The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-09-02
THE TWO
COUSINS.
An Incident of City Boys Visit in
the Country.
BY ALICE TURNER CURTIS.
BY ALICE TURNER CURTIS.

fathers early home had been a large
farm on the banks of the Kennebec
river. and Arthur's uncle still lived
there.
There was cousin, Rufus, about
Arthur's age. and the boys were anx-
ious to see each other.
al suppose he is a no-account city
fellow, who brushes his boots every
morning and is afraid of getting his
feet wet" surmised Rufus. "And If
he is sickly he won't be any good
here"
Rufus wasa strong, well-built lad,
who looked upon illness as something
entirely unnecessary. The farm was
several miles from the village and the
boy had but few playmates.
''If he goes putting on airs because
he's from the city, he'll find out just
about how sick he is" thought Rufus
as he harnessed up the colt to drive to
the village to meet his cousin.
His father went with him, and if
there was any lack of cordiality in Ru-
fuss welcome Arthur did not notice 1t.
Mr.. Ferris was heartily glad to see him
and had many questions to ask about
his brother, whom he had not seen
for many years.
Rufus, in the meantime, regarded
his cousin with critical eyes. Arthur's
well-fitting clothes, leather travelling
bag, and, above all, his well polished
shoes seemed to the boy visible evil
dence that Arthur was "stuck-up."
Arthur was a kindly-natured boy, not
disposed to think that his cousin could
be anything but friendly towards him
and so he passed over Rufus's some
what rough manners and his short
answers without notice.
All went well with the two boys for
several days. Rufe found Arthur
ready TO enter into all his sports, and
he forgot to criticise his more quiet
manner
One Sunday the two boys attended
church, and Arthur's well-poli=hed
shoes had the misfortune to attract
Rufus's attention. His own We're of
calf.skin. and with little care might
have looked very well. But Rufus did
not think much about his boots until
he wanted them to wear, and then he
could not stop to brush them.
"Say, your boots are made polished,
aren't they ?" he inquired. stopping
down to touch the patent leather tip of
Arthur's boot.
"Of course they are; you don't think
I'd wear such brogans as yours, do
YOU ?'' said Arthur carelessly.
But Rufus felt that all his suspicious
of his cousin were quite correct, and
that it was time for Arthur's discipline
to begin.
That night Arthur's patent leather
shoes disappeared. For several days
their owner did not think much about
il, only that Rufus had taken them foI
a Joke and would return them; but one
morning his everyday shoes had also
vanished. He had now only pair ol
rubber-soled tennis shoes left, and
although these did very well, they
were neither comfortable nor suitable
for all occasions.
Finally, one morning, he could not
find his tennis shoes, and he had &c
90 down tobreakfast in a pair of boots
belonging to his uncle, which he ha'
found in the next room. They wer'
heavy and much too large for him, bu
he said nothing about them, nor di'
he mention his own missing shoes
but he had resolved to watch Rnfu
and find out where his shoes wer
hidden.
"Want to go fishing?" inquiries
Rufus, just after breakfast, as the tw
boys stood on the porch.
mo" said Arthur, "I've taken
contract to push these boots around
and think that's about all l want
. do"
Rufus grinned.
"Rather tight for you, aren't they
I he inquired. and as Arthur made u
4 response, he continued: "Well, If yo
like your own society so well, III a
4 tend to some particular business of IN
4 own.u and he went down the steps L
wards the barn.
Arthur watched him and, waitiT
only until Rufe had disappeared fro
= sight, he followed. The barn was
, large building, the hay lofts bell
te about twenty feet from the floor. The
q q was hay stored in the lofts on each sl'
of the barn, but the centre was open
I. the roof, with only the beams runnii
across.
, A ladder went up to the loft on o.
. side, and as Arthur reached the dc
. Rufus was at the top of the ladd'
,e Arthur began climbing up after hil
d and as he went he realized how clum
4 his boots were. By this time he ID
I" reached the haymow. Rufus "
walking across tie centre raiter to
loft on the other side, holding Arthu
"a tennis shoes in one hand.
e. Rufe walked lightly and easily alo
ID evidently not thinking that his cou'
se s was watching him from the other 81
e: the somewhat dangerous bridge. Al
~ he had reached the other side Arth
called to him:
, "Going to start a shoe store o
there, Rufe? think I'll come o
| myself" and he began scramble
| down the hay towards the rafter.
Say, Arthur, you can't eome acr
| there. It's as much as i dare TO
| You'll tumble"
| "No, L shan't, and 1 need th
| shoes you have in your hand"
1 Arthur, as he stepped carefully cut
the narrow beam.
!. Inst below stood the moving
chime, which had that morning b
, brought into the barn. Rufe watc
B his cousin anxiously. 1t was a dam
. Gus feat even for Rufe, who was 81
. Footed and careful. For Arthur
" danger was greater on account of
- clumsy boots that he had on.
Neither boy spoke until half the
] A r