Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-03
MY LITTLE BOY.
I was a widow.

ana so, when my COUSIN, MID M ~.
Foxley, invited me to spend summer
with her at the Oriental hotel, where there
were balls and soirees, lawn ana tennis ,5 "a
and archery breakfasts going on al, rhe
while, l wasn't at all sorry that Nile.
Chatelage had sent home my lovely new
half-mourning dress, all trimmed Win
pearl and lavender, sparkling jet and pris-
matte clair de lunes, and that Aunt La,
vinia, our family "etiquette-book, mad
decided that it was quite proper to wear my
diamonds if l pleased. For l was deeld-
ed brunette, and dark women always look
we'll in diamonds.
| Not that i5 had occurred to me tnaG
should ever marry again. My old commo-
dOre had been very good and kind to me,
but he was feeble and ailing, and required
a great deal of care and my general I'M
preston Of matrimony was that it involsea
trouble and solicitude, and constant bur-
den of responsibility.
And now, | was free, and intended to
remain so! 1 felt like Gagged bird that
had managed to give its golden wires the
slip-a butterfly in the blue June air! l
meant to go to the Oriental hotel and have
a royal time, waltzing, dreaming-even
coquetting a little in a harmless sort of
way, if it seemed good to me-but as to
marrying again-no, not l! Even Priscilla
Bent, my companion, who was the most
logical of creatures, declared that 1 would
be the greates5 fool alive to do that!
But we never know just what is going to
| happen to US. The very night before we
were to start for the Orient, l came into
the room where Priscilla was packing the
lace things, which were too nice and deli
cate to be intrusted to Fifine, the maid.
''Prissy," said I, 'look here! telegram
from San Domingo! My cousin, Fanny
Black is deadp'
''Dear me, how sad!' said Prissy, put
| ting on the regulation look of affiiction,
although she had never in her life seen
Mrs. Captain Basil Black, of FL. NJ. 114th
Fusilleers, stationed in the West Indies.
"But l suppose that won't interfere with
our trip to the seaside, will it?':
"But that isn't all, said l. ''She has left
son. And with her dying breath she
charged it on her attendants that | should
| take him to this country and make o home
for him.
'How old is hep said Priscilla Bent,
looking aghast. And"
'Let me see," said |, counting upon my
| fingers. "Basil Black-that's his name,
for l remember cousin Fanny writing
about him to mamma when was mite of
thing-must be one and twenty at least
by this time.'
"Bless mel" calculated Priscilla, ''and
you are only just turning twenty-three
| yOurself!'
''Prissy," cried I, with mischievous glee,
"You're as good as book of dates!''
''But it won't be proper" said Priscilla.
be proper? Isn't that dear old commo-
dore's house big enough for all of us?
And aren't you here to matronize US? l
think myself it will be rather fine to fit up
suite of bachelor Notwithstanding
room, dressing g-room-"
'Elsie," cried Miss Bent, in despair, 81
believe you would make fun of anything!
Don't you see how outlandish this plan
would be? Write at once to these San
Domingo people, and tell them it is out of
| the question"
sIt's too late now, Prissy," said l.
''They are on the way here, don't you see?
l shouldn't wonder if the steamer were in
port now. And you know, Prissy, I've al
ways wanted to adopt a little boy, only the
dear commodore wouldn't let me.''
"Elsie"
"Well, Prissy?"
81 think you must be crazy" groaned
Miss Bent. 'A little boy. indeedl A
dashing, flirting, drinking West India fel-
low, six feet high, I'll go bail, and broad
to correspond! 1 shall leave the housep'
mo, you won't, Prissy," said l. coaxing
ly. 'fYou'll just make the best of it, as
am going to do. I dare-say he is very
nice, and poor Fanny never would have
left him in my charge if he wasn't all that
go to college, Or study law or something,
| CO ha rrOn't ba vary much in r ,o bo.,ca =
ter all-and you know, Prissy, one can t
neglect dying woman's request
..'It was very thoughtless of her, at all
events,' grumbled my faithful chaperon.
ga young thing like youn'
| laughed. 81 dare say she heard I was
a widow" said I, '.and probably imagined
me middle-aged horror with eyeglasses
and do=ble chin. Leave these things,
Prissy-we shall not go to the sea-shore
now until cousin Basil is safely installed
with his gun-case, his hookahs and Chi
bouks, his books and papers, in my blue
roomsl Come with me and we'll have up
the housekeeper, and turn them into a
bachelor suite TT once"
was very happy for the next three DAYS,
studying the imaginary tastes of my un-
known cousin, c,i,iing out choice editions of
the poets, hanging rare engravings on the
walls, and matching carpets and curtains.
Miss Bent, poor old soul, said it was all
nonsense no young man of any
spirit could condescend to ''sit down.
Chat was her expression) Sin house
where he has to be dependent"
ssBut he is my cousin, said 1. ''He has
claim on me-
"Nonsense,' said Priscilla, 'that
doesn't alter the case in the least.'
T., l. T
pers-and when l saw in the shipping col
umns the arrival of the Bonnie Kate
from San Domingo, l put on my hat and
veil, ordered the carriage, and called Prissy
to go and accompany me to welcome my
new guest.
'If l must, must" said Prissy. But
she was not at all enthusiastic about it.
was just pinnng my Grape bow under
my chin, when Alice, the parlor maid, came
courtesying in.
ga young gentleman in the parlor to see
you ma am," she said in smiling furry.
''From the San Domingo steamer.
And
"Ill go down at once, Alice,'' cried,
tearing off my hat and veil and flinging
the heavy Grape streamer on one side.
''Elsie, Elsie, wait,'' Priscilla's shrill
voice entreated me, but my mind was full
of poor cousin Fanny and her orphan child
and hurrying down stairs, / found my
self face to face with tall, slender young
man, very pale and fair, with dark blue
eyes. soft, silky mustache, and plain
| mourning dress.
Involuntarily threw my arms around
his neck and kissed him.
"1ou are welcome, Cousin Basil,' said
| /, "welcome thousand times.''
| He drew back, colored little. 81 beg
your pardon, Mrs. Charteris," he said,
''but there is some mistake here. This is
your cousinl and a pale child of four or
five years old, whose long golden curls
hung over his black suit, crept out from
the shadow Of the curtains, slowly and
shyly.
II am Frank" he said. "And Mr..
Lesley is my dear, dear friend. He lived
on the next place, in San Domingo He
has come to the United States with mel"
"But, " l cried looking helplessly around
me, 'where is Basil?''
"Basil died two years ago, when the yel-
| low fever declmated our place. said Mr.
IeSleV, QuietlV ffT was his most Intimate