The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-22


"Well, Prissy2"
81 think you must be crazy" groaned
Miss Ben "a little boy, indeed A
dashing, flirting, drinking West India
fellow, six feet high, I'll go bail, and
broad to correspond ] shall leave the
housel"
"No, you won't, Prissy, said I, coax
ingly. "You'll just make the best Of it,
as l am going to do. l dare say he is
very nice, and poor Fanny never would
have left him in my charge If he wasn't
all that is delightful. And perhaps he'll
want to go to college, or study law or
something, so he won't be very much in
the house, after all-and you know, Prissy,
one can't neglect dying woman's re-
quest"
at was very thoughtless Of her, at all
events, grumbled my faithful old chape-
ron. "a young thing like youp
| laughed. al dare say she heard /
was widow" said l, land probably
imagined me a midde-aged horror with
eyeglasses and double chin. Leave
these things, Prissy-we shall not go to
the sea-shoro now until cousin Basil is
safely installed with his gun case, his
hookahs and chibouks, his books and
papers, in my blue roomsi Come with
me and we'll have up the house keeper,
and turn them into bachelor suite at
once"
was very happy Tor the next three
days. studying the imaginary tastes of
my unknown cousin, culling out choice
editions of the poets, hanging rare en-
cravings on the walls, and matching car
pets and curtains. Miss Bent, poor old
soul, said it was all nonsense, that no
young man of any spirit could conde-
scend to "sit down" that was her ex-
pression) Sin house where he was to be
a dependent"
"But he is my cousin" said l. "He
has claim on me-"
Nonsense" said Priscilla. 'that
doesn't alter the case in the least"
In the meantime | was watching the
papers when | saw in the shipping
columns the arrival of the Bonnie
Kate" from San Domingo, put on my
hat and veil, ordered the carriage, and
called Prissy to go and accompany me to
welcome my new guest.
"lf must, must, said Prissy. But
she was not at all enthusiastic about
it.
was just pinning the Grape bow
under my chin, when Alice, the parlor.
maid came courtesying in.
"A young gentleman in the parlor to
see you ma'sn," she said in smiling
furry. "From the San Domingo steamer.
And"
'1'll go down at once. Alice" " | cried,
tearing off my hat and veil and flinging
the heavy cape streamer on one side.
''Elsie, Elsie, wait" Priscilla's shrill
voice entreated me, but my mind was
phan child-and hurrying down stairs, l
found myself face to- face with tall,
slender young man, very pale and fair
with dark blue eyes, SOFT silky mus
tache, and plain mourning dress.
Involuntarily threw my arms around
his neck and kissed him.
"You are welcome, Cousin Basil, said
], ''welcome thousand times"
He drew back, colored little. 81 beg
your pardon, Mrs. Charteris," he said,
''but there is some mistake here. This
is your cousin !" and pale child of four
or five years DID, whose long golden
curls hung over his black suit, crept out
from the shadow of the curtains, slowly
and shyly.
81 am Frank" he said. "And Mr..
Lesley is my dear, dear friend. He lived
on the next place, in San Domingo. He
has come to the United States with me !"
'But," / cried, looking helplessly
around me, "where is Basil2"
''Basil died two years ago, when the
yellow fever decimated our place." said
Mr.. Lesley, quietly. IL was his most
intimate friend. Little Frank is all that
is now left of the Black family, and l
promised his mother to see him in safety
to your house"
looked with pang of pity at the
dear little golden haired fellow, of whose
very existence had hitherto been ignor-
/ ant.
"Sweet little Frankie" said ], "you
shall be my little boy henceforward, "
and l clasped the baby form to my
breast
"And Mr.. Lesley too?" said the little
lad, solemnly reaching out his hand to
his friend. Cousin Elsie likes Mr..
Lesley, or she wouldn't have kissed
him"
could 1eel myselt color 10 the very
roots of my hair, but Mr.. Lesley's feat
ures never stirred.
"She thought l was you. frankie,
don't you seel" said he. "She didn't
expect to see such mite of chap as
you. Good bye, now, l am going to the
hotel, and | shall see you very often, if
Mrs. Charters is"
But at this frankie burst into an in-
fant cry of dismay and desolation, and |,
recovering my presence of mind, spoke
up at once;
"FranlSie. don't cry" said I, 'AIr
Lesley will not leave you-just at pres.
ent, at least You were my dead cou
sins trusted friend, Mr.. Lesley" added
holding out my hand. MAY not hope
that you will be my guest, also"
And Mr. Lesley seeing that l wa,
thoroughly in earnest, consented.
} "lf shall not be a borem he said
when little frankie jumped and danceC
around him, for very JOY,
SNOW | shall love cousin Elsie all my