The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-07


to the young girl, whose eyes dropped be
meath the warm light of admiration in hi
| blue ones.
81 hope you will enjoy your visit, Mr.
Colewood," she said, to change the subject
Il know Mrs. Thurston and Ethel will d.
all they can to make your stay pleasant"
THANK you; I've no doubt shall find il
pleasant" returned Hugh. "You, too, arr
one of Mrs. Thurston's summer household
suppose%
yes" with smile you see am
distant relative to Mrs. Thurston; ther
Miss Wayne is my cousin and exercises Q
kind of cousinly guardianship over me
which no doubt is very necessary
$50 you are Miss Wayne's cousini dc
not remember hearing Mr.. Cranston men
ton you. did not expect to have the
pleasure OF meeting any ladies but Mrs
Thurston and Miss Wayne"
How unkind in Mr.. Cranston not tc
prepare you for this meeting" and there
was roguish CLEAN in her eyes which
Hugh did not see. II had up to date re
garded Mr.. Cranston as one of my very
best friends, but to ignore me so utterly
when he knew would accompany Cousin
Ethel here looks like downright inten
tional neglect"
"You have not given me the pleasure Of
knowing your name," said Hugh, both
amused and pleased with his pretty driver.
"Oh, Pm Wayne, too" she answered
laughingly. Ethel Estella Wayne, vari
ously nicknamed, as you will observe
later on"
Two Ethel Waynesl Here was a real
surprise for Colewood. Why had CranstoL
not mentioned that strange fact to himP
If the Ethel Wayne referred to in the
will was only half as animated and gen
orally captivating as the one by his side
Hugh thought it might be an easy matte,
after all to obey that condition which had
so vexed him.
Colewood received cordial welcome at
Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. He found
Miss Wayne to be a tall, dignified girl of
about twenty-three, with coal black hair
and deep gray eyes. She was as unlike heI
little merry hearted cousin as it was pos
sible to be.
Yes, Hugh decided she was just 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 ar
rival he saw great deal of Miss Wayne,
although much of her time was divided be
tween her taste for literature and in re-
monstrating against the innocent pranks
of her cousin.
1t did not require n 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,
that his life would be failure without the
little cousin to furnish daily sunshine and
wifely cheer for his own home.
He resolved to let Miss Wayne have one
half of his aunt's estates and the orphan
asylum the other. He would marry the
girl of his own choice, provided he could
win her, and boldly fight his own way
through life.
Having so decided, Hugh set out for d
stroll along the river, feeling more manly
for his resolve
He came suddenly upon little figure in
white, reading, in little whey nook by
the rivers side.
"Wait, Estelle," he called, for she had
started to run away; II shall leave tomor.
row, and have something to say to you
which you must hear"
The telltale flush which swept over face
and neck ut his words might have given
some hint Of an easy surrender. However,
in moment she had regained that custom.
airy piquancy which had more than once
eXasperated Hugh.
"Td be sorry to have you leave us with
any burden on your mind" she said pro
vokingly.
1T is needless for me to tell you why il
was arranged for me to meet Miss Wayne
here" he said, unheeding her light words
"You know, Isuppose."
"Some slight idea, believe" she re
turned, lingering her book.
"Well, l may as well tell you that that
condition in my late aunt's will can never
be fulfilled"
'And why not?"
Because | love another" he cried pas
sionately. "Oh, Estellel can you not see
how tenderly, how ardently l love youi
Without you l shall make failure of life
Won't you show mercy EstelleP"
"Oh, Hughi would you marry poor girl
when you have chance to win dignifed
bride and retain those prinoely estates?
she asked.
Eyes, darling. prefer you with love in
a cottage to the wealthiest woman with all
the estate in the worldp'
Crash statement young man"
ut is true. Do not torture me longer,
Estelle, Can you not love me littlef''
mo"
"Then you do not love me?"
"Im afraid do"
"Do not mock me, Estelle."
81 am not hooking you, Hugh" in a
very sweet voice.
"Then you do love me little2"
"No not little, but very much"
He would have caught her to his breast
but she eluded his arms, crying:
"Oh, there's Uncle Cranstonp and she
rushed forward to greet the little lawyer,
who had approached them unseen
at is useless for me to ignore 1910 +"
said Mr.. Cranston pleasantly. 81 dlu MOO
mean to overhear your conversation, but
arrived unexpectedly and thought I'd hunt
up my sprite here and surprise her. | SEQ
you understand each other pretty clearly"
"Yes, SIR" said Hugh bravely; II have
decided to enjoy love in cottage with
this dear girl rather than keep the estate
with Miss Wayne"
love in cottage Oh. that's too
goodr
And Mr. Cranston broke into hearty
laugh. in which the girl finally joined
him.