Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-03-21
COUSIN MARY.

quietiy Jnrougn my great pages, anu MI
tho while having my copy refused half the
time, and the other fellows wondering
how kept my place.
All this anu much moro was easy and
exciting, moro of a triumph and Joy even
than had ever imagined 1t would be, but
my pct scheme OF schemes hung fire lit
tle Fred got his new position I'm por-
fectly natural manner. He was good fell
low and deserved it. Still there was no
my Cousin Mary. Then thought, being
an independent girl, she might be waiting
to have something of hor own, and aftor
as pretty bit OF finesse as i ever saw In
my life, II IL was my own invention--and
small wonder, for had not schemed at
such pleasant miracles since was 8 years
oldS-I managed to provide her with q
neat little fortune of her own. Still no re-
suit So ono day, when was at hoMe-I
did not 90 often for mother would always
lecture me on my habits, and somehow
never could entirely got ovor tho hurt OF 1t,
big as was-I ohanced to be alon6 with
my Cousin Mary for as much Of an evening
rs she would bo willing to bear my COM
pany.
felt very happy to see how beautifully
she was dressed In these days, how her
hands were white already and grown
smooth again where the delicate fingers
used to be rough with countless needle
pricks. Tho house was comfortable one
now, my mother was far easier In her
mind and therefore sweetcr companion.
Everything looked pleasant around
Mary, and told her how glad was to
SEQ it.
did not tell her how glad was to see
her, how in all tho rich and varied JOY OF
my present position, as in all the unutter
ablo weariness and dullncss Of my former
state, to see her was the keenest delight l
ever felt or ever hoped to feel Calm,
strong beautiful woman that she was;
perfect in loveliness of face and form and
character, mine would bo poor triumph,
after all, IL could not contrive to make
her happy.
I sat watching her, and she watched tho
leaping flames of tho fire, and i wondered
clumsily In what possible way could force
her into the happiness which should be
hors, when all at once she rose and cano
to my side.
''Cousin Tom" she said In that deli
cious voice of hers. "Why don't you
amount to more, why don't you do your
self Justice in some way? Isit''--and here
sho blushed beautifully, but the cousin
ship gave her courage, and she went on
"is 1t for lack Of money to mako n start
With Because. you know, l am quite
rich now, because want you to let mo
you'll forgive my awkwardness, won't
you?-to let me give you some OF 1t. Tom,
whole pile of it,"
That blessed, generous, self forgetting
creaturoI She looked SO lovely as she said
1t that my poor brain swan dizzily.
"No," said at length. lit Is not lack
of money, my dear Cousin Mary, but
sheer personal incapacity that prevents
my amounting to anything. am an or
dinary, stupid fellow at best, and my fam
ily arc too clear headed to give ine that
blind loving faith which makes even
stupid fellows do very we'll sometimes"
You are not stupid" she cried, NOR
ordinary-I know you better than you
think. You could he something splendid
II you chose. Why don't you choosef"
And then she looked ut me with such
an earnest. tender, believing glance as
fairly drove me to her feet.
"Oh, Mary, you blessed angel!' ] cried
to her. Gould you-would you-is it pos
siblo that yon, after all, can find il in
your sweet heart to make place for such
a useless good for nothing as Is'
And then my Cousin Mary just came
into my arms and coDforted my sore
heart with a thousand tender words CT
hope and faith. And she said the sweet
est JOY Of joys to her was that now she
was really ablo tn help me with her prec
ious little fortune. And since she values
it so much have let her help mo with it
always AS II any fortune great or small.
were to be mentioned In the same breath
with her love!-lmpress