The Opelousas courier., 1892-08-06

platform.
aT came to drive you to Mrs. Thurs
TONS" she answered simply.
t;Saall | take the reins2" he asked, as
they started away.
"No, thank youi like to drive" she
answered.
tsIt was too bad for you to take 81
long a drive for a stranger" he r.
marked, as he stole a side glance of ead.
miration at the girlish form in dainty
blue.
"oh, | don't mind the distance at all
besides, I rather had to come" she re-
piled. II did wish to go with the young
folks, who are having a pieaic this morn.
ing over on Laurel Hill, but Uncle Jerry
was sick, and of course he couldn't come
for you"
"Then Mrs. Thurston and Miss Wayne
never drive, SO they made a virtue of
necessity and sent the last resort of the
place." and she laughed merrily.
SIT is too bad my coming prevented
you joining the picknickers, he said.
81 shall not he able to forgive myself"
"That's nothing. l am enjoying my
self now too we'll to think of Laurel
Hill" she returned brightly.
"Thank you, and at the same time let
me assure you that /, too, am enjoyiE,
myself excellently WELL" and Hugh
bowed to the young girl, whose eyes
dropped beneath the warm light of al
miration in his blue ones.
81 hope you will enjoy your visit, Mr..
Colewood," she said, to change the sub.
ject. "Iknow Mrs. Thurston and Ethel
will do all they can to make your stay
pleasant"
"Thank you; I've no doubt I shall find
it pleasant returned Hugh. "You,too.
are one of Mrs. Thurston's sum ner
household, l supposed"
"fes," with a smile, stYou see / am
a distant relative to MIS-: Thurston; then
Miss Wayne is my cousin aud exercises
a kind of cousinly guardianship over
me, which no doubt is very necessary"
$50 you are Miss Wayne's cousin2 l
do not remember hearing MIR. Cranston
mention you. I did not expect to have
the pleasure of meeting any ladies but
Mrs. Thurston and Miss Wayne"
elbow unkind in Mr.. Cranston not to
prepare you for this m~eeting'p and there
was a roguish CLEAN in her eyes which
Hugh did not see. 81 had up to date
regarded Mr.. Cranston as one of nv very
best friends, but to ignore me so utterly,
when he knew / would accompany
Consin Ethel here, looks like downright
intentional neglect"
"You have not given me the pleasure
of knowing your name," said Hugh, both
amused and pleased with his pretty dri-
yer.
"oh, I'm a Wayne,too, she answered
laug hingly. s'Ethel Estella Wayne,
variously nicknamed, as you will observe
later on
Two Ethel Waynesl Here was a real
surprise for Colewood. Why had Grams
ton not mentioned that strange fact to
hima
If the Ethel Wayne referred to id the
will was only half as animated and gen.
orally captivating rs the one by his
side, Hugh thought it might be an easy
matter after all to obey that condition
which had SO vcxed him.
Colewood9 received a cordial welcome
at Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. He
found Miss Wayne to be a tall, dlgnided
girl of about tw~enty-three, with coal
black hair and deep gray eyes. She was
as unlike her little merry.hearted cousin |
as it was possible to be. |
Yes. Hugh decided that she was lust
such a woman as his eccentric aunt would |
be likely to select as the wife of her heir.
In the weeks which followed Hugh's
arrival he saw a great deal of Miss Wayne.
although much of her time was divided
between her taste for literature and in
demonstrating against the innocent
pranks Of her cousin.
1t did not require a long time for the
young man to realize that he could never
love Miss Wayne as the man should love
the girl whom he intends to marry.
He made another important discovery
his life would be a failure without
the little cousin to furnish daily sunshine
and Wifely cheer for his own home.
He resolved to let Miss WAYNE have
" hS duAt SStaLoS anu Cla
orphan asylum the other. He would
marry the girl of his own choice, pro-
pided he could win her, and boldly fight
Ills " way through life.
Having so decided Hugh set out for d
stroll along the river, feeling more manly
,or his resolve.
He came suddenly upon a little figure
q white, reading, in a little giney nook
~ the rivers side.
"Wait, Estelle," he called, for she had
tarted to run away. 81 shall leave to-
morrow, and ! have something to say to
iou which you must'hear."
The ~telltale flush which swept owe
ace and neck at his words might have
,iyen some hint of an easy surrender.
However, in a moments she had regalned
customary piquaney which had
1ore than once exasperated Hugh.
I'D be sorry 20 have you leave lis
nth any burden on your mind,n she
aid, p~rovokingly.
1T is needless fer me to tell you why
was arranged for me to meet Miss
wayne here he said, unheeding her
gght words. "You know, I suppose. !"
t'Some slight idea, ! believe she re.
lrned, lingering her book.
well, | may as well tell you that
condition ID mx}ate auut's will can
be fulfilled
ttA5nd xuIx. r~Aoy4