely that he ought at leas
TO offer TO return it.
Presently one of the girls whispered
to her mother, who laughed indulgent
! ": "What do youihink this silly child
wants me to ask You now, Fredp" SHE
I said. "She says she would so like tC
see what you look like with your college
cap and gown on Win you put them
on, just to please herr?
I So Flushington had TO put them on
and walk slowly up and down the room
in them. feeling ali the time what (
dismal spectacle he was making of him
sell, while the girls were plainly disap
pointed, and remarked that, somehow,
they had thought the academical COS
tune more becoming,
Then began holly maintained cate
chism upon his studies, his amusements
his friends, and his mode Of life gen
orally; which he met with uneasy shift
/ ings and short timid answers, that they
did not appear to think altogether salts
/ factory.
4 Indeed, the aunt. who by this time