The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-04-08
A COUNTRY COUSIN.

eyes, remember her very WE'LL" said
Miss Ncmourvillc. "a black-cycd romp.
chasing the wild horses all over the farm,
and pitching hay up on the NOW, exactly
as if she were boy. Our third cousin,
wasn't shc-or fourth, or some such far
away kin? But what of herr"
"What of hcr?" snarled old Colonel
Ncmourvilc. "Why, just this. Her
folks are dead And one OF the oflicious
Meadow Hill clcrgymcn has written to
us, asking us to adopt her. Just as if
VIC hadn't enough to trouble us, with
three daughters on hand already, and no
earthly chance, that can see, Of their
getting married" this last cnvcnomed
phrase accompanied by gloomy contrac-
ton of the speakers shaggy brows),
without assuming the charge of all crca-
ton into the bargain! Adopt her, in
decd! Why, what claim has she on US,
I'd like to know2 The impudencc of
some pcople3'
"Wc couldn't possibly think of such
thing!' said Mrs. Nemourvillc, an elder
ly lady, with a good deal of powder sift-
cd skillfully over her features, and lace
cap patterned after the latest French
models. "Our income scarcely meets
our expenses as things are at present. l
do wonder at the assurance of those pco-
pie out therc!'
The Ncmourvillc family had always
kindly remembered their relationship to
Mrs Vassall when the vertical sunbeams
Of July and August made city life a bur-
den to them, and their purse strings,
Strengthened by the ccaselcss attempt to
keep up a 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 graciousncss of that hospitality
which comes from the heart. Lassie, the
"black-cycd romp" had shown Blanche,
Vera and Editha Ncmourville the hooks
where the clcarest springs bubblcd out,
and the dells where fcathery sprays of
maidcn-hair could be gathered by the
double handful, and 10 pains were spared
to make things pleasant for the city cou-
sins during their somewhat prolonged
visits.
But all this conveniently elTaccd itself
| from their memory now.
Adopt Lassie Vassell7. Make them
selves responsible for her board, and
clothes, and lodging? Good heavens
What were people thinking of
So Colonel Ncmourville wrote back n
polite declination, fairly glittcring with
its icy convcntionalitics.
Lassie Vassal, sitting in her deep-back
robes, heard the good clergyman's wife
read it twice over boforc she fairly COM
pretended its meaning.
"Don't they want me to go to them7'
she csked, lifting the heavy, black firing
cd lids Rat were weighted down with
tears.
''rm afraid they don't, DEAR" said the
clergyman's wife.
Lassie drew a 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. DeaI
Mrs. Hall, won't you go and see that lady
who wanted nursery govcrness to travel
with her little children to Scotland9
always liked children, and they fortu.
nately don't require many accomplish.
ments. l dread crossing the ocean :
little, but must try to leave off being 6
coward"
So the Ncmourvillcs heard nothing
further of Lassio Vassell.
But the girl herself did not forget al
this.
"Thcy might have been little kind
to me-" she kept repeating to herself
"They might have been little kind t,
mep
The NcmourviIles meanwhile bravely
kept up, although against wind and tide
the struggle for a satisfactory matrimonial
settlement for Blanche, Vera and Editla
They gave fve-o'clock teas, purple
dinners and pink lunches; they sent on
cards for s0irees; went to all the charity
balls, kirmesscs and chance-partics Il
which they could obtain an ptree. TIL !
smiled, and simpcred, and danced, anC
promenadcd with Spartan endurance
and still they remained the Misses Nc
hourvillc.
But when the waves Of society wert