Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-11-07
THE CITY COUSINS.
BY MINNIE A. BENNETT.

summer. Why, those folks thought
all country people were good for was
to wait on them. Pm sure if my
cousins are going to be like that /
don't want them to come here"
The speaker, fresh-looking, rosy
checked country lass, was standing
in the door of an old-fashiOned farm
house, holding in her hand the broom
with which she had just been sweep
ing.
Nonsense, Dolly" said her moth
er, who was wedding the flower bed,
"as if the children of your fathers
sister could be anything else but nice.
TO be sure / have never seen the
young folks, but their mother used to
come here when you were quite small,
and a nicer woman | never saw.
If Helen and Lester are anything
like her they will be too sensible to
look down on us because we are coun-
try people"
At this moment handsome young
farmer in his shirt sleeves, with a
rake over his shoulder passed by the
gate.
"GoOd morning, Dollyw he called
out in clear, pleasant tones. at
seems you are at work before / am"
80, it's early yet" said Dolly's
mother, "but we are hurrying to get
the work out Of the way, for we are
expecting my niece and nephew this
morning."
"Sure enough, Dolly did tell me,
but | had forgotten all about it,"
"Come over tonight and get ac-
quainted with them," called Dolly,
as he put his rake on his shoulder pre-
paratory to going on again.
"Well, l WILL" he answered, and
went on up the dusty road.
BY 9 o'clock everything in and
about the farm house was in APP
pie pie order. Dressed in his Sunday
best the farmer drove to town to meet
the expected guests. Having seen
him safely started on his way, Dolly
ran up stairs to smooth her hair and
change her dress.
81 suppose cousin Helen will be
tall and queenly and pale and slen-
der, and no doubt she'll be shocked
at my red cheeks and plumpness.
wonder what she will think of Fred.
| hope she will like him since he is
to be her future COUSIN" and the rosy
cheeks grew a little roster at the
thought.
When it was about time to expect
her father back, Dolly ran down tC
the gate. Yes, there they were com.
ing, three in the buggy.
"Here they are, mother" she called
out, and that good lady came prompt
ly to welcome them.
The newcomers had no reason t.
complain of the greeting they receiv
ed from their relatives. The farmer
and his wife were hospitality personi
fed, and Dolly was cordial, though ;
little shy. Her cousin Helen did no
at all look as she had pictured her
A wee, tiny creature, with real colder
hair, eyes blue as the summer skies
and delicately fair, with a soft pinl
in each cheek-this was Helen Ire
vor. Lester was a complete contras
to his sister, for he was tall, stately
and dark as Spaniard.
elbow little you are !" said Dolly
as the girls walked arm-in-arm III
the path to the house. 81 feel Xix
regular giantess beside YOU"
Helen laughed softly.
81 have often wished IWere taller,
she said. "Short people are so insig
nifcant. You are about the RICH
height, cousin Dolly"
Once seated in the cool, shady par
lor the cousins speedily became aC
Quainted, and it was not long befor
Dolly was confiding to Helen tn
mental picture she had formed of hel
Helen laughed her soft laugh
which sounded like the ripple of
tiny brook.
"Hhe idea Nothing could be ful
Their from my actual appearance
Your description would apply to lie,
ter, though"
In the evening Fred Armstron
called, and was introduced. Doll
mentally contrasted her lover an
her cousin as the two men sat side b
side. Fred was undeniably hanC
7omer, but then his hands and fec
We're big, and he was dreadfully SUI
burnt.
Helen apparently drew no cOmpar