Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-13
Nonsense" said Priscilla, THAT

Nonsense" said Priscilla, ''that
doesn't alter the case in the least"
In the meantime | was watching
the papers-and when I saw in the
shipping columns the arrival of the
Bonnie Kate from San Domingo. I
put on my hat and veil, ordered the
carriage. and called Prissy to. go and
accompany me to welcome nay new
guest.
IF I must, I must" said Prissy.
But she was not at all enthusiastic
about it.
was just pinning the Grape bow
under my chin, when Alice, the par
lor maid, came courtesying in.
"A young gentleman in the parlor
to see you, ma'am,n she said ia a
smiling furry. From the San
Domingo steamer. And"
'tTll go down al once, Allce," l
cried, tearing off my hat and veil and
ttlnging the heavy cape streamer on
one side.
E Elsie. Elsie, wal" Priscillas shrill
voice entreated me, but my mind was
full. of poor cousin Fanny and her
orphan chiId-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, moustache, and mourning
dress
Involuntarily I threw my arms
around his neck and kissed him
"You are welcome, cousin Basil" )"
said l. welcome a thousand timss.'
He drew back, colored little. Il
beg your pardon, Mrs. Charters" he
said, ''but there is some mistake here.
This is your cousinl" and pale child
four or five years old, whose long
golden curls hung over his black suit,
creut out frem the shadow of the cur
tains.
81 am Frank, he said. "And Mr..
Lesley is my dear, dear friend. He
lived on the next place, in San Dom
lingo. He has come to the U United States
with mep
But" l cried, looking helplessly
around me, where is Basil?"
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 | promised his mother to
see him safely to your house"
/ looked with a pang of pity at the
dear little golden haired fellow, of
whose existence I had hitherto been
ignorant.
Sweet little frankie" said l. you
shall be my little boy henceforward, )"
and I clasped the baby form to my
breast
"And Mr. Lesley, too2" said the
little lad, solemnly reaching out his
hand to his friend.
cousin Elsie liked Mr.. Lesley, or
she wouldn't have kissed him.
l could feel myself color to the very
roots of my hair, but Mr.. Ltsley's
features never stirred.
"She thought l was you, frankie,
don't you see?" said he. She didn't
expect to see such a mite of chap as
you. Good bye now. I am going to
the hotel, and shall see you very Of
ten, if Mrs Charters is"
But at this FRANKIE burst into All
infant cry of dismay and desolation,
and ], recovering my presence of
SpOhS Ab
frankie, don't cry" said I, Mr.,
Lesley will not leave you,-just at
present, at least. You were my dead
cousins truest friend, Mr. Lesley" !"
| added holding out my hand. May
I not hope that you will be my guest,
also"
And Mr. Lesley, seeing that was
thoroughly in earnest. consented.
eff | shall not be bore!" he said,
when little frankie jumped up and
danced around him, for very joy.
"Now / shall love cousin Elsie all
my life," said he. ''And so will Mr..
Lesleyl"
Mr.. Lesley occupied the suite of ap-
partments which had so unconscious
ly fitted up for the poor young cousin
who was sleeping the while in the
West India cemetery. Little frankie,
who had refused to to be pal ted from
his friend, slept i'll a crib close to his
bedside.
"Well, Prissy," I said merrily to
my motherly chaperon, so we've got
two guests instead of one"
''It's dreadful, "growled poor Pfissy.
bo YOU llIlHE SUI GdIu i. 1NOW
it seems to me that it is very good
fun!n
Well, of course anyone can conjec-
ture for themselves how it ended.
Mr.. Lesley was young and handsome,
moreover he had a snug little
property of his own. He liked the
United States, and incidentally re
marked that If he had any object he
would prefer to stop here permanently.
But" he added, mournfully, lit
is sad to be SO entirely without ties,
that no one cares whether to stay In
one place or another"
Il care" piped up Frank, who sat
as usual by his side, holding his hand.
"And so does cousin Elsie"
Yes. said !, laughing, though not
without some confusion frankie
is right. We both care"
There" said Mr.. Lesley" Il will
stay"
We were engaged within the month
And as soon as l laid off my half
mourning we were married, so that
frankie never yet has been compelled
to separate from his friend.
And Miss Bent lives with us still,
and we are very happyl There is the
end of my love story. Ought not all
love stories to end so7 Miss Bent
says that all real romances end sadly,
-sut my experience, you see, has
Seen altogether differeat. And per
haps I am better judge than she IS
His Papa's Business.
St. Paul Globe.