Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-12
little boy, only the dear commodore
wouldn't let me-"
HElSiaI 20

"Elsier"
"Well, Prissy?"
II think you must be crazy" groan-
ed Miss Bent. "a little boy, indeed !
A dashing. flirting, drinking West
India fellow, six foot high, I'll 60 bail,
and broad to correspond! / shall leave
the house,
No, you won't Prissy, said /, coax.
ingly- you'll just make the best OF
it, as [ am going to do. I 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 ia the house, after all
and you know, Prissy, one can't ne
glect dying woman's request.
''It was very thoughtless of her, at
all events" grumbling my faithful
old chaperon. ga young thing like
your
I laughed. II dare say she heard
I was a widow" said I, ''and probably
imagined me a middle-aged horror
with eyeglasses and a double chin.
Leave these things, Prissy-we shall
not go to the sea-shore now, until
cousin Basile is safely installed with
his gun case, his hookahs and chibouks
his books and papers, in my blue
rooms Come with me and we'll have
ap the housekeeper, and turn them
into bachelor suite at once"
was very happy for the next three
days, studying the imaginary tastes
of nay unknown cousin, culling out
choice editions of the poets, hanging
rare engravings on the walls, and
matching carpets and curtains. Miss
Bent, poor old soul, said it was all
nonsense, e,-that 40 young man of any
| spirit could condescend to ''sit down"
| Chat was her expression) in a house
where he was to be dependent. "
"But he is my cousin, Prissy," said
| [. ''He has claim on me-"
Nonsense" said Priscilla, ''that
doesn't alter the case in the least,
In the meantime I was watching
the papers-and 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 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.
GA young gentleman in the parlor
to see you, ma'am," she said ia a
smiling furry. From the San
Domingo steamer. And"
"Tll go down at once, Alice" I
cried, tearing off my hat and veil and
fInging the heavy cape streamer on
one side.
''Elsie, Elsie, wait, " Priscilla's shrill
voice entreated me, but my mind was
full of poor cousin Fanny and her
orphan child-and hurrylng down
stairs, I found myself face to face
with a tall, slender young man, very
pale and fair, with dark blue eyes, a
soft, silky, moustache, and mourning
| dress
Involuntarily threw my arms
around his neck and kissed him.
''You are welcome, cousin Basil" ,"
said l. ''weIcome a thousand times.'
He drew back, coIored a little. II
beg your pardon, Mrs. Charteris," he
said, "but there is some mistake here.
This is your cousin!" and pale child
four or five years old, whose long
golden curls hung over his black suit,
orept out from 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
ingo. He has come to the United States
with mel"
But" I cried, looking helplessly
around me, 'where is Basil?"
Basil died two years ago, when the
| yellow fever decimated our place"
said Mr.. Lesley, quietly. II 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"
l locked with a pang Of pity at the
dear little golden haired fellow, of
whose existence I had hitherto been
ignorant.
"Sweet little frankie" said I. "vou
shall be my little boy henceforward, :"
land I clasped the baby form to nay
| breast.
"And Mr.. Lesley, too?" said the
little lad, solenlnly reaching out his
hand to his friend.
cousin Elsie liked Mr.. Lesley, or
she wouldn't have kissed him"
| could feel myself color to the very
roots of my hair, but Mr.. Lesley's
features never stirred.
''She thought I was you, frankie,
don't you see?" said he. She didn't
expect to see such u mite of chap as
you. Goodbye now. am going 10
the hotel, and shall see you very Of
ten, if Mrs. Charters is"
But at this frankie burst into an
infant cry of dismay and desolation,
and /, recovering my presence Of
mind, spoke up at once:
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"