Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-04-07
MY EASTER-EGG.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

BY ANNA SHIELDS.
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z was reading, chow
!. !. ! !. !. !. !. !. !. !. . !. !.
-e&A IXZIl I should you like to
81 EZW l. have a cousin to
IN HMi come and live herel
~ -xE#z#tE A girl-cousin, about
Gfsl&zWZ/ your own age, and
90 q $%T/ who has your name,
TH a N%[-z too-Elizabeth Bas-
lAfM n M1 sett."
lV ~ only stared, fal
too much amazed for speech. A cousin
Never hadI heard of an uncle or an aunt,
much less a cousin.
"But, papa" I SAID, at last, 81 never
knew l had a cousin"
"H'm! No Your motner was an
only child, but 1 had brother. Poor
Toni He aud l had a quarrel, long be-
fore we were either of US married; no
matter about that now. Tom went OF
to the West, but ne didn't find any OF
the wonderful good luck there that some
men do. The fact is, Bess, Tom was
always lazy! Lazy folks don't get along
out West But be is dead, my dear,
been dead these ten years, and his wife
died about week ago, aud left letter
for me, asking me to befriend their only
child. She needn't come here, you see,
if you don't want her"
sob, but l do want her. l cried,
"Have I not been longing for a sister ali
my lifel do want her, papal Please
send for her."
every well, my dear. l will write at
once"
Taen rushed of to find Martha, who
is our head servant, aud, l sometimes
suspect, our real housekeeper, though
she lets me have all the honors. Martha.
who had lived with my grandmother,
had known Mr.. Tom, but had thought
he died long ago. She was very will
ing, however, to help me in getting one
OF the prettiest rooms ready for "NIiss
Elizabeth" and promised dainties for
the feast of welcome.
At the eleventh hour papa resolved to
go himself and bring the orphan girl 70
her new home, and Martha and l had
full scope for our hospitable plans. II
was not that l had anything to do, tor
with our small family Martha declared
she bad hard work to keep the servants
busy, in spite of the size Of the house,
but | liked to fuss about, and select
pretty ornaments aud trimmings for my
cousins room.
Perhaps | threw myself into these
preparations with more energy because ]
had never quite recovered from the
heartache it gave me to part with Her.
bert Wilson. Two years before papa
had sent him OF 10 seek his fortune, and
lived meantime on the hope of his
finding it. 1t was a romantic little love
story, and being so much alone l had
suffered more than papa knew, 50 l was
glad to think OF having a companion of
my own age.
She came with papa, and rushed into
my arms, apparently as pleased as was.
I had pulled down my face to express
my sympathy with her recent loss, but it
was wasted sentiment. She did not ap-
pear to have any feeling about it, and
longer acquaintance convinced me that
she had no depth of feeling about any.
thing.
But she was charming, little, fairy.
like blonde, with fluffy yellow hair, soft
blue eyes, and complexion like straw.
berries and cream. 1 felt gigantic when
/ saw our reflections in long mirror,
for was tall. decidedly brunette, and
while l was just six months the younger,
looked Eve years older than the childlike
little butterfly.
1t was pretty to see how she enjoyed
the luxuries about her, the dainty food,
the cczy arm chairs, aud, above all, the
idleness. Poor little mite She had
faced poverty ever since she was born,
and she enjoyed comfort as much as a
kitten.
81 mean to marry rich man, she
told me, cor not marry at all. Lots and
lots of money! That is my idea OF per.
feet bliss. And, By the way, Bess, why
dou't you marry Mr. Gordon1"
l laughed heartily. Ever since I
could remember had been asked why l
didn't marry Mr.. Gordon. He had
wooed me with dolls and sugar plums
when was mere baby, and his devo.
tions we're apparent to the most careless.
Even Bert, my Own Bert, had occasional
spasms of jealousy, and in our last con-
versation had said, imploringIy:
''You'll give me fair chance, Bessiel !
You won't marry Gordonl"
And / solemnly promised never to
marry Charles Gordon.