Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-04-27

wandered about the room, look.
ing at the various pictures, chiefly
representations of Tom at different
stages of his school career. 81
say, Tom, old fellow" he said after
awhile, "yon're a sly dog~
"For why" Tom asked, pausiug,
with brush in either hand.
"Well, you never told me single
word about the pretty cousin, and
she is pretty, by Jove, no mistake
about thatn
Lock here, r an" S id Tom,
suddenly growing as grave as a
jadge, "you are to let my little
cousin alone, DO You hear ~
.'Eh ~ said the other, in an in
curing tone.
Eyes, l know exactly what YOU
mean," said Tom steadily, "but
you're wrong, quite wrong. |
haven't such a thought in my head.
Still, | am not going to have her
played with and firted with, so you
had Better understand that from
the beginning. YOn can flirt to
Any extent with my sisters-they
can take care of themselves far
better than you can. Bat my
COUSIN is to be let alone, do You
see"
"My dear fellow, no one could
possibly help seelDg," said Ryan,
with laugh. You make it too
devillSh plain for any mistake.
And what if | should get seriously
hit in that quarter, eA!'
you've got to marry money!
SAID Tom grimly. "You tell me so
about a hundred times a day. And
my cousin hasn't got any money,
so the idea Is no good
every well. l will take care to
give the young lady a wide BERTH
! said Ryan, IN much amusement,
thinking that Tom was desperately
hard hit in that quarter, and that
he had hidden tue fact very
clumslly.
"Therc's The bell. Dy JOve,
we're late. Come along. To be
late for dinner is the first and al
most the only cri ne in this house,
aud even as be uttered tie words
the thought flashed across his mind
that another and more awful crime
in that house was to be unprOtect
eli and poor.
i fortnight soon goes over, anG
the two weeks that Tom Langton
and his comrades spent at Brook
House seemed to 20 by with TIE
rapidity of magic. 1t was won
derful to Tom that he saw so little
OF his cousin, Mary Chichester.
Even to HIN, knowing as he did
his mothers indOmi able resolution
in carrying out any course OF action
that she had LAID down as suitable
to any particular occasion, it came
as surprise that he could live
IN Ter the same root with one o.
his own kin and yet see so re
markably little of her. She never
appeared at dinner nor even in the
evening atterward. If ever he
chance1 to come across her before
the men went off to shoot, she
always told him that she had nae
breakfast long ago. 81 can't
think where you get It," he said
one morning, half fretfully. 81
came down the other morning ever
so early, aud there was not a sigr
Of Won TO he SEEM
"Oh, but | set fed all right,
cried she, laughing heartily and
holding out a plump little hand to
show what good condition she was
In.
''Fm not so sure about that,
Tom retorted GROSSLY. 81 dom
, see why yon should be showed
away out of sightas you are, Pussy
It's a burning shame-thats wha'
| think about it,"
r she looked at him in a strange
startled KIND Of way, and a YivlC
blush spread itself over her palt
face, staining it scarlet from chin
to brow. "DOn't say it," she said
. under her breath. 81 am quite
content-I am very happy here
Aunt Agnes could not take me
8 out when she has two daughters o.
her own. 1t is out the question
l do not expect it not even wisl
-. lit. l am more than content
5 "Pussy, SAID Tom in queer
| strained kind of voice, and catch
q ing her small hands IN his larger
! clasp: "DO you know what yor
D areg You are'--
q "Maryw exclaimed a voice II
q high staccatO accents of extreme
astonishment. "What are you do
Q ing hereg | thought | told you"-