Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-02

| cluded by stating that flaxen hair worn in
| demure bands on either side of a flaxen
! countenance was n sight at once refreshing
and ennobling, after having looked for any
length of time upon crisp brown curls, and
= face that changed - often as an autumn
! sunset.
! 80 Mr.. Timotheus Nelson had cousin Lucy,
who answered exactly to the flaxen ideal,
! and he soon after made her Mrs. limo
! theus Nelson. He took a certain pride in
presenting her to Miss Page, and in listen
ing afterward to her shocked EXPLANATIONS
in regard to the much-discussed curls.
1t was about this time that, by something
| OF coincidence, q cousin of Judith also
made his appearance in the neighborhood
He came unexpectedly, and met her just
outside of Carylon gates, leading her horse
| Hautboy, who had gonelame all of a sudden
She was rathera strange figure, tall and
| slight, and with as few curves as q growing
lad. Her habit, which, in those days of
galloon and gathers, was really noticeable
! for its lack of voluminousness, was gath
+ cred up almost to her knees, disclosing
! russet-leather boots, stained crimson for
half their length by the scarlet soil. Her
+ billy-cock hat was pushed back on her
! brown crest, and sparkle Of mud orna-
mented her left cheek like fantastic patch.
Boughton did not IN the least recognize
her. He had not seen her since the days of
:
when her hair had been pretty tan color,
and one of her front teeth missing.
He hesitated a moment, and then refined
! up and asked if he was or was not mis-
taken in thinking the gate to the left the
! one which led into the Carylon farm. She
nodded and said that it was. Then he saw
that her horse was lame, and, jumping
down, asked if he could not assist her. Sho
thanked him, and said no, that she thought
he could not; and then yielding-after the
manner have mentioned-to one of the
inclinations, said suddenly:
Are you really gong to Carylona What
| is your nanlc"
"Boughton," he had answered, gravely
philip Boughton."
Then it was that this culpably uncon
ventlonal young woman made use of an eX-
preston which amused Boughton beyond
bounds, until he fou ld out who she was.
Cad - cried she, mot my cousin Phll2'
He replied, with bow, that if her cousin
/ Phil also reIoiced in the surname of BouEh.
ton, their identity must be established, at
the same time inquiFing her own name.
"Why, I'm JUDITH she announced,
reaching out both hands to him with Haut-
| boys bridle-reln yet over her arm. I'm
Judith Page, Cousin Phil. You don't look
| n bit as you used to-
"No?" said Cousin Phil, smiling q good
deal, perhaps not unconscious of hand
some mustache clipped close, soldier fash
ion, across his fine upper lip, and of a gen
eral lmprcssivcnesS of appearance which
he had lacked when they last parted
"No, no-not a bit," said Judith, bending
allttle away from him, while still keeping
friendly grasp on his hands, and cycling
| him from the crown of his smart Partisan
hat (thero were Anglo-maniacs in those
days, but they were the exception and not
the ruIe) to the toes of his patent-lcather
boots.
mot Bit" she repeated, earnestly.
"Why, in what wayl" said BouChton.
"Youre-you're- we'll, you're such q
dandy" replied candid Judith. "However
can you wiggle your toes in such boots!
Cad! 1t makes mine ache to look at en-"
This made twice that she had used that
somewhat extraordinary form of express
sion. Besides, Philip did not exactly enjoy
being called dandy.
You have changed, too" he remarked.
"Mel" said Judith. "Oh! do tell me-!
How"
"Wen, for one thing" said Boughton,
slowly, ''you-er-didn't swear when last
saw you"
1t is impossible to imagine the effect that
her placid reception of this scathing remark
had upon him.
Didn't IT, she said, serenely, still hold
ing his hands. II must have been very
young. Yes, was-I remember all about
it now. You used to make me dolls out of
radishes, and cut turnips into flowers for
me. Oh, yes, and you taught me to fish
with a crooked pin"
''You have become a fisher of men by
now, suppose" said Boughton, with an at
tempt at wit, which, however, left his cousin
as unruffled as ever
"Oh, dear, no." she assured him. "Ihcy
fish for mel And mostly with crooked pins,
must admitv' she added, with a laugh
"How tall and straight you are, cousin.
do believe l could walk under your arm.
Let's try
Philip held out his arm obediently, and
she made the attempt, but her eyes were
blinded against his coat sleeve.
II know ever so much a better way touse
my arm than that" said Boughton, sudden
ly possessed of a devil, and he let his arm
drop to her shoulders, held her so, and
kissed her.
She did not burst into tears, and raise her
, riding whip, and give him a smart blow
across the lips, or rail ut him like the little
shrew he believed her to be. When she
saw what was about to happen, she merely
drew in her pretty lips to a hard white line
over her teeth, and on that hard white line
fell Mr.. Philip Boughton's kiss. 1t was Ger
tainly nothing at all like what he had sup
, posed it would be. Neither was her con
duct. She stood quietly, looking at him
squarely in the eyes, and drawing on little
, further hes dog skin gauntlets.
'Er-you have mistaken your way after
all,'' she remarked, finally.
''HowF' he asked. feeling somewhat curl
Gus and extremely uncomfortable.
She still looked quietly at him, while set
Ting her cuffs and pulling forward the
billy-cock hat.
'Er-you have behaved like beast wher
you should have behaved like q gentleman
, she replied, almost sullSily. 'Good after
noon." And she turned about in the Other
, direction and walked OFF with her lam,
horse.
He had no one but himself to thank fol
all this, but that did not in the least mlti
= gate his violent Indignation. To be calleC
. first a dandy" and then "beast," il
, less than twenty minutes, by a very prett.
young woman, is not calculated to add t
L IL ,n,l