Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-15
MIR. MARTINS COUSIN.
How a Delayed Train Caused al
Embarrassment.

Embarrassment.
II suppose" said Mrs. Martin, mis-
chievously. you will be falling in love
with Cousin Clarissa at first sight"
She was handing Percy Carr his tea
as she spoke, and smiling at him mp
provingly
~ would find II easy to fall in love
with any relative of yours, Mrs Mar
tin"
"Ah, listen to his fiatteryl" she said,
appealing 10 the others gathered around
her low, sparkling tea-table that par
ticular winter afternoon. at Is very
evident he is meditating an entrcaty
for another cup OF tea But, seriously,
she is not my cousin at all-but my
husbands have never seen her
And Mr. Martin Is away just now,
isn't hep Polling among those drcary
Pittsburgh mines, as usual, | dare say"
said Horton Miles.
Yes poor darling" assented Mrs.
/ Martin. She knew that II was from
those particularly gloomy places that
/ her wealth came, and that her husband
should make occasional visits OF super
vision to them was TO be properly de-
plored.
lis she young?" questioned Mrs.
Thurston.
She was charming widow whose
beauty somehow suggested that OF
q very full-blown rose. Her car.
rage gown of violet cloth was trimmed
with gold passementerie and fur. She
rather dreaded the advent of any new
conner who might attract the languid
attention of Percy Carr
II really know little about her. You
see, l never contemplated the possibili-
ty Of her remembering or recognizing
our existence by visit ! think she is
young / believe she is pretty. have
the impression she is cultured. ! know
she is wealthy"
That final statement will cover u
multitude of SINS" murmurcd Ralph
Sommers. How long must we pine
for glimpse OF her face2'
Her note said she would arrive
Wednesday morning. You may all come
up to dinner Wednesday evening, and
he presented"
| wednesday dawned, steel-skyed,
gusty, stingingly cold. Mrs. Martin.
peeping out between her velvet cur
tains, drew back with little SILVER.
| ~ WISH" she said to herself, in re =
erence to Mr.. Martins cousin, that
she had mentioned over what road and
at what hour she would arrive. and I'd
have the carriage meet her"
But the day clustered on to noon, Ia
afternoon, toward evening, and still
Clarissa Martin did not put In an ap-
pearance, From feeling absolute vex'
alton. Mrs. Martin began to regard the
situation with amusement
"Ilow disappointed my guests will be
IL she fails TO matcrializc! shall tell
them It is truly a version OF Hamlet,
with Hamlet left out"
At five o'clock the curtains were
drawn in the beautiful, imposing home
of Philip Martin. Within electric
lights shone with white brilliance, and
CRATES OF FURNISHED metal held beds OF
rubies. In the long amber drawing
room the guests assembled.
Six tinkled out from hidden clock
The chief article OF Mrs, Martins sociaI
creed was that dinner should moi
be kept waiting. So. after privately
giving directions 10 the footmau anC
housekeeper, she apologized for the alb
sence Of the expected guest, and LEO
the way to the dininR-room.
But hardly was the soup-tureen un
covered in the dining-room, when the
tinlSle of bell in the kitchen an
nounced an arrival. The footmar
opened the door to tall, stout young
woman with very red checks and snap
| ~ .l.s.
dress, a plush coat, a hat with two
green parrots confronting each other
antagonistically and u voluminous
veil OF red gauze.
''Is this Mrs =. Martins house2"
On being assured that 1t was, she
|, turned her head and shcilled down the
steps TO the hackman:
IAN right Bring up that there
trunk"
THAT there trunk" having been duly
bronght ur, the hackman paid, and the
housekeeper summoned, the newG me
was informed of the message OF he
hostess.
III you please, miss, Mrs Martin
says, as she Is having few friends u
dinner, she will be pleased II you dres
and come down., IL you do not feel toe
fatigued."
Mercy, mol / amt tired. I'll h
ready In a jiffy."
The trunk was carried 10 the lux
urious room prepared for Mr. Martin
cousin, and from its depths the visito
quickly drew her most festal attire.
"Therew she exclaimed, as she re
garded her completed toilet in tn
!, mirror, tony as they he, judging b.
= the house, guess this'll fetch theml
} She was not mistaken. She create
= a sensation when the entered the dir
|, ing-room. Mrs. Martin and her guest
{, glanced up as the door opened, Ia be
Z hold buxom woman of thirty-two q
y three, clad in gown Of blue, brigh
sleazy silk, deliberately trimmed wit
silk of the variety known as 'blondc
A Mrs. Martin, in one swift glance
J. took in the latest guest, from he
/ frizzled hair TO her red hands an
r clumsy shoes She felt little faint q
she rose 10 meet her. She held out ne
slender fingers
"You did not mention the train, {
\ should have sent the carriage. 81
apologized
VI "oh, lawl that didn't matterr d
! clared the other, giving her an e
plosive kiss. This aiA't such b
a., town but II was easy TO find my wa
ice Just told a hackman 10 drive mo to
~. Martins, and here ami
mt Id