The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-07-17
FOURTH COUSINS.

L w II IL w = t)l -ND'
In the early summer of 1850 / went upon
visit to distant relative of mine, who
lived in one of the Shetland islands 1t
was early summer with myself then 1
was medical student with life all be
fore me.
The steamer landed me at Lerwick and
I completed my journey-with my boxes
next day in an open boat 1t WAS very
cold morning, with a gray, cold, choppy
sea on, the spray from which dashed over
the Oat we;ting me thoroughly, and
making me feel pinched, blear-eyed, and
miserable
An opening in a wall of rock took us at
length into q long, winding ford. or arm
of the sea, with green, bare fields on every
side, and wild, weird-like sheep that
gaZed on us for a moment, then bleated
and fed. Right at the end of this rock
stood my friends house, comfortable and
sold-looking but unsheltered by single
tree.
-. shan't stay long here / said to my
self, as l landed.
An hour or two afterward I had changed
my mind entirely. l was seated in
charnringly and cozily furnished drawing
room, upstairs. The windows looked
TO and away across the broad Atlantic
How strange it was for the loch that had
led me to the front of the house. and the
waters Of which rippled mp to the very
lawn, was part OF the German ocean,
and here at the back, and not a stones
throw distant, was the Atlantic
Beside the fire in an easy-chair sat my
gray-hair old relation and host, and, not
far of, his wife Presently Cousin Mag
gle entered, smiling to me she did so
her left hand fingered for a moment on
her fathers gray locks, then she sat down
unbidden to the piano. On the strength
of my blood relationship, distant though
it was, for we were really only third or
fourth cousins, l was made a member of
this family from the first, and Maggie
treated me as a brother. ! was not entire
ly pleased with the latter arrangement.
because many days had not passed ere l
concluded it would be pleasant pastime
for me to make love to Cousin Maggie.
But weeks went by and my Iove-making
was still postponed il became a sine die
kind of probability. Maggie was con-
stantly with me when out OF doors-my
companion in all my fishing and shooting
trips. But she carried not only a rod but
even a rifle herself; she couli give me
lessons in casting the hy-and did she
often shot dead the seals that had mere
- ROutiiGds anu uti piONtSS III rowing
astonished me, and her daring in ventur-
ing so far out to sea in our broad. open
boat, often made her tremble for our
safety.
One day Maggie and I were together in
a cave close by the ocean-a favorite
haunt Of ours on hot forenoons Our boat
was drawn up close by. The day was
bright, and the sea was calm. its tiny
wavelets making drowsy, dreamy music
on the yellow sands. She had been read
ing aloud, and I was gazing at her face
begin to think you are beautiful" 1
said.
She lookad doun at me where lay
with those innocent eyes of hers, that al
WAYS looked into mine as frankly as a
child's would
Pm not sure" I continued, lat I
shan t commence making love to you, and
perhaps might marry you. What would
you think Of that D."
love ~ she laughed, as muslcalIy as
sea nynph, Glove Love betwixt a
cousin and n cousin Preposterous :"
g dare say ] resumed, pretending to
pout, you wouldn't marry me because
I'm poor"
Poor she repeated, looking very
firm and earnest now: "if the man 1
loved were poor I'd carry a creel for him;
I'd gather shells for his sake but don't
love anybody and don't mean to. Come "
So that was the beginning and the end
of my love making with Cousin Maggie.
And Maggie had said she never meant
to love any one. Well, we can never tell
what may be our immediate future.
Hardly had we left the cave that day
and put off from the shore ere cats'-paws
began to ruffie the water. They came in
halfway to the distant headland steady
breeze was blowing We had hoisted our
sail and were running before it with the
speed of a gull on the wing.
Once round the point we had a beam
wind till we entered the ford then we
had to beat to windward all the way
home by which time it was blowing
quite gale.
1t went round more to the north about
sunset, and then for the first time we
noticed a yatch of small dimensions on
the distant horizon. Her intention appear
ed to be that of rounding the island and
probably anchoring on the lee side of it.
She was in an ugly position, however, and
we all watched her anxiously till night
tall hid her from view
l retired early, but sleep was out of the
question, for the wind ragged and howled
around the house like wild wolves About
2 O'Clock the sound of gun fell on my
,ars. / could not be mistaken, for the
window ratified in sharp response.
l sprang from my couch and began TO
lress. and Immediately after my aged /
elative entered the room. He locked 4
'ery serious
The yatch is on the Ba." he said, SOL
mly
They were words to me of fearful signifi-