The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-03-21
COUSIN TONI
BY G. W. 5.

OF course, the grave, elder sister was
astOnished. In truth and IN fact, she
lived in a chronic state OF astonish-
ment, for Mary Thorne was always
doing something to astOnish her friends
and relatives.
Miss Ruth could scarcely credit the
evidence OF her own senses in the hazy
glow OF the August morning, when she
came out OF the shadows OF the little
south porch and discovered that yon-
der moving object, half way up among
the branches OF the huge old pear tree,
was not a spray OF leaves nOr a cluster
Of sun-cheeked pears, swinging IN the
blue empyrean, but Miss Mary Thorne,
comfortably perched in the crook ofthe
old tree, her curls all fiecked with the
sifted rays OF sunshine that came down
through the shifting canopy OF leaves,
and book in her hand.
Il don't care," said the little dam
sci. lauphing saucy defiance. 1T 5 the
nices. plsce in the world up here |
feel lust lik, a bird, with the leaves
huttering against my face and the
wind blowing so softly, and | intend
to stay here Wouldn't you like to
come up here, Ruthy? It's easily done,
Just put your foot on that knot, and
then
Ruth, who was thirty, and weighed
a hundred and sixty pounds, brlstled
up with amazement.
Mary Thorne are you crazy
Come down this Instant
Indeed | shan't." said naughty
Mary, tossing the silky shower OF
curls away from her forehead, and
CHANGING down with eyes that shone
and sparkled like two blue Jewels.
But we are all going"
yes. | understand you are all 90
ing in triumphal procession to the de-
pot to render an ovation to the great
Prof. La Place, the wisest, sagest and
grandest OF mankind, to whom the
Thorne family have the unutterable
honor OF being second cousins and to
escort him sOemnly to a month 5
sCiourn at Thorne Hall Oh, dear !"
calculated Mary. II wish | could run
away somewhere and hide Ihate this
paragon OF prIm precision. | shan t
marry HIM ii he asks, and mean to
behave so badly that he won't dream
OF it. No am not going with you.
hate theclose barouche, and it 5 too
warm to ride on horseback. | shall
STAY at home.
And Mary settled herself so snugly
with one tiny. slippered foot swinging
down, and her pretty head close to a
nest OF blue-speckled birds eggs, that
Ruth gave it up, with sigh OF de
spair.
well, then, have it your own way
you incorrigible rOmp. | wish you
weren't too big to shut up in d dark
closet, or have your ears well boxed. "
1T IS a pity, isn't it? said Mary
demurely.
"Of courseit is, Mary, II Cousin Tom
Bradley comes this morning, be sure
to explain to him why we are absent
and behave like a young lady, mind =
"Ail right said Mary, dauntlessly
Il always liked Tom. We used to have
grand romps together
She sat there in the old pear tree
prettier than any hamadryad that
ever might have haunted the mossy
old veteran OF the garden, her cheeks
touched with sunshine and Carmine
her dlmpled lips apart. now reading &
line or two from the book in her lap
now looking up, rapt in girlish reverie
into the blue sky, rs it spanked dow
through ever moving leaves, and nov
breaking into soft little MARBLE o
song. to which the very robins them
selves put their heads TO one side tC
listen
The carriage had driven away lon!
since. She had watched it beyond tn,
curve OF the winding road. the darl
mantle OF shadow was slowly follow
ing the creeping sun-glow across tn
velvet lawn below, and the clock in tn
old church-Spire among the far-ot
woods had chimed out eleven.
And still Mary Thorne sat there il
those forktd branches OF the old pear
tree.
suddenly there loated into her leaf,
sanctum a pGngent, aromatic odor
which made her lean curiously forward
shading her eyes with one hand. tn
better 10 penetrate the green foliag
below
Not the late monthly roses. nor tn
amethyst borders OF hehotrope. no
the spicy geraniums-uone OF thes
blossoms distilled that peculiar smell
My patience, said little Mary
lit : a cigar.
\ cigar it was, and the owner there
of-she could see lust white liner
coat and tall head covered wit
black, wavy curls-stood on the porcl
steps quietly smoking and indulging il
heightened view OF the garder
slopes.
That's Tom Bradley" said Mar,
to herself Now, II he thinks Tn
coming down out OF this delicious
cool place to sit up straight IN the no
parlors. he's mistaken Tom, sh
called out IN silver accent OF impera
tive summons, and then burst int
merry laughter at the evident amaze