Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-04-16
A COUNTRY COUSIN.

eyes, remember her very we'll" said
Miss Ncmourvillc. "a black-eycd romp,
chasing the wild horses all over the farm,
and pitching hay up on the NOW, exactly
as if she were a boy. Our third cousin,
wasn't shc-or fourth, or some such far
away kim But what of herr"
"What of herr" snarled old Colonel
NemourvilTc. "Why, just this. Her
folks are dead And one of the officious
Meadow Hill clcrgymen has written to
us, asking us to adopt her. Just as if
we hadn't enough to trouble us, with
three daughters Oh hand already, and no
earthly chance, that can sec, of their
getting married" (this last envenomcd
phrase accompanied by gloomy contrac-
tion of the speakers shaggy brows),
without assuming the charge Of all orea-
ton into the bargain Adopt her, in
deed! Why, what claim has she on as,
Pd like to know? The impudence ol
some people"
eve couldn't possibly think of such d
thing Y said Mrs. Nemourville, IAN elder
ly lady, with good deal Of powder sIit-
ed skillfully over her features, and a lace
cap patterned after the latest French
models. "Our income scarcely meets
our expenses as things are at present. !
do wonder at the assurance of those peo-
pie out there!'
The Nemourville family had always
kindly remembered their relationship to
Mrs. Vassall when the vertical sunbeams
of July and August made city life bur
den to them, and their purse-strings,
Strengthened by the ceaseless attempt to
keep up style far above their means,
refused to admit of trip to Newport,
Saratoga or the White Mountains.
Mrs. Vassall had welcomed them with
the sweet graciousness of that hospitality
which comes from the heart. Lassie, the
''black-eyed romp," had shown Blanche
Vera and Editha Nemourville the hooks
where the clcarest springs bubbled out,
and the dells where feathery sprays of
maiden-hair could be gathered by the
double handful, and no pains were spared
to make things pleasant for the city cou-
sins during their somewhat prolonged
visits.
But all this conveniently efTaced itself
from their memory now.
Adopt Lassie Vassell2 Make them
selves responsible for her board, and
clothes, and lodging2 Good heavens!
What were people thinking of
So Colonel Nemourville wrote back a
polite declination, fairly gittering with
its icy conventionalities
Lassie Vassal, sitting in her deep-black
robes, heard the good clergyman's wife
read it twice over before she fairly COM
pretended its meaning.
"Don't they want me to 90 to them"
she asked, lifting the heavy, black-fring
ed lids that were weighted down with
tears.
'Tm afraid they don't, dear, said the
clergyman's wit
Lassie drew deep sigh.
Then must try to find some way of
earning my own living" said she. You
have all been so good to me, but it must
come to an end sooner or later. Dear
Mrs. Hall, won't you go and see that ladl
who wanted nursery governess to trave
with her little children to Scotland2
always liked children, and they fortu
nately don't require many accomplish
ments. l dread crossing the ocean q
little, but I must try to leave off being q
coward"
So the Nemourvilles heard nothing
further of Lassie Vassell.
Bat the girl herself did not forget all
this.
"They might have been little kind
10 me, sne kept repeating 10 heisei'
"They might have been little kind to
mep
The Nemourvilles meanwhile bravely
k' up, althoug~ against wind and tide,
the struggle for satisfactory matrimonial
settlement for Blanche, Vera and Editha.
They gave fve-o'clock teas, purple
dinners and pink lunches; they sent out
cards for soirees; went to all the charity
balls, kirmesses and chance-parties t
which they could obtain an entree. They
smiled, and simpered, and danced, and
promenaded with Spartan endurance;
and otill they remained the Misses Ne
mourville.
BIZ -ssa- the waves Of society were