Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-03-17
itp Thought we should have rain this

morning,
And she had slipped inside the shop.
''You won't get the inside track of
that young woman my friend re-
marked. ''Do you think she can feel
deeply? ] saw Owen walking on the
beach with her last night. His head
was pretty near hers, but she was in
vestigating the n oon.'
went home with a flea in nv ear;
but it skipped out soon, for I found
mother full of an idea for a farewell en-
,ertainment to be given to Owen. OF
course Cousin Diana was included in
the invitations, and some whim i'm
PEELED me to take it to her in person.
1t was long time since l had been in
John Vere,s house. What forlorr.
clean. ugly sittlng-room found her
in! By the window sat young man,
who held his head down. and shipped
bit of paper with Cousin Diana 8
scissors as if for wager. looked at
him inqniringly, and she introduced
him as ''Mr. Davis He got up, clum-
silly, let the scissors fall, picked them
up, and sat down, red in the face. |
suppose I smiled at Cousin Diana, for
she frowned suddenly. / gave her the
invitation, and she ungraciously said:
Il don't know that / can get ready
to come. A family party, suppose;
every uncle, aunt, and cousin you can
raj and scrape?''
mo; every body in Thornbury will
be there. Well, come if you cam
And turled to go. She followed
me to the door.
"Who is your friend, Cousin D,ana?''
Nobody to iDvite,' she answered,
pertDy. He comes from Newton on
business this way
He isn't much of beauty"
1--WE can't all be handsome. you
know. guess he feels quite as we'll as
if be were beauty. What's your hur-
ry -
And go we parted. I happened to
look back from the gate, and saw that
the young man was on bis feet. He
was gesticulating, and his face was
very earnest indeed. l asked Owen
when I reached home if he had ever
met young man named Davis. H.
never Rad.
Our rooms were full on the melan.
choly-merry occasion of Owens fare.
we'll party. He was popular, and all
our friends gathered about him. Cous.
in Diana came early, and took the
situation of silent spectator in as re.
mote place as possible. Twas almost
ashamed of the contrast of my dress
with hers. She wore a brown merino
and a narrow lace ruff1e: her light hail
was deliberately braided. These were
of adornment.
"Diana We're has come so on pur
pose, because it is to Edith Talbot 8,
said an amiable guest.
"Shc has not, said another. From
what source can q fine wardrobe like
Edith reach herp''
Owen heard this, and eyed me with
a sarcastic smile. Prudent men like tt
see the women of their choice poorl,
dressed; aud Owen joined Cousin Dian:
with look of satisfaction which pene
t1ated me to the bone. | spoke t
mother Immediately.
"You may depend upon it, Owen has
some design regarding Cousin Diana
1t bursts upon me at once, when
might have suspected it before. VIVA
do you think of it?''
| don t like it, and would not be-
lieve it if it had not been done so often
We're and Talbot matches have been Z
rule.''
The upshot of the party was an en-
gagement between them, made ter
days before his departure. Cousin
Diana showed no citation, and received
Owen attentions with serious silence
He seemed to take an extra degree o.
manliness and responsibility. 1t was
not jolly business with any of us.
ventured to speak to Owen about his
haste, and suggested that he was scarce
ly acquainted with Cousin Diana, fOl
which was laughed to scorn. He was
very busy and excited over his depar.
tu1e. Otherwise, considered, he must
feel that there was an entire -ack OF
joyous warmth on her part. But what
could he expect? Not complete
change in girl because she has
promised to marry a young man at
some distant and unknown period.
was miserable, and took to violen,
exercise in these last moments, especial.
ly in the evening. Strange enough,
discovered that Cousin Diana was do
ing the same thing. What allied her
Did she wish to escape from Owen, u
did she walk under the stars for the
sake of being alone, her own sweet
Thoughts to render? She avoided
me; perhaps she never knew ne. Hell
appearance was skulking, her bonnet
being pulled over her face. and her
figure closely wrapped in great shawl.
''There's many a slip between the
cup and California, said the same
friend have quoted. Diana We're is
not sure of having Diana Talbot cut on
her tombstone.
In one Of my last walks before Owen
sailed, on an evening when the wind
whistled in my ears, I was startled by
a voice close to me.
"'raint very pleasant to be on any
road tonight. Maybe you don t recall
mel? There's more folks than you that
forget. How's your cousin Diaua?''
what no you mean, sir? de-
manded, recognizing Mr.. Davis. Ito
frighten folks to death?'
Excuse me; l mean no offence.
Misery loves company. You know be
is up there. Well, Miss could 90 to
California too if had a rich father in
stead of poor sick one. No-durn
me if leave him for any girl! Excuse
me. l do believe Thornbury is kinder
upset, so many being round nights.
But the road is open to every body
He vanished toward the light which
shone in Cousin Diana's window just
ahead of me, for had happened into
the louely road which led to John
We're s.
My walks came to an end, and Owen
was gone. Quiet settled over us.
Cousin Dina kept indoors; heard she
had perpetual toothache, AMI was busy
with her fall sewing. We did not meet
till Owens letters came. and then only
to exchange a few commonplace re-
marks.
Diana We're behaves with all the