Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-09-27
COUSIN RICHARD.
Observation-Disclosures

Every New Years day Cousin Rich
ard used to call upon rs.
AS children we would forget to ex-
pect him and wonder at him from a
distance when he tried to get on
cousinly terms with us.
AS we grew older these yearly visits
still had way Of surprising the entire
household. and we would try to atone
for our forgetfulness by an effusive
welcome and many invitations to come
often. We had the best intentions to-
ward him, and d genuine liking for
the man In those days he was Junior
partner to lawyer of considerable
ability and reputation. He trod his
quiet path in life with clock-like regu-
larity, and when lie turned aside from
it forrthis annual visit to his relatives
we always wondered why his social
excursions should be so rare. For,
though he would not have shoDe in 30
ciety, as man and a bachelor lie
would have been welcome. He was
well bred and companionable; he
dressed with precise taste. and, III
spite of a tardy youthfulness, which
leo him to retain the original black
ness of his hair and mustache longer
than nature intended, he was almost
yes, quite "A handsome man. Yet,
from the first, the eager, relentless,
ambitious spirit of Chicago passed
him by, left him to his old bachelor
ways. forgot him; and no amount of
urging or rallying could tempt him to
take house or a wife or friends or
responsibilities, or any of the alfuring
cares that make up life for most of us.
BY and by his partner died. We
heard the news remotely and did not
appreciate its significance for Cousin
Richard.
But when the months rolled around
once more to a new year. the welcome
we gave it seemed vaguely incomplete
and unfamiliar.
What was the matter? 1t was only
after several days that the explana-
ton occurred to ns--Cousin Richard
had not called. BY the time another
year had passed we began to wonder
what had become of him, and it was
with distress that we heard rumors
Of change in his placid fortunes. His
practice had dwindled off to nothing,
it was said; he had left his familiar
old hotel for boarding house; he was
looking old And one day. when met
him on the street, the change in him
shocked me. His spruce elegance had
faded TO seediness. His hair and mus
tache looked rusty, He shifted away
from my cordial greeting and avoided
my invitation.
He was going to Ohio to see his
father, he said; and though we heard
of him back in town and shabbier than
ever the new years came and went
without glimpse of him.
1t was not case to be anxious
about. as his father our old great
uncle, Joshua, was a rich man down in
the little country town where he had
been the first to settle more than
half a century ago If Cousin Richard
wished to avoid us there was nothing
to do but hunor him. But when the
news came to us of the old mans
death we wondered Ii the loss would
have reviving effect upon Our van
ished relative. 1t was spring; next
New Years day we might hope to see
him once more. We Were not in the
least prepared, however, for the mir
acle that happened One Sunday after
noon, in mid-July. as ! was lazily fan
ming myself at a window, Il most dis
tinguished figure approached the steps
tall, elegant, even handsome: correct
in every detail, his long white mus
tache contrasting finely with the alert
blackness of his eyes. As he entered
hat and gloves in hand. | turned, still
puzzled, and it was half minute be-
fore | recognized Cousin Richard un-
der the snow-whitc hair.
He was affable, friendly. t;llkatiye.
He told us all the Ohio news; he even
invited us to the theater, and when
the appointed evening came called for
us in a carriage. We asked him to
dinner several times, and during that
summer became almost intimate at
last. One afternoon rebuked him fer
his lonely life. With his charms and
advantages. why had he never mar
ried:? "Wcll," he said. with the nery-
Gus little laugh which always filled
the pauses of his talk. am afraid |
have always been just little too late
for everything Just Il little too late.
When | was a young fellow, down in
Ohio, there was pretty little thing
down there whom | liked very well.
We used to go to school together. and
she had brown cufls, and l used to
carry her books and take her home.
and that sort of thing, you know: and