Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-16
CITY COUSINS:
A NEW YEARS CALL,

in the city with my cousins" said Myrtl
Follett decidedly. There's nothing goin.
ON In a poky farmhouse, while my cousiu
receive calls and have beautiful time
"Why, Bruce Garland Is coming owe
with his mother for supper" said he
grandmother in astonishment. Chow car
| explain-that is, to BruceY You know
how fond he is of you."
81 cant't help it if he is," added thu
young lady ungraciously. "Tell him I've
gone TO the city. My cousins haven't in
vited me, but they'll be glad to see me,
am sure,'
DO when New Years day arrived Mgr
tie put on her best dress and ulster aud
started for the city. Arriving at the Em
berson's house she vas shown into little
forlorn wating,room, while Priscilla, tht
servant, announced her name.
The door Of the room was ajar and she
could hear distinctly the following conver-
sation from the parlors beyond, where her
aunt and cousins were evidently located.
The maid began n-5y y s. saying. yiisngs.-....-..-,-.
'Is's your cousin, Miss Eleanor aud Mlss
Louisette, said she. "a young lady from
Cedar Mountain"
grip
sWhat on earth can possibly have
srcught hsr hers inst now of all times in
the worlde" exclaimed Lsnlaetts.
"What shall we do, mamma?" said
Eleanor, piteously,"
"Dop" sharply retorted Mrs. Emherson,
who was iu black velvet aud imitation dia-
monds. "Why, make the beat of 1t, of
course. Ifa girl will'-
But here Myrtle, who felt with sort of
no O y, ,spr- sah 10
in listening to this conversation, which
was 30 evidently not intended for hsr ears,
drew aside tho crimson damask folds and
presented herself with deep dyed cheeks
and sparkling eyes.
''Aunt Louise" said she, sit il Il! And
il I had supposed for q moment that my
visit would be inconvenieut''-
''Oh, my dear, don't think of such a
thing" cried Mrs. Emberson, mantling
her face in artificial smiles. "Girls, come
here and kiss our dear Matilda-Marian-
how very awkward Of me to forget your
namer'
s'Myrtle," said the girl coloring deep
or than ever. Eleanor aud Louisette kiss
ed her effusively, but had scarcely time to
lisp out their congratulations when party
of perfumed, white -kidded exquisites were
ushersd in by the smiling Priscilla. Mrs.
Emberson looked embarrassed.
''Come upstairs, my DEAR" said she; 81
will give you cup of tea in your own room.
OF course you wont care for the hustle and
confusion of the parlor on such day as
this"
And poor Myrtle, who had come express
ly to share the delights of her cousins
Now Years reception, was led off into the
upper part of the house scarcely able to re-
press her tears of modification and en-
barrassment.
The rooms upstairs were chill and un-
mfortable, for it was a cold day and all
the registers had been turned off, to estab
lish more summer like atmosphere in the
parlors. Mrs. Enberson, aftsr entreating
Myrtle to make herself perfectly at home,
aud promising to send her cup of tea in.
3 few minutes, slipped away-and there
the poor girl sat, shivering, faint and nnre-
freshsd. --.-.......,
: 81 wonder where Aunt Louise can have
gomez" she said to herself, at last, in very
desperation. She went out and looked
over the head of the stairway. There, ir
the hall below, was stream of chattering,
bowling, gesticulating young men-to Myr-
ties unaccustomed eyes they looked more
like over-dressed monkeys than anything
else-and Louisette and Eleanor were 10
the parlor doorway.
"You don't sayp' cried one, evidently in
response to some word of the girls re-
marks. "a genuine country cousin? Eh?"
''Tsfks through her nosep said another
s. Wears poke bonnet and pink calico
gown! Do let us have look at the curios.
ity."
"Nnt to day, you wicked thing" gig
u. a
be brought in to make you all laugh"
"The idea of her coming here on New
Years Day, of all days in the wcrld' said
conteroptaously.
But Myrtle stayed to bear no more. Hnr-
rying back to the room she had just gait
ted. she tied on her hat, folded the little
fur-lined sacque, in which she had taken
so innocent a pride, about her, and catch
ing up her travelling bag, quilted the
house. Priscilla alone saw her go out, but
Priscilla did not interfere.
"Country folks has queer notions" said
Priscilla to herself. sand perhaps she is
going to take walk"
On the way she met the express wagon
with her trunk. It WAS but a moments
work to countermand her directions, and in
half an hour she was speeding through the
glittering expanse of the winter Landscape
on her way home.
Grandma Follest was knitting "a usual
BY the fire of blazing logs, just at twilight.
Beside ber, with his back to the door, stood
Bruce Garland, tall, manly, superhly form
ed IS young Adonis.
"And you think she does not care for
me?" was what Bruce was saying to Grand
ma Follett, in the ruddy halflight
But Myrtle hurried in just as the words
were trembling on his lips.
'She does careIfor you, Bruce! Oh Bruce,
she loves and honors you moro than she
can tell'' cried MYRTLE finging herself upon
his breast. "Keep me here, Bruce. Oh,
never lot me 60 from you again! For I've
had enough Of city people aud city ways"
And then she told her days adventures.
"Louise Embsrson never had any heart"
said Grandma Follett, Indignantly. "And
those two gals of hers are just painted wax
dolis."
So Myrtle Follett was cured of her mania
for city life. Aud that New Years cali
was the means of settling her snugly on
Garland Farm for good and all.
Mrs. Emberson wrote long letter of
six-sSliabled apologies. which was not an
swered. And the family of New York cou
sins was never invited to Cedar Mountain.
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