The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-03-09
MR.. MARTINS COUSIN.
How a Delayed Train Caused an
Embarrassment.

Il suppose" said Mrs. Martin, mis-
with Cousin Clarissa at first sight"
She was handing Percy Carr his tea
as she spoke, and smiling at him ap-
provingly.
II would find it easy to fall in love
with any relative of yours, Mrs. Mar
tin"
"Ah, listen to his fiattery!' she said,
appealing to the others gathered around
her low, sparkling tea-table that par
ticular winter afternoon. "It is very
evident he is meditating an entreaty
| 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 he? Poking among those dreary
| Pittsburgh mines. as usual, l dare say"
said Horton Miles.
"Yes. poor darling" assented Mrs.
Martin. She knew that it 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.
SIS she young?" questioned Mrs.
| Thurston.
| She was charming widow whose
beauty somehow suggested that OF
a 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
81 really know little about her. You
see, 1 never contemplated the possibili-
ty of her remembering or recognizing
our existence by visit. l think she is
young. l believe she is pretty. 1 have
the impression she is cultured. l know
she is wealthy"
THAT final statement will cover a
multitude of SINS" murmured Ralph
Sommers. How long must we pine
for glimpse of her face?'
Her note said she would arrive
Wednesday morning. You may all come
up to dinner Wednesday evening, and
be presented"
Wednesday dawned, steel-skyed,
gusty, stingingly cold. Mrs. Martin,
peeping out between her velvet cur
tains, drew back with little shiver.
81 WISH" she said to herself, in ref
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, to
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.
''How disappointed my guests will be
if she fails to materializel 1 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 social
creed was that dinner should not
be kept waiting. So, after privately
giving directions to the footman and
housekeeper, she apologized for the alb
sence of the expected guest, and led
the way to the dining-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 footman
opened the door to tall, stout young
woman with very red cheeks and snap-
ping black eyes. She wore plaid
dress, plush coat, a hat with two
green parrots confronting each other
antagonistically, and voluminous
veil of red gauze.
SIS this Mrs. P. Martins housep'
On being assured that it was, she
turned her head and shriIled down the
steps to the hackman:
"All right Bring up that there
trunk"
THAT there trunk" having been duly
brought ur, the hackman paid, and the
housekeeper summoned, the newcomer
was informed of the message of her
hostess.
"lf You please, miss, Mrs Martin
says, as she is having few friends to
dinner, she will be pleased if you dress
and come down, if you do not feel too
1atlgAeN:"
mercy. no! amt tired. I'll be
ready in a jiffy"
The trunk was carried to the lux
urious room prepared for Mr.. Martin S
cousin, and from its depths the visitor
quickly drew her most festal attire.
"There!' she exclaimed, as she re-
garded her completed toilet in the
mirror, tony as they be, Judging by
the house, guess this'll fetch themr'
She was not mistaken. She created
a sensation when the entered the din
} ing-room. Mrs. Martin and her guests
glanced up as the door opened, to be-
hold buxom woman of thirty-two OF
three, clad in gown of blue, bright,
sleazy silk, e.aborately trimmed with
silk of the variety known as blonde.
SlIs. Martin, in one swift glance,
took in the latest guest from her
srizzled hair to her red hands and
clumsy shoes She felt little faint as
she rose to meet her, She held, out her
slender fingers e.