The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-01-04

ness Wow OF Ine SJTdube siIudIOh'
Four weeks later Hugh Colewood
was speeding away from Greenville on
the morning express, bound for little
town among the blue hills of Virginia.
When he stepped from the train he
was disappointed to find no one walt
ing to convey him to the country home
Of Cranston's sister, distance OF eight
miles.
He was in the act Of asking the way
to the best hotel when buggy came
rapidly up to the station and halted.
The station agent hurried forward to
meet the driver, who was slender
young girl, with bright, dark eyes, and
hair as golden as the June sunbeams
touching those hills.
"Is Mr.. Colewood, of Greenville,
waiting here to ride out to Mrs Thurs
ton's?" inquired the fair driver in a
sweet voice which won Hugh's inter-
est at once.
"I am here and waiting, thank you,"
returned Hugh, for himself, smiling
pleasantly as he came forward on the
station platform.
Il came to drive you to Mrs. Thurs
TOMS" she answered simply.
"Shall | take the reins?" he asked
as they started away.
mo, thank you; like to drive" she
answered.
1T was too bad for you to take SO
long a drive for a stranger" he remark
ed, as he stole side glance of admir-
alton at the girlish form in dainty
blue.
"Oh, didn't mind the distance at
all; besides, rather had to come" she
replied. II did wish to go with the
young folks, who are having a picnic
this morning over to Laurel Hill, but
Uncle Jerry is sick, and of course he
couldn't come for you. Then Mrs.
Thurston and Miss Wayne never drive,
so they made a virtue of necessity
and sent the last resort of the place."
and she laughed merrily.
"It is too bad my coming prevented
you joining the picnickers," he said.
Il shall not be able to forgive myself"
That's nothing. l am enjoying my
self now too we'll to think Of Laurel
Hill," she returned brightly.
THANK you, and at the same time
let me assure you that l, too, am en-
joying myself excellently WELL" and
Hugh bowed to the young girl, whose
Of admiration in his blue eyes.
II hope you will enjoy your visit,
Mr. Coleman" she said, to change the
subject. Il know Mrs. Thurston and
Ethel will do all they can to make your
stay pleasant"
Thank you; I've no doubt l shall
find 1t pleasant" returned Hugh. you,
too, are one of Mrs. Thurstons sum-
mer household. suppose?"
YES" with smile. You see l am
a distant relative to Mrs. Thurston;
then Miss Wayne is my cousin and ex-
ercises kind of cousinly guardianship
over me. which, NO doubt, is very ne
cessary."
$50 you are Miss Wayne's cousin? I
do not remember hearing Cranston
mention you. l did not expect to have
the pleasure of meeting any ladies but
Mrs. Thurston and Miss Wayne"
"How unkind in Mr.. Cranston not to
prepare you for this meeting" and
there was a roguish gleam In her eyes
which Hugh did not see. II had up
to that date regarded Mr.. Cranston as
one of my very best friends, but to
ignore me SO utterly, when he knew
/ would accompany Cousic Ethel here.
looks like downright intentional ne
glect."
you have not given me the pleas
ure of knowing your name," said Hugh
both amused and pleased with his
pretty driver.
"Oh, I'm Wayne, too," she answer
ed, laughingly. Ethel Estella Wayne.
variously nicknamed, as you will OBJ
serve later on"
Two Ethel Waynes! Here was a real
surprise for Colewood. Why had Gran
ston not mentioned this strange fact
to him?
II the Ethel Wayne referred to in
the will were only half MS animated
and generally captivating as the one
by his side Hugh thought it might be
an easy matter after all to obey that
condition which had so vexed him.
Colewood received cordial welcome
at Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. He
found Miss Wayne to be tall digni-
fed girl of about twenty-three, with
coal-black hair and deep gray eyes.
She was as unlike her little merry
hearted cousin as 1t was possible to be.
Yes, Hugh decided she was just such
woman as his eccentric aunt would
DC likely 10 beleCI as lue Wlle Oh n6T
heir.
In the weeks which followed Hugh's
arrival he saw a great deal of Miss
Wayne, although much of her time
was divided between her taste for
literature and in demonstrating against
the innocent pranks of her cousin.
1t did not require long time for the
young man to realize that he could
never love Miss Wayne as the man
should love the girl whom he intends
! to marry.
He made another important discov-
ery-that his life would be a failure
without the little cousin to furnish
daily sunshine and wifely cheer for
| his own home
He resolved to let Miss Wayne have
| one-half of his aunt's estate and the
orphan asylum the other. He would
marry the girl Of his own choice, pro-
vided he could win her, and boldly
| fight his own way through life.
| Having so decided Hugh set out for
little stroll along the river, feeling
more manly for his resolve.
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