The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-10
Printed ey Special Ayrenssms~.. copyrighted 1885.
PATTY'S COUSINS.


She had dozens of them, and il this indefinite
but comprehensive number could not be counted
among the s'home' cousins. that u.s. those in the
county, the full quota might be filed by emu
nerating the kin ''over in Scott or "up in Wood
ford"
And Patty was their pet and pride Not only
:ousins Alex, and Tom, and Lynn, and Walker.
ard all the rest of the stalwart sons of the clan,
bat cousins Jane, and Mary. and Henrietta, and
Ellen as well, declared that Cousin Patty was
.he prettiest and dearest girl in all Kentucky.
Being an heiress as well as beauty, it natur-
ally followed that she was belle, even outside
The ranks of the cousins.
It was occasionally said that she was also a
bit of firt, but this charge she was won't to
meet with such guileless reproachful look in
ier soft brown eyes that enc glance suf1iced to
make the accuser withdraw the Indictment at
mce.
Now, this aforesaid Cousin Tom was Ken
tuckian of the true old type-six feet four inches
tall, broad shouldered and deep-chested in pro-
sortion. and he had a heart to match his giant
frame He was twenty-nine years old, and for
nearly half his life he had been the truest lover
Patty had; but she did not know it. He had al
ways been shy and quiet, doubtful of his own
merits. and he was as hopeless of winning her
Tor his wife as though she were an empress and
he a serf
Sometimes. when in her gayest moods, she
would catch glance from his gray eyes-a
glance sober with thought that she did not
derstand-she would feel vaguely resentfu. and
would send back a saucy glance for his grave
one, and sing lightly, ''Iis better to laugh thar
be sighingw
All this was forty years ago. Patty is an old
woman to-day, but she remembers yet the moon
Eight evening of her nineteenth birthday. 1t is
asorrowful memory still, though the bitterness
Of it has long since passed. for does one ever
cease to feel remorseful over the pain the mis-
take has caused dearer heart to suffer?
Forty years ago. as twenty years later, there
were mothers and sisters, wives and sweet
hearts, who bravely, yet tearfully. gave up their
dearest at their country's call. and from this
Kentucky county went forth goodly company
to serve under Old Rough and Ready"
A dozen of Pattys cousins had begged for a
lock or her hair, or a knot of ribbon from her
1ress, flower she had worn. to carry with
.hem to the distant battle-felds, where the war
cry was Remember the Alamow
But no such request did Cousin Tom make
when. on the birthday evening he came to say
good bye Only just before he went away, as
they stood alone on the moonlight porch ne
took her hands and said in such strangely quiet
voice:
You'll think of me sometimes, Cousin Patty2"
"Sometimes" All at once she realized that not
Snly sometimes, but ever and always he would
be in her thoughts. But she could not tell him
,o-yet. She looked up and she knew that
5hough she strove to hide it, her whole soul was
: or the moment in her eyes. But just at that
instant there drifted heavy cloud across the
noon, so that their faces were in deep shadow.
Patty could not speak, for that tightness in her
throat, and he was silent, waiting for her answer.
But because no answer came he thought she did
not care. and all the tenderness left his face, so
that when the cloud passed and she saw his
stern, grave look it frightened her. and when he
stopped toward her as if to kiss her she shrank
sack
lone kiss for good bye" he said very quietly
VI asked only couins privilege, you know
He smiled spoke. but he would face death
yonder by the Rio Grande with far less of bit
terness than he felt then.
Only a cousin--he is careful to remind me"
she whispered few moments later, listening to
tile dying echoes of his horses hoof beats on the
turnpike. She lifted her hand and laid it against
her cheek where his bearded lips had lightly
touched. Then. a strange qniver passing swiftly
over her face. she pressed her lips against her
PALM while her eyes grew dark with pain as she
watched the fast receding figure of her cousin
until a turn in the road hid him from her. But
she shed no tears, and presently, when her father
sams out and spoke to her, she answered him in
aer old bright fashion, and as they talked ar
other visitor rode up to the gate.
1T is Cousin Walker" said Patty, as he came
up the stone walk
Come to say good bye. ehG" said her father.
shaking hands with the new conner. What
will you do without all your consns, Pattyl
You lose all of them at once too"
ALI my pretty ones, at one fell swoop,'
,he said, smiling and them clasping her hands
With gesture of Impotence, she cried out:
Slow can You laugh about it ala Don't! hate
good bves, and wars, and partings!"
And Patty neither thought nor cared what in
depreciation Cousin Walker might put on her i'm
petuous speech. But an hour later, when she
I~gk ~ N ol1 Id
an absent revere to find him asking her promise
that she would marry him when he came home
from
But thought it was Cousin Henrietta you
cared for2" she said drawing Der hand away
when he laid his upon it. Wouldn't she have
your she added wickedly. us that why you
come TO meF'
Nov Cousin Pattyr' he exclaimed, reproach-
fully. us this the first time. or even the Sec
ond, that I've asked you to marry met"
Its the third, l think" said Patty, still
laughing. 'but you know that in the intervals
you've been desperately in love with Henrietta"
'Oh I'm fond of her, of course, ne answered,
with well-assumed Indifference, but it is you
that / want for my WIFE"
Now, this speech was literally true He was
'sfond Of" Cousin Henrietta. Not to exaggerate
IN the least, he loved her with all his selfish
heart But Cousin Henrietta was zone of ten
ike Traddles's Sophy, and her father was only
moderately we'll off, And it Cousin Patty,
sole heiress to the finest estate in the county
whom Walker wished to marry. He was very much
in earnest in his wooing. and Patty, when she
listened seriously, knew that he was Another
time he would have had different answer; but
to night Patty's brain was in whirl. little
while ago her cheeks had burned with the
thought that her Cousin Tom had read her heart
and despsed its unsought affection. She would
show him that he mistaken He should
know that she did not intend to wear the willow
for him. And this was the notion that prompt
ed her when she presently answered yes TO the
question Walker repeated. After while Walker
said:
II almost afraid to ask you tonight lest
should get only the same answer got before.
but when" then he hesitated little at loss
for phrase. when you seemed to care-to
mind saying goodbye"
Yes" SIZE said quickly. II do mind-I can't
bear to say ito give up-all my cousins"
.All! Now. Patty. and Walker threw q very