Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-27
THE LONDON COUSIN.
Part She Played in Sam Clarke's
Engagement

MIS-. DuFnLoFu anu MdlS10 were DOGn
excited at the news.
"a real party!" exclaimed Maisie.
'Hurrah! ] shall have chance of wear
ing my white dress at last When is it
to be?"
''Not lust yet She is to stay month,
and the party is to be at the end of her
visit. We are to practice some glees,"
and Lillian collapsed into an armchair,
and proceeded to fan herself with the
nearest newspaper.
AT last Mrs. Durnford's voice was
heard. rs the cousin Miss Colville?"
she inquired; and, as Lillian nodded, she
proceeded. Then suppose the af-
fair is coming off at last"
''What AFFAIR."" cried both girls.
Mrs. Colville has always meant her
daughter for Sam Clarke" said their
mother; ''but don't know whether he
has been consulted"
There was rather ominous silence;
then Lillian said: Fancy Sam married.
can't imagine him with wifep'
Maisie said nothing, but went on
steadily with her work; and when her
mother ventured to look at her she was
as calm as usual, and Mrs. Durnford
congratulated herself on having sue
&C ssfully administered a necessary hint
The Clarkes and Durnfords were great
friends, as was not surprising when you
consider that they had grown up to-
gether from childhood Old Mr.. Clarke
had been a Furnishing banker with a
young wife and family when Mr.. Durn-
ford brought his bride to Woodham rec
tory, and the two youngest Clarkes
were the same ages as the rector's daugh-
ters. Woodham was a small place, with
very little society, but the young peo-
pie at the Bank House and rectory man.
aged to enjoy themselves very fairly.
Sam Clarke was the eldest son, and at
his fathers death had taken his place at
the bank, and of late had shown him
self so attentive to Maisie that Mr..
Durnford was not at all sorry that Miss
Colville had put in an appearance.
Are you ready, Lilian?"
''Coming!' and after a minutes in
terval Lillian appeared in her blue fam
mel dress, with racquet in her hand,
and the two sisters started for the Bank
House.
Mrs. Clarke was sitting on the lawn
with the young people around her, and
Sam looked cross Maisie had time to
notice that before she was introduced
to Miss Colville and was promptly
crushed by the magnifcence of the Lon
don cousin.
Constance Colville was splendid
woman-there was no doubt of that fact;
and she entirely eclipsed the fresh,
pretty country girls, as much by her
manner as by her attire. 1t was not SO
much her dress as the way she wore it,
which made the three other girls flor
Janet Clarke was as bad as the Durn-
fords) look dowdy; while her hair,
which was neither abundant nor natur-
ally curly, was arranged in such truly
wonderful manner that Lillian was pos
itively thunderstruck by it.
'.Now, then, let's put it to the voters
cried Sam. ''Miss Colyille says it is
too hot for tennis. Are you girls in
favor of exercise or loafng?"
Il think exercise is much the pleas
anter," said Maisie, promptly. II am
ever so much cooler for walking here"
Miss Colville said nothing, but just
looked at Maisie, and the girl suddenly
realized that she was hotter than was
quite becoming; but, as she had already
imbibed lively hatred of the London
cousin, she would not give in and was
soon sending the balls about merrily
1t must be acknowledged that, when
the game was over, all four players
were rather red in the face, but that did
not make it necessary for Miss Colville
to offer Maisie her fan in such very
pointed manner that Sam suggested
that as they were all equally hot Miss
Colville ought to fan them all.
1t was no use Sans trying to wait on
Maisie as usual. 1t was: Sam, your
cousin wants some Strawberries Mr..
Clarke, would you mind getting me
another cup of tea?' ooh! thanks so
muchr' my dear boy, will you hand
the bread and butter?' and so on, till
at last the young man gave in, and sat
down at Miss Colville's feet, where he
was left undisturbed but Maisie got
very little tea, and no cream with her
Strawberries and went home in a rath-
er melancholy frame of mind.
Sam! Sam! where are you going?"
'Down to the rectory. l have not
seen the girls for three days" was the
prompt answer. ''You had better come,
too, and settle about those glees."
Janet looked irresolute. II should
like to- she said after a minutes hesi-
tation. 81 wonder if mother wants me
IN 6riyo Con
Bother Constancer' was Sans ex-
tremely rude remark. "You had much
better come with me. l have hardly
seen you since that furbelowed young
woman arrived"
''My dear boy, you must not be so
rude" exclaimed his sister; Constance
is your cousin and your guest"
81 beg her pardon" said Sam, rue
fully. 81 would not abuse her if she
didn't make my very life burden to me.
Now, Janet be honest! Don't you wish
she were going next week?"
Janet laughed. 81 will go so far as to
acknowledge that l should not break
my heart if important duties called her
away" said she. But she is really
very amusing, and if she is little
spoiled, you must remember she is im-
mensely admired"
80 she says!" rem arked Sam, in
credulously. 1.-THE fellows she knows
must be queer set, / should think l
know / find ner awfully stupid to speak
to-she hasn't got two ideas, and ex-
poets one to be perpetually waiting on
her, and he walked on in silence till
they reached the rectory. The young
ladies were at home, and in a few min