Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-10-11
They spent dismal evening, Jack
walking the floor most of the time.

is worthy of Howells."
Then the absurdity Of their predica-
ment was borne upon him and he
roared with laughter. Nan could not
see the fun. 1t was pure tragedy to
her hospita BILE soul. The next morn
ing matters frightened. While they
were sitting at breakfast, in the sum
shine that had succeeded the storm,
the postman brought letter from
Cousin Elizabeth. It contained but
a few lines:
stead Of meeting Jack, the colonel will wait
and come out with me on the eight O'Clock
train. With love, COUSIN ELIZABETH"
"What luck!" shouted Jack.
But" said Nan, dolefully, "we've
got to call them something. don't
see that matters are mended much"
"Oh! their name will be on their bag
gage, and Cousin Elizabeth will have
to introduce her colonel. That's all
right! Now I must be OFF, With q
kiss Jack was gone.
The day passed pleasantly in prepare
ton, and when, in the evening, the
guests arrived, Cousin Elizabeth
thought she never saw a prettier home
or more winsome mistress.
Nan, on her part, was proud of her
husband when he heartily greeted
Cousin Elizabeth's portly husband
with: II am glad to see you, colonel
not betraying, by any hesitation, the
dreadful blank that existed in his mind
after that military title. For the bag
gage had re vealed no name!
The lady, with sweet graciousness,
had said: "You must call me cousin
Elizabeth dear;' and the husband
had been introduced simply as "The
Colonel"
Never mind" said Jack. "We'll
find out somehow It's immense,
though, having visitors and not know
ing their name. But I've thought OF a
way"
$50 have l." said Nan. well see
who will find out first"
Soothed by the certainty, she set to
work TO enjoy her guests; not a hard
task, for she already loved Cousin
Elizabeth, and no one could help lik-
ing the colonel, with his simple, hearty
ways and utter devotion to his wife.
The next morning, when Nan saw
the postman coming down the street,
she remembered that Cousin Eliza be tn
had said she was expecting letter to
be forwarded, and so she rushed to
meet him, eager to read the address.
Just as she reached the door she was
met by Cousin Elizabeth, who held up
q letter.
, "Only one, dear, and that for me,
and away went the envelope into the
little morning fire blazing on the
hearth, before Nan had a glimpse Of
the superseription. Jack grinned.
Fooled again." he whispered in her
ear as he gave his good-by kiss
Off went Jack into the city, and from
there he sent the following telegram
to his sister:
Wire at once Cousin Elizabeth's married
name At once. JACK"
After Nan had given her days orders,
her flowers and settled Cousin
Elizabeth on the lounge with new
book she dressed for the street.
GIVE a little shopping / must do,
Cousin Elizabeth. I know you will ex-
cuse me for awhile
Dear child!' murmured Cousin
as she watched the slender,
graceful figure down the street.
A little later Nan came back, radiant,
clasping a square package. She hur-
ried up to her room, undid pretty
blank book bound in soft white kid,
tied it up with long yellow ribbons
and laid it on the little desk in the
guest room. Then she went back to
her company.
she said, 1--WE are so happy to have you
as our first guests. l knew something
was lacking in your room and it just
occurred to me it was a guest book. So
l went out and got one, and now 1
want you to write your names on the
very first page"
''Bless you, dear!" said Cousin Eliza
beth; what privilege to be the first
Of what hope will be long and hap
Ply list!'
In the middle of the afternoon Jack
an answer to his telegram:
do not remember name. He was colonel.
Father and mother in Burlington. They would
know. SUE"
After lunch while the guests were
doing in the library, Nan stole into
The guest-room. There on the fair first
page of the new book, were the words:
Cousin Elizabeth" and beneath, in
bolder writing: 1.-THE Colonel
'It's the funniest thing ever heard
d." said Jack, after they had confded
their disappointments to each other, as
they were dressing for dinner.
FUNNY" exclaimed Nan. cts fear
ful! 1t seems as if everything was in
against us. What would
hey say if they knew we did not even
know their name!''
That evening neighbor called.
Jack muttered over the introductions
Is incoherently as he could. and the
whole group drew up their chairs in
,ozy circle. During a lull in the con-
the caller turned to Nan,
ind said in distinctly audible tones:
81 beg your pardon, but did not
catch the names of your guests"
Nan turned pale-the room reeled.
Crash! over went a little table that was
by Jacks elbow.
"Oh, my pet rose-bowl!'' cried Nan.
How could you be SO clumsy?' Then,
Is she and Jack stopped over to pick
up the fallen stand, she whispered in
MS ear: "You darling! 1 think I
should have faintedv'
In the confusion of restoring order
the question was forgotten, and the
neighbor went home none the wiser
for his inquiry.
The guests took their departure tho
next morning. While they were wait
ing for the carriage Nan put her arms
around Cousin Elizabeth and said, low
lngly:
You must leave us your address,
dear. We want to write and hear from
you often. You belong to us now, you
know"
Cousin Elizabeth kissed the rosy
cheek.
II thought of that, and had this all
ready for you." And she pressed q
card into Mans hand.
After the pOOd-bvs were said and tha