Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-05-29
MY COUSINS SECRET.

Ger IT an culOtl0il VI INC iiSc'ib Z u
RULED its surface. My young friends,
who think me amiable and goodna-
tured, suppose it possible that | may
have in some former time experienced
a tender sentiment, and amuse them
selves in specializing upon the placid
and kindly manner in which the Sc
date amour was conducted. Well,
come. sit down, and | will relate to
you portion of my life that never
was revealed Defore-thatnever should
be revealed. except as a warning TO
those who are indulging their own
hearts passions, even in opposition to
filial duty.
/ was eighteen when | left school,
my education finished, and returned
10 my parents house in Baltimore.
Knowing my indulgent mother would
not control me much, | anticipated
great pleasure wnen at home, and de-
termined TO enjoy all the sweets Of my
new-found freedom. My natural pro
pensity. however, soon declared itself
happiness could only come to me
through my affections. The first
novelty over, pleasure ceased to charm,
fashsion and vanity dwindled into
nothingness, aud my heart demanded
its more fitting food.
My mother | loved intensely, my
little half-sisters were ineXpresslbly
dear; and though not quite 50 near in
consequently, yet, from sympathy
and compromising, almost as well
beloved was my gentle and beautiful
cousin Charlotte.
To these precious objects | now de
voted myself, and in their society
and interests spent all my time and
thoughts. They all loved me fondly
and Yet my eXacting spirit required
more | was not the first object of
affection to any Of them; and nothing
but the supreme love of an undivided
heart could satisfy my yoarning.
could back upon the time-it was not
so very far distant-when my mother
held me to her widowed breast and
lavished on me all the fondnesS of her
loving nature; but a second marriage
came, and other llowerets budded
round her heart. l was no longer
her sole joy.
/ could also remember when to
Cousin Charlotte my childlove mad
been the richest blessing. Mother or
sister She had none and, though some
years my senior, her sweet, simple
spirit found congeniality with mine.
She gave me the best and warmeSt
place in her gentle bosom until an
other lover found entrance TO her
heart-a master-passion came and
shook me from my throne, and |
reigned there no more.
OF the latter fact Charlotte never
informed me During my absence at
school we had maIntaineda an affection
ate correspondence, and ON my re
turn home she was there to meet me
and TO petition for my frequent COM
panionship in her lovely dwelling
yet no hint Of another or dearer
friend, no allusion to him who had
superseded me in her gentle heart;
her secret was too precious to be
handled even by me- Bat my inuu-
ton was strong and acute, especially
when ! loved; and now that | was
almost constantly in her company
my uucles house being only few
blocks from ours-I discovered in
tritles the most minute, an insight of
the whole affair.
My uncle was profesSorof religion
and a mcmber of the same church MS
my father; but, of more stern and
rigid views and principles, he required
his family to walk in a certain line,
and forbade the faint of the world
should come upon his household.
A naval officer Of gay tastes and
associations was he who had won the
first place in Charloue's heart. The
brother of a schooImate, she had be-
come acquainted with him in early
girhood; and ere the down had
gathered on his cheek, or her under
Standing was formed, their troth had
been given TO each other
Poor Charlotte She had seen her
happiest days, heuceforth her life was
TO be made up of concealment
anxiety, and selfreproach Thepious
father, INTO whose sober presence the
gay young sailor dared not enter. was
not TO hear the story of his daughters
love, and, lest through any channel il
should reach his ears. the secret was
to be carefully locked within her own
bosom She continued to visit the
otoNtl ii lA1i NthdAIttl. tttiONEA w lNIl
tle correspondence of the lovers was
maintained. Their interviews were
few and short, and conducted with
the utmost caution; they met in fear
and parted ina doubt Educated as
she had been, this was not a course
which Charlottes own conscience
could approve. Her heart condemned
her, and bitterly did She mourn over
that fatal spell which She had not
power to break
You wonder how l learned all this;
it was merely surmise, none of 1t was
/ told but, loving her as | did, and
bcing mach in her company, no phase
of her varying countenance was I'M
noticed. no highest word or simplest
act passed unheeded 1t was not loug
until she observed that she was being