Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-22


mail having constituted the chief cause
for the trip to town. Richard Strong
dismounted and presently appeared
with letter in his land.
None for YOU" h. said. This is
for me. from the gov ernor. I'll wager
IL has something In 4. ABOUT cousins"
Let me see." said the girl. holding
out her hand. He tore the letter open
and gave 1t to her Then lac swung
himself into his saddle. and they start
ed slowly down the street.
Suddenly the girl gave a faint cry.
Papa has been writing to him" she
exclaimed.
Writing to him. What for?'
He has asked him 10 pay US visit
on the score OF relationship. and your
father
"Well?" said the young man. excited
ly.
He says he will start Immediately
the very next day"
Let me see the date of the letter.
Ye gods! 1t has been delayed. He
must have got here this m0rning"
The train has been in two hours
she said, glancing at her watch.
Il must see him Immediately" said
her companion. uervously turning his
horse first one way and then another.
who would ma, e dreamed that both
the old boys We uld take that cousin
ship so seriously?"
Il did, sir. | lnew from the very be-
ginning that 1t would make trouble
some time"
From the verY beginning" repeated
the young man pausing in his excite
ment long enough to note the force of
this chance omission 80 you ac-
knowledge, do YOU
There's the MOTEL bus" cried the
girl. hastily cha iging the subject. Per
haps the driver can tell us something"
A long. empty vehicle was passing
them on Its way up the street. Strong
called to the liver. and he stopped
Did you br' og up tall gentleman
this morning, with a white mustache
and goatee and gold eyeglasses?"
Yes. sir our father. don't you
mean?"
The young PEOPLE exchanged startled
chances.
How did you know"
Tie was figuring for you, sir, as
so5n as ever ne got to the hotel. and
when he found you were gone he went
and hired a buggy"
"A buggy what for?"
He asked the way to Judge Wes-
toms place III the Montecito. He said
the judge was a near relative of his"
"A near relativev' groaned the hor-
rified Strong. while his companion
turned away her face. although wheth-
er to conceal look of anguish or a
laugh will rever be known.
The omnibus proceeded on it's way
I'VE mus; hurry" said the young
man, squirting his horse to a canter
THE less time they have together be-
fore explanations are made the bet
ter"
What do you think they will do?"
asked the girl.
II don't dare to think. You see on
everything except this family tree busi-
ness our respective parents are as far
apart as civilized humans can be.
Your father. now. is an elder in the
church. while mine has lost all the re-
ligion he ever had. and he has never
recovered from the habit OF using
swear words acquired during years of
service in the regular army"
20 dearl o dearv'
Then. again. Judge Weston is an
ardent Republican"
And is your father a Democrat?"
Worse than that-he is Mug
wump."
How interesting! 1 have always
longed to see one of them
And my father believes that Bacon
wrote Shakesreare's plays"
Heavens! Let us ride faster. Papa
will have slain him before we get
there"
Really. Catherine" said the young
man, when they had slackened their
pace to climb the hills. lit would not
surprise me If they had positively re-
fused to enter into partnership as
fathers-in-law."
Never mind. Richard" said the girl
smilingly. Father has never yet re-
fused me anything when my happiness
was at stake. as ii is now"
Strong shrugged his shoulders. Mine !
has" he answered. He is made of
flint, the old general. and If he should
take 1T into his head to say no il would 4
be awkward in ways / don't like to
mention"
Never mind" said the girl, smiling
On a slight knoll surrounded by a
grove of live oaks and faced with an
avenue of old palms 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 a small forest Of rose.
bushes and start briskly 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
20 alight. Catherine" said he" this Is
General Strong. the father of our young
friend"
The general bent low in an old-fash-
oned obeisance, and Miss Catherine
nstinctively made him courtesy out
If the minuet.
"Father!
Dick. my dear boy!'
See here" exclaimed the Judge sud
lenly. You were mistaken, Richard,
n what you told me about old Eben-
ger Strong"
The young man braced himself for
truggle.
tAnd % tht0lr NTH - ..toa a..