Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-10-24
A COUNTERFEIT COUSIN.

Exchange.
A COUNTERFEIT COUSIN.
Edward Gregory sat at his desk in the
Treasury Department at Washington.
He was busy in rearranging his letters
and papers preparatory to taking a
thirty days leave which is annually
granted to Government clerks. While
thus engaged messenger gave him n
letter. The young man glanced at the
superscription, and at once recognized
it as that of his uncle, James Lawrence,
with whom he kept up "a desultory cor
rcspondence. AS he thrust his finger
through the unsealed space in the en-
velope to tear it open, a tall athletic
man strobe into the room. He was
broad-shouldered and deep-chested, and
at one breath seemed to have exhausted
the vitality of the air In the close, musty
room.
"We're off on the morning boat,
Gregory" he shouted, brcezily; $50
get your traps together and don't fail
us. Fisher sent word TO me yesterday
that the shooting is glorious and that
there are lots of the club fellows down
there. The boat leaves at ten, so you'd
better be ready nj nine, and I'll stop for
you on my way down"
"All right" said Gregory, as his UNI
ceremonious friend went towards the
door, "Ill be ready" And then he
turned his attention to the letter in his
hand, which he opened and read in n
perplexity which his face plainly showed
He read it carefully twice.
Just my luck" he muttered, as he
on the desk, where man before whom
a multitude of documents were piled sat
writing.
Holt" he said, in an irritated voice,
''you heard what Taylor said just now,
didn't youp And now look at this"
pushing the letter towards him.
My DEAR ED.-Your cousin Marion Law.
renee win stop In Washington on her way
from Richmond TO Ohio, where she is going to
spend tho winter. / have taken the liberty
10 assure her that you will show her about
the city, and shall take as a personal favor
Richmond Tuesday, and will stay at Mrs. Bel.
don's, on l street Your uncle,
JAS. LAwRENcE
II don't know what to do" said
Gregory, as Holt laid the letter down.
81 have been disappointed twice before
about this same trip down the river. l
hate TO give il up this time. shall have
to do 1t, though. My wife is away up
in the Adirondacks with her mother,
and it would never do for this girl to 60
about alone"
AS Gregory paused to review the case
another presented itself, and he con-
tinued, in depressed tone:
"This malaria is all through my sys-
tenn. must get away from the breath
of the Potomac flats
Holt smiled little. His friend, as
he stood before him, tall and broad
chested, had every indication of vigor
and perfect health.
You had better CO." Holt urged,
gaily. "I'll sacrifice myself for day
or two and go about with the girl. To-
gether we will visit the Capitol, the
Patent Office and the Corcoran Art Gal
lery."
Oh! it's impossible" interrupted
Gregory, impatiently. my uncle
would be shocked at her going about
with an unmarried man. If my wife were
here or | was sure that the girl knew
anything of the world and could take
care of herself would go anyway, but
as it is there is nothing to do but to stay.
I'll have to go around and tell Taylor
that / can't CO." he added, dciectedly.
But the end of the talk was that
Gregory, made up his mind, with his
friends assistance, to sacrifice himself
and go.
Three days later Marion Lawrence
| IN, oil 4 4
ming with her fingers upon the arm of
her chair. Mrs. Beldon's boarders had
scdulously inquired of each other
"Who is sheP" with the meaning al
ways implied by that question in Wash
ington, viz: ''Is she related to any one
in particular-to any one in official
lifep" Unable TO ascertain, they held
cordially in allegiance and took on that
indetinable manner which women have
at command when feeling their way
with strangers, and which may be
changed without abruptness either to
active friendliness or to q passive in
difference, according to the desirability
of the acquaintance.
AS to Marion, she had taken three
meals at the crowded tables and had
been but little impressed by the faces
about her She had gone to her room
after dinner, and sat there, wondering
why that cousin, of whom her uncle had
writer, did not appear. Soon she heard
the sharp ring of the door bell, and,
listening, she thought she heard hel
own name spoken. A moment later
her suspicious were verified. A servant
came to her door with letter for
her. She gave q hasty glance at its
contents and went quickly down the
stairs to the parlor. The only person
in the room was a young man sitting
on the edge of stiff upholstered chair
He arose as she came in, with the letter
in her hand.
$50 you are my cousin" she said
holding out her hands. II was so de-
lighted when this note came in uncle.
familiar handwriting. was getting
very homesick In this strange CITY,"
II hope you will pardon me for no,
sending card" he said, taking the
hand she offered. II sent the letter
thinking il would possibly identify me
better than card"
"Oh, that is easily pardoned, "she said
in manner at once cordial and reas
curing do you know I never heart
Of You, excepting possibly your name
until uncle wrote me last week. Is there
any reason why you shouldn't be Spoken
of in the familyp" she demanded, show
ing beautiful white teeth as she laughed
perhaps, | have never done any
thing worth speaking of" he answered
land 1 am not at all sure that yo,
could have heard anything good; but a.
/ had never known Of you either, we car
take each other for what we seem TO b,
and not begin on the wrong basis O
somebody else's opipion.'
"Why, do you .scl that way, toop'
she asked, in surprise. II can agre,
with people in everything except thei
! opinions Of others, but In that regard ]