Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1895-07-09
Papa has been writing 70 him!" she

HE has asked him to pay us a visit
on the score of relationship, and your
father"
"Well?" said the young man, ex.
citedly.
"He says he will start immediately
the very next day."
LET me see the date of the letter.
Ye gods. it has been delayed! He must
have got here this morning." T..
The train has been in two hours"
she said, glancing at her watch.
Il must see him immediately" said
her companion, pervously turning his
horse first one way and then, another.
"Who would have dreamed that both
the old boys would take that cousinship
SO serhously?" ..
II did, sir: I knew from the very
beginning that it would make trouble
some time"
From the very beginnings" repeat
ed the young man, pausing in his ex-
citement long enough to note the force
OF this chance admission. 80 you
acknowledge, do YOU
'There's the hotel bus" cried the
girl, hastily changing the subject.
perhaps the driver can tell us some
thing"
A long, empty vehicle was passing
them on its way up the street. Strong
called to the driver and he stopped.
Ibid you bring up tall gentleman
this morning, with a white mustache
and goatee and gold eyeglasses"
"Yes, sir. Your father, don't you
mean?''
The young people exchanged startled
glances.
How did you know?"
HE was inquiring for you, sir, as
soon as ever he got to the hotel; and
when he fonnd you had gone, he went
and hired buggy"
"A buggy-what for?"
HE asked the way to Judge Wes-
toms place in the Montecito. He said
the judge was a near relative of his"
The omnibus proceeded on its way.
1--WE must hurry" said the young
man, squirting his horse to q canter.
1.-THE less time they have together be-
fore explanations are made the bet
ter
What do you think they will do?"
asked the girl.
Il don't dare to think. You see, on
everything except this family tree
business our respective parents are as
far apart ascivilized humans can be.
Your father, now, is an elder in the
church. while mine has lost all the re-
ligion he ever shAd;9and he has never
recovered from the habit of using
swear words acquired during years OF
service in the. regular army"
Heavens! Let us,ride faster. Papa
will have slafh him before we get
there"
"Really. Catherine" said the young
man, when they had s]ackened their
pace to climb the hills, lit would not
surprise me if they positively refused
te enter into partnership as fathers-in-
law"
Never mind, Richard" said the
girl, sln;lingly. Father has never
yet refused me anything, when my
happiness was at stake-as it is now. "
Strong shrugged bis shoulders
mine has," he answered. ''ne is made
of flint, the old general; and if he
should take it into his head to say no,
it would be awkward in ways I don't
like to mention"
"Never mind" said the girl, smiling
again and lifting her veil to the rim of
the iaunty sailor hat.
And moment later the young man
felt much encouraged, and the gallop
was resumed.
On a slight knoll surrounded by a
grove of live-oaks and faced with an
avenue of old palms, there stood the
ample residence Of Judge Weston. As
the young people came through the
gate and entered upon the graveled
roadway, they observed two elderly
gentlemen emerge from small forest
of rose bushes and start oriskly down
the path toward them. Presently the
shorter of the two took his companions
arm and they walked along in evident
peace and amity.
They haven't found it out yet," the
young man whispered.
Judge Weston assisted his daughter
to alight. Catherine" said he, this
is Gen. Strong, the father of our young
friend'
The general bent low, in an old
fashioned obeisance, and Miss Cathe-
zine instiuctively made him . courtesy
out of the minuet.
''Father!"
''Dick, my dear boy!"
"See here" exclaimed the Judge,
suddenly. You we're mistaken, Rich
ard, in what you told rue about old Eb-
enezer Strong"
The young man braced himself for a
struggle.
And TO think, Dick.' cried the gen.
eral, reproachfully, that you never
once mentioned to the judge that your
great great grandfather, Hezekiah
Strong, married Weston"
And that brings us even nearer than
we had supposed" added the judge.
Fourth cousins instead Of fifth"
1T was stupid of me to forget that, -
said the young man, huskily.
And now that have seen Miss
Catherine" said the general, taking
her hand and passing his arm about
her waist, my only regret is that the
relationship is not several degrees