The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-05-05
TWO EPISODES


Cousin Bill Wheatly. Cousin Bill had stayed
there and worked the farm, and been all in
all to grandmother and the rest, while had
grown TO be fine gentleman in the city
very fine in my own estimation, at least.
And we were walking together along the
long green lane between five-acre meadow
and tho orchard, when we heard scream.
Gracious y cried Cousin Bill "Thats
her. know her voice. She's got fright
ened by the COWS again. Hollo? I'm here
Pm coming9 Don't stir Up on the fence,
I know" he added to me in confidential
tone, and right among the brambles."
Who on earth is afraid of cows in this
place ?" asked.
But Bill was gone, and in few moments
returned with pretty girl on his arm. The
wind had blown her hair about, and the
brambles had torn her muslin dress, but
there was an air about her did not expect
of Milkville.
" Miss Mason, Cousin Henry,n said Bill.
I" Mr.. Hunter perhaps I had ought to say;
but ! hope you'll be Lilly to him, and he
Henry to you, after while He's great
favorite of mine, Lilly, and has got to be
wonderful lawyer in New York. En-, Hen.2"
Miss Mason said few gay words to me,
and We walked home together. She kept
his arm, and they were evidently engaged;
and felt as though there never could be
more unsuitable. A city boardei
Of my aunts, I supposed, for she was very
elegant However, found out after q
while that she was only the school teacher.
Her father had been one of those rich men
who fail and leave their children penniless.
And she had had every advantage. Now
she bore her reverses with dignity and sweet
ness Perhaps the fact that Cousin John
had plenty of money had caused her to en-.
gage herself TO him. Icould think of no Other
reason except that she had not yet met me.
To my taste, she was the prettiest girl ]
ever saw, aud I felt that Bill stood between
me and my happiness. Besides being
beauty, she was accomplished, this girl.
She sang, painted, danced. She would have
made suitable wife for the eminent law
yer hoped to be-for judge, If ! came to
that. She was thrown away on a plain
farmer. And thereupon began to say to
myself:
If tried, I might cut Bill out even yet.
n do, so much the better"
And, with this for my motive. stayed al
the hospitable farm for weeks, and Bill and
his good mother never guessed what l was at.
AT last was obliged to go back to the
city. How far / had succeeded with Lilly
Masbn l did not know but was resolved
to put ii to the test before went.
Aud on the last evening -Bill having van
lshed somewhere-I contrived to get his
yweetheart to go with me into that very lane
behind the orchard where he had introduced
us, and there, in the twilight told her all /
felt.
Il love you, Lilly" l said. "Do you
love mep
For answer she burst into tears.
My darling, why do you weep 2'' asked.
EaA----a- i,-..- vssze2-sas-
Don't ask me, she said. Leave me.
Never speak to me again. am engaged to
your cousin, to Mr.. Wheatly. Did you not
guess as much ?"
:" II did," answered, ~ did not fee
that that should prevent me from speaking
II is most unsuitable match. You are
throwing yourself away. can place you in
q position more suitable to you. You could
help me fight my way upward. I believe
You like me. Can you say you do mott ?"
Lilly turned her face away.
"Do not talk of liking" she said my
word is pledged-my promise given. If I
have forgotten it sometimes, / remember il
now. William is very good to me. viii
marry him. AT least shall learn to love
him. Go, forget me. I will forget you.
will do my duty"
What next should have said do not
know. A voice fell between us from over
the stone fence against which leant. On
the other side stood my Cousin wheatiy,
tall and pale as q ghost, and the words he
uttered were these:
Duty! It's anybody's duty not to marry
unless she loves nyou don't love me, Lilly
Mason, ! don't want you. If you do love
Cousin Henry Hunter, why marry him. !
wouldn't stand in yourway for a Kingdom"
His voice broke. He was sobbing.
It's blow" he said, :" but he's right.
You would be throwing yourself away on
me--a country fellow without looks or edu-
cation. Goodbye. shan't bother you any
more, Lilly"
He walked away. Lilly was gone when
turned to look at her. In the morning sat
alone at the breakfast table with Bills
mother. She evidently knew the story
Her hospitality was grim instead Of friendly.
She told me that William had been intend
ing going West on business some time, and
had :. set of early that morning, ayd that
I" the teachers school had opened, did she
was gone, also"
went over to the school before the train
started. Lilly Mason was alone behind her
desk, her eyes swollen with tears. The
scholars had not yet arrived.
Dearest" said, {" do not weep. am
more IN love with you than ever, and since
you love me-" But to my astonishment
Lilly Mason Strengthened herself up and
pointed to the door.
How dare you come herep she said In
dignantly. leave mel Love you, In
deed simply hate you, Mr.. Hunter -
And she meant 1t. walked away in
astonishment and fury, and went back to
my Office. I felt that had spoiled poor
Cousin Bills happiness and my own also.
And I had made pretty mess of it. Al
ready was out of love with girl who hal
ordered me out Of doors and told me she
hated me.
OF course never saw anything of the
people at the farm, or heard from them.
And when, finally, I married charming
girl felt that my conscience would be
much easier II It were not for the memory
Of the wrong had done Cousin Bill.
dared not send cards to any one down at
the old place. felt they all hated me,
though ten years had passed since my visit
there.
What, then, was my surprise when one
dor a tas. ar,,. ~ ,,sv rfftaa door and n