The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-07-11
A IA NILY AFFAIR
BY UGH CONW AY,
.Author of"Called BacE and "Dorh Days
CHAPTER X.
THE FRACTIONAL COUSIN.

THE FRACTIONAL COUSIN.
Miss C!auson showed very little interest in
rbe approaching visit. TO this curious and,
nj times, alnqst apathetic young woman ii
scfncd ns if oil young men were alike, al
rADugh we have seen that she was capable Of
showing strong feeling and emotion, us when
,be rejected Mr.. Mordles love.
The only sentiments Miss ClauSon felt about
Granlz Car11lthers were these: She was rather
zlal he was not clergyman, and rather sorry
hc was sort of cousin She was not very
partial TO clergymen, and she thought that
anale cousins were apt opresume on their
relationship. Perhaps they do
She had not even tho interest which falls
80 the lot of hostess in preparing for the ar
rivul of n guest. Herbert himself had seen
hat the large feather bed in the chintz room
haI been carried down and aired at tho
Kitchen fire. He had with his own hands
given ont the needful blankets, counterpanes,
sheets and pillow cases; had even looked to
he match box and pin cushion.
SO, with something akin to indifference,
Beatrice saw tho lodge gate open and Horace
bring the horses and large wagonetto up to
Tho door. She noticed that the young man
rrho sat beside him looked rather pale and
washed out. She saw several portmantcaus
intended making u long stay. Then she re
aumcd the book she was reading. 1t was far
mora interesting than any young man.
Nor was she disturbed for some time 1t
was close upon the dinner-indced, Beatrice
.yag already dressed; SO the Talbcrts took
.th.ir Guest to his room, and left him to mako
his evening toilet. just before the gong
auqulpd the three men entered the drawing
and 1nl v tnj a
Clau3ou
when young man and woman know it is
tS.r fato to spend several weeks together in
"a country house, and when there il n family
connection between them, it is no use com
1uelcng hy being distant to one another.
At least, 80 thought Frank Carruthcrs, for
uc shook hands with Miss Clauson, and began
talking t. her as if he had known her all his
Jifa Beatrice felt sure Inc meant to presume
On mis- relationship
still she was very civil and kind TO him
and welcomed him to Oakbury. BY and by,
ia tho course of his easy conversation, he
made what struck her aS being IN original
remark. What it was is not recorded but,
as original remarks grow scarcer every day,
any yoIng man who makes ono u minute
after his first introduction to u young lady is
something out of the common run. So
Beatrice for the first time really looked to
see what he was like. You may depend he
bad made UP his mind about her looks at
once.
Hoy pale and appeared thin and over
worked. BY the side Of Horace and Herbert
Ne seemed "a short, slight man, although no
,.us quito middle height, and il thin had
plenty Of muscle He was very handsome in
Us own style and had "A clever, intellectual
look in his face His eyes were dark and
Eesu, not restless eyes, yet seemed 70 glance
AT crytAing quickly and enable hun i'll a
SECOND 10 make up his mind about the object
al which no looked. There was an expression
towering about his mouth which physiog-
oomist would have told you limited Mt sar-
sa-sn. and his chin proclaimed that he had a
aill Jf his own.
By the time Beatrice had finished her sur
vev, and before she had come 10 any decision,
except that he was by no means Unlocking,
The gong sounded. Horace offered bis arm Ia
ais niece, and led her to the dining room fol-
lowed by Herbert and Frank.
They dined at a round table pulled almost
rlp 10 the window. IL was pleasant at this
,isnc Of wear 10 be able to look out on the gar
dor. Il everybody knew the comfort of a
round table when the party is small, the
whole stock in the country would lie at once
bought up.
After all, in spite Of his pale face, there
SEEMED little the matter with Mr.. Carruthers.
His appetite was fair one; but if man could
mot make good dinner at Lakewood House
his interior organization must be in state
,mst redemption. So no ate like hale man
.s,3d talked like one whose brain was in full
-sorlung order.
Its very good of yVu to take charge of an