Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-26
THAT COUNTRY COUSIN.
His Awkwardness Wasn't So On
pleasant, After ALI.

"A young RouIleuldu, ldSu1OudOIy
dressed, and with the air of one who
would be at home in society, reached
Boston toward evening by the Fitch
burg railroad. He proceeded at once
to a hotel. not wishing to intrude upon
his relatives at that late hour, and took
q comfortable supper. After this he
read the evening papers, and then went
out for a leisurely stroll on Washing
ton street On his way he passed a
well-known establishments and, it being
a warm evening. decided to go in and
have an ice-cream.
He accordingly ordered one, and,
while waiting to have it served, had an
opportunity to look about him little
and take a leisurely survey of the COM
pany assembled. These were chiefly
ladies, and to those who are at all ia
miliar with Boston ladies l need not
say that the faces were very well worth
looking at.
Our hero's attention, however, was
chiefly attracted to two young ladies
who sat at the table nearest his own.
They were apparently about the same
age, which could not have varied much
from eighteen. Both. too, were quite
attractive in personal appearance.
They were conversing together in
quite an animated strain on variety
of subjects. At length one said:
by the way, Emma, have l told you
about the visitor we are expecting?"
mo" said the other.
ats q cousin from the country, who,
suppose, will be a perfect rustic in
every respect. Such fun as l expect to
get out of him."
Him! 1t is young gentleman,
then, Alice"
Its young man. / am afraid his
manners would hardly entitle him to
the designation"
what is his namep"
Jeremiah Onthank. I expect he
will want us to call him Jerry"
The other young lady laughed. ''His
name is rustic enough, certainly" she
said. ''You must be sure to give me a
chance to see him. Mustn't keep him
all to yourself, Alice
Il don't intend to. 1 want some
body else to enjoy the fun
do you know how he looks?"
mo, but can imagine. In the first
place. he is tall and awkward, not
knowing what to do with his hands
and feet, wearing cowhide boots and a
full suit of blue. including swallow
tails studded plentifully with brass
buttons. There, what do you say to
that picture?"
Emma laughed.
II say this" she replied, ''that if he
at all answers your description, he will
be decided accession to our society.
When do you expect him?''
Tomorrow. Uncle wrote that
Jerry. as he calls him, will probably
arrive at that time"
Il guess l shall make an errand to
Drop in by that time"
'.Do SO by all means"
With these words they rose from the
table and left the store.
The young man had listened to their
conversation with an air of mingled
amusement and vexation. Not to keen
the reader in suspense, We will tell
him what he has probably surmised,
that the CnauC0 ItSJoueC 10 the young
ladies' remarks was none other than
Jeremiah Onthank himself. He was
quite the reverse of the picture which
his cousin had drawn. being. as We
have said, very gentlemanly, both in
dress and address. rs was born in
Vermont. where his father, a good,
honest farmer. still lived; but had en-.
1oyed the advantages of education in
college in the city of New York.
where he had had an opportunity t.
mingle in society. This fact was quite
unknown to his cousin. In fact they
were not first cousins, although the in.
definite relationship was most con.
veniently expressed by that term.
Hitherto the two families had known
but little of each other.
II will pay her od. !" said the younx
man to himself. with quiet smile.
The next morning he visited ,
ssady-made clothing establishments