Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-26
LINDA.

We had talked it over often and finally
came to the conclusion that we would take
the child-red hair, awkwardness, laziness
and all.
"She will break every thing she touch
es," moaned aunt.
Her hair will ruin my sight" said Cousin
John.
"She will be more trouble to teach than
doing twenty times ones SELF" said l,
thinking of the bother a raw recruit would
be in the kitchen.
But what would become of herr Father
dead and mother dying, she must have some
home.
In two weeks Belinda was there making
herself as small as possible in her bashful-
ness. But this soon wore off and she be-
came excessively sociable and very willing
TO learn, though a fit of laziness would
come upon her once in awhile. Aunt still
has most of her china and glassware and
Cousin John could still read without glass
es. My part was not as hard as / expect
ed, but, like that child l could not She
had suah disagreeable habit of watching
one.
To my astonlshment Cousin John took
great liking to her, and undertook to teach
her to read and write The child's whole
heart seemed to go out to him and she fol-
lowed him about and watched him with in
creasing interest She asked me one day if
he came from Heaven like Jesus
When she laid the table my fork or aunt's
might lie where it dropped, but Cousin
Johns was always in Its proper place.
Every thing belonging to him was sacred in
her eyes. She nearly killed his favorite
rosebush by constant watering
When she had been there nearly year
she surprised me one day by asking:
ado you like Mr.. John?"
Certainly, he is my cousin"
"Does every one like their cousinsr'
az suppose So"
"Does every one keep old, dried-up flowers
that their cousins give them?"
LINDA sew your towel and don't ask so
many questions" The inquisitlve little
imp
That evening, aunt, Cousin John and my
self were in the sitting-room. Linda sat
near him at work on a writing lesson.
Mr.. John, do you keep flowers when they
are all dried up2"
Sometimes" he said absently, without
looking up from his book, and linda re-
turned to her writing.
Thank Fortunel
Not long after was busting aunt's room.
i4dN piohOO Np SAAAtAA EALONOsol pr VI NOuSlu
John from her dressing cease, and after
looking at 1T a moment 1 put it to nv lips
perhaps because it had such a fine, smooth
surface.
"He done that, too" heard in Linda's
voice. turned and there she stood in the
doorway.
"Did whatl'' l asked, as cooly as could.
kissed picture"
Whose, / wonder Somehow. felt bad
tempered all the rest of the day suppose
the heat had something to do with it. When
went TO my room for the night thought
good deal about the photograph Cousin
John kissed. / had lived with aunt nearly
five years, and was the housekeeper now.
If Cousin John had taken to kissing a pict-
ure he must be in love, and if he was in
love he might get married at any time
How l should hate to leave my pleasant
home therei For, of course, could not
stay-annt wouldn't need me to keep house
then, and-and somehow l got to crying
over tie matter. 1t would be so hard to
have some one else take my place with
with aunt.
Soon after, Cousin John had to go away
on business for several weeks.
Valise in hand, he kissed aunt, patted
Linda on her bright head and told her 10
IL
swered with desperately knowing look.
Goodbye, Carrie" he said. shaking
hands with me. "Be careful of Yourself I
this hot weather.
We all missed him, of course. It was nat /
ural, he beng away so seldom. l was sur /
prised TO see Linda take upon hsrself sun /
dry chores that Cousin John always attend /
ed to. She was not used 10 be so anxious 10 .
work Perhaps her promise to MIN had /
something to do with il. l was not sorry,
for felt rather hstless and lazy myself. /
The warm weather. l told aunt, w hen she |
seemed anxious about me, was the cause Of /,
my looking out Of spirits.
Cousin John said he was glad to get home /
no place like home after all wondered /
where the girl lived whose photograph he /
had He asked: "Are you sick, Carriel |
You are not looking very well"
-" am very well, indeed" answered, /
shortly
He looked surprised at my tone, but said /
no more.
lime went on much as usual, and heard /
nothing about the picture nor its original.
AS went into the parlor one day heard
aunt, who was in the next room, say:
:" Don I talk that way, John, you will bring
wife home some day-at least, l hope So"
mo, mother; no one can take Carries
place." and he went ont.
What me keep the woman he loved away
from hims Never. I'd so that minute
first, bingham apron, busting cap and all!
AS we sat at supper that evening, l said:
AUNT, do you think you could spare melr
Spare you, Certainly, I was thinking
Of sending YOU to brother James for a visit