The Washington critic., 1885-09-21
AN IMAGINARY RIVAL.
" TWAS the last rose of SUNNI n
Left blooming alone"

NliiFs llNl Nl'N AA'liN btNllilt't wi mum
Cousin John" promised to drive her
TO c. that aftcrnoon2 and Susie dearly
loved to go to c., especially when
pleasant kindly Cousin John"
handled the reins
Aunt Esther never regretted having
taken the little Susie to her heart and
home. Her bright face and sweet
voice were cheerful innovation on the
quietness that generally prevailed at
the farmhouse. And Susie, naturally
allectionatc, loved her home and every
animate thing upon it, from Aunt Esther
and her stepson John down to the little
chicks and guinea fowls, which she fed
every morning.
Late in the afternoon Susie was
safely cnsconced on the front seat of
the dearborn, with Cousin John beside
her, basket of eggs on her lap to be
exchanged at the store for tea and
spices, and u basket slowed under the
seat to hold the result of their shop
ping "Now don't forget to call for
the mail, John, and don't upset Susie"
was Aunt Esther's parting injunction.
For Cousin John, dear reader, was q
student and dreamer, "just home from
college" Susie would have proudly in
formed you, and was apt to go about
with his head in the clouds, to the
risk of his own and other peoples
safety.
The air was sweet with the scent of
orchard and field, the dust was nicely
laid by the recent rain, and Susie en-
ioyed her ride to and from the little
country town to the full. She trans
acted Aunt Esther's numerous commits
sions at the corner store carefully,
while Cousin John" called at the
postoflice and bargained with the pro
prietor of the general book and news
stand for some secondhand volumes.
At the tea table that evening, while
Aunt Esther and Susie were discussing
the afternoon purchases, John looked
up from the letter he was reading and
asked:
II say, mother, do Bold;s take
Boardcrs ?"
"Why, yes, I believe so. What
makes you aslY'
Nothing particular, only Ell
Thorne tells me here that his mother
his sister Nettic and Miss Longstrcct
have secured board there for Il month or
so--in fact have already taken up their
quarters there"
smiling, 'that John and his beloved
books will have to say good-by to each
other, as anything like quictness with
in a mile of Ed. and Ncttc Thorne is
something not to be thought of. "
Susie wondered, girl-like, if Nettie
Thornc was pretty, whether Cousin
John admired her, and hoped she
would see them all soon Her wish was
gratiticd the next day.
She was busy mixing biscuit for tea
when she heard the sound of wheels,
and looking from the window saw
fine team, driven by Mr.. Thorne, rat
tie up to the gate in great style. In
moment cousin John, who had also
heard the wheels hastencd out and
greeted the party warmly. She heard
him invite them, especially pressing
the ladies, to come in and stay for tea;
but they declined, Ed. Thorne adding
mischievously:
Draw it mild, old chum As rule
these girls never refuse anything, but |
suppose they don't want to brighten
your mother too much at first
Miss Longstreet told him to mind his
horses and not their conversation or
some one else would be frightened, and
so with laughter and many charges
from Ned to come up to see them, they
drove Off. And this was but the begin
ming of series of driving and pleasure
parties inaugurated and carried out in
The weeks to come. Susie was always
included in the invitations, but some
how she did not enjoy them very much.
She and Helen Longstrect became very
good friends, but she always felt
abashed by Nellie Thorne's eXubcrant
spirits and gay manner. In most of
their parties Ed Thorne was almost the
shadow of the stately Helen, aud Cousin
John always watched after Susic's
comfort, but somehow Nettie seemed
to have the pleasure of his company
most of the time.
All things come to an end, and so
the pleasant summer days slipped by
and Mrs. Thorne and the young people
were preparing for their flight city
ward. Aunt Esther had promised Miss
Longstrcet to let Susie spend few
weeks in town with her, and prepare
tons for the visit were now hurried for
ward, but Susie took but languid in
tcrest in them. She puzzled Aunt
Esther sorely-with nothing apparently
the matter with her, yet she seemed
TO be losing her color and was listess
and Indifferent; even the shopping for
the proposed visit seemed to give her
but little pleasure,
1t was the eve of Susie's departure
for the city, and her new Saratoga
trunk "a present from Cousin John J
stood strapped and ready in the hall
She had been for u walk through the
orchard, and MS she was coming back
by the lane she met him hunting for her
"Why, here is my little redbird!' he
said, gayly, with u suggestive pull at
her hair. 81 have been searching high
and low for you, and had about
reached the conclusion that you had
departed for parts unknown by your
self without waiting for the morning.
"lIey, little one, is that sou with
another pull. Susie did not answer;
there seemed to be lump in her throat
and She couldnot
"Sce here he continued, chow do
you like my farewell gifG'
Il think it is lovely" said Susie,
finding her voice; $50 large and roomy,
and just the thing every way
Large" said cousin, in a puzzled
tone, and roomyi why child where
are your eycsy'
Susie looked up and then stopped
short, with an exclamation of pleasant
surprise Cousin John held In his
hand a slender gold chain, from which
depended n beautiful dead gold lockct,
There, take it, he said, lit won't
bite you,
She took il from him and sprung the