Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-24
X.
THE FRACTIONAL COUSIN.

pIEASIlOANAh SoSolNs
Miss Clauson showed very little interest in
the approaching visit. To this curious and,
at times, almost apathetic young woman it
| seemed as if all young men were alike, al
though we have seen that she was capable Of
showing strong feeling and emotion, as when
she rejected Mr.. Mordle's love. 4.
The only sentiments Miss Clauson felt about
Frank Carruthers were these: She was rather
glad he wasnot a%clergyman, and rather sorry
he was a sort of cousin. She was not very
partial to clergymen, and she thought that
male cousins were apt to presume on their
relationship. Perhaps they do.
She had not even the interest which falls
to the lot of hostess in preparing for the ar
rival of O guest. Herbert himself had seen
that the large feather bed in the chintz room
had been carried down and aired at the
kitchen fire. He had with his own hands
given out the needful blankets, counterpanes,
sheets and pillow cases; had even looked to
the match box and pin cushion.
So, with something akin to Indifference,
Beatrice saw the lodge gate open M Horace
bring the horses and large wagonette up to
| the door. She noticed that the young man
who sat beside him looked rather pale and
washed out. She saw several portmanteaus
handed out, and SO came to the conclusion he
ibNihAN N"hAA5 SOAS pe~Js tAN bAO ~
sumed the book she was reading. 1t was far
more interesting than any young man.
Nor was she disturbed for some time. 1t
was close upon the d~inner-indeed, Beatrice
was already dressed; SO the Talberts took
their guest to his room, and left him TO make
his evening toilet. just before the gong
sounded the three men entered the drawing
room, and Frank was duly presented to Miss
Clauson.
When q young man and woman know it is
their fate to spend several weeks together in
a country house, and when there is n family
connection between them, it is no use com
mencing by being distant to ono another.
At least, SO thought Frank Carruthers, for
he shook hands with Miss Clauson, and began
talking to her as If he had known her all his
life. Beatrice felt sure he meant to presume
ON his relationship.
Still she was very civil and kind to him
and welcomed him to Oakbury. By and by,
in the course of his easy conversation, he
made what struck her as being an original
remark. What it was is not recorded, but,
as original remarks grow scarcer every day,
any young man who makes one a minute
after his first introduction to a young lady is
something out of the common run. So
Beatrice for the first time really looked to
~ 'AhAb liz va AAhN AOu Il1l utIN1la III
had made up his mind about her looks at
once.
He was pale and appeared thin and over
worked. By the side of Horace and Herbert
he seemed a short, slight man, although he
was quite middle height, and if thin had
plenty Of muscle. He was very handsome in
his own style and had a clever, intellectual
look in his face. His eyes were dark and
keen, not restless eyes, yet seemed to glance
at everything quickly and enable him in a
second to make up his mind about the object
at which he looked. There was an expression
lowering about his mouth which a physiog-
nomist would have told you limited at sar-
casm, and his chin proclaimed that he had a
viii of his own.
By the time Beatrice had finished her sur
vey, and before she had como to any decision,
except that he was by no means Unlocking,
the gong sounded. Horace offered his arm to
his niece, and led her to the dining-room, fol-
lowed by Herbert and Frank.
They dined at a round table, pulled almost
up to the window. 1t was pleasant at this
time of year to be able to look out ON the gar
den. II everybody knew the comfort Of a
round table when the party is small, tho
whole stock in the country would DO at once
bought up.
After all, in spite Of bis pale face, there