Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-16
COUSIN D0LBY's MISTAKE.

nonsense.
"Oh, dear, know I'll be gobbled up!
What are you laughing at, Luz"
"Did 1 laugh? 1 beg pardon, then,
Cousin Dolby. really wasn't aware of
it. I'm such a giggler, you know"
"You say she was as homely as a stone
wall the last time you saw herr"
'WelI, yes; but that was when we left
school, nearly four years ago. She may
have grown handsome since then"
mot likely. l wish George would
marry her himself, as he feels SO deeply
interested in the young orphan, as he
calls her. He IS only eight years my
senior, but to hear him advise me, one
would think he was my grandfather"
"You are forgetting yourself, my dear
Dolby. What do you suppose would ever
become Of you, if Uncle George married?
Fancy those shapely, delicate hands earn
ing your bread and butter, or the bread
without"
"For heavens sake, La, do hush!" and
Mr.. Adolphus Haughton sank back, quite
overcome at the bare idea of earning his
own bread and butter.
There Was merry twinkle in Lu Lin
don's clear, blue eyes, as she pretended
not to notice the look of dismay that set
tied on the face OF her elegant, easy con-
ceited cousin; and she continued
II often wonder, though, why George
doesn't marry. He Is so lonesom, SO
charming, but I suppose like all you
spoiled, curly headed darlings. He is too
hard to be suited. En- Dolby"
mo, we are not hard to be suited, Lu.
It is nothing more or less, than our ten.
der heartedness that prevents our being
married"
"Tender heartednessr' and Lu opened
her eyes as big as two saucers.
"Of course, my dear, that is the word.
Now suppose l was brute enough to
marry-even the frightful Miss Neville
what would the resttof your sex do? Poor
dears, there isn's one of them, if their
secret thoughts were made known, bat
expects to write herself Mrs. AdoIphus
Haughton some day. You see, my little
cos, your spoiled darlings have too much
heart TO disappOint so many for the sake
of QUE"
"Well, upon my word! Did you say all
that yourself, Dolph, or have my ears de-
ceiyed me? l think, sir, if you had left
your conceit in the city, there would be
nothing left of you to present to Miss
Neville, today"
Miss Neville be hanged! Always Miss
Noviller and Adolphus started up from
MS easy position. Do you really believe
she is coming to day, Luz"
easy, my dear cousin, so much force
is not becoming. You'll spoil your style
if you are not moro careful. Bertha
Neville is surely coming to-day. She
ought to have been here two hours ago
we expected her by the early train"
"Oh! how / shall suffer"
Don't be alarmed, Dolby, l really be-
lieye she won't have YOU
Nov, Lu, don't be pattlng false hopes
into my head. I know there is no such
blessing in store fer me. By JOve! if [
wasn't afraid OF offending George I
would't see her ct ali. I'm his heir, you
know, aud by the way, La, it would be a
deucedly bed job for me if be took it into
his head 30 gat married. There's no dan
ger, though not the slightest. George
is just like me, you know, too sensible to
be caught by the thousand and one of
your sex. But, oh, how hate your home
ly-as-stone wall women! Why, even your
pink and white face is preferable TO that
sort of thing, Lu."
"You good-for- othing-"
"Quarreling sgain for recreation's
sake, suppose, interrupted the pleasant
voice of George Haughton, Dolby's hand
some young uncle, as he stepped out on
the balcony, followed By tall, graceful
figure.
ooh, Bertha!" exclaimed Lu, and the
next moment the graceful figure wac
clasped in LUIS embrace.
"Oh, you darling! When did you ar
rive? Why didn't they tell me you were
here?" exclaimed Lu IN a breath.
Il arrived about an hour since; you had
just gone for a walk, so l thought
would surprise you, dear"
"Miss Neville" said George Haughton,
as soon as the hugging process was over,
"allow me TO present to your notice and
favor my nephew, MIR. Aiolphus Hough
ton"
Could it be possible that this bewitch-
ing creature, with clear, pure complexion,
coral lips, pearly teeth, dark luminous
eyes and jet black hair, was the frigAtful
Miss Neville?
For the first time IN his life Mr.. Adol-
plus Houghton forgot his good natures,
and stared In blank amazement.
A month passed away, and for the life
of him Dolby could not, in all that time,
recover his easy, fippant air, that desert
ed him so shamefuliy when he first laid
eyes on Miss Neville.
He is sitting in his old position on the
balcony, and has just thrown away his
half finished cigar.
Dolby can't smoke-in fact Dolby can't
do anything when alone but sit listening
for the sound of a gentle footstep.
And now light footstep sounds behind
him. He does not turn his head, but his
face is radiant. It is such a pleasure to
be surprised. little hand is laid on his
shoulder. He looks up; but 10! ipstante
his beaming countenapce is black as mid
night. Instead of the bewitching face of
Bertha Neville, he encounters the fair
face and laughing blue eyes of his cousin
Lu.
Adolphus pulled his blonde mustache
savagelys Somehow, of late, he would
rather stand face TO face with his Satanic
Majesty than his uumerciful cousin.
'Stop that this instant, sir! Do you
think can stand here and see you pluck
the best feature from your faces Why,
my dear Dolby, if you keep OF with that
spasmodic tRitch much longer we will
have to get a microscope to ascertain if
ever you cultivated any hair on your up
per lip"