The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-07-22
COUSIN SARAH'S WILL.

I6ntn birthday. Sne was q r1cH W1uOW
childless, and with no known relation.
save two gentlemen cousins
Never was cousinly attachment mors
beautifully illustrated, or cousinly jeal
ousy less amiably exemplified, than in
the daily walk and conversation o.
these two collateral kinsmen. They be
slowed so much affection on their com
mon relative that they had none left
to waste between themselves.
Both were several years younger thai
the lady, with fair prospect. accord
ing to the course of nature, of surviving
her; and how to supplant each othei
in her will, which she had at last be.
gun to talk seriously of making, was
the problem which at present engaged
their attention.
On the morning in question, wher
Cousin Roger called to wish Cousin
Sarah the usual many happy returns,
he was not a little chargrined to find
Cousin Dick there before him. How
ever, he presented his annual gift, an5
went through his annual speech with
cut missing a word; and seeing Tabby
the cousinly cat perched snugly on his
rivals knee, by way of not being out
done in cousinly attention, he took ur
Pompey, the cousinly poodle, though
dogs were his abominatien.
We'll, Cousin Sarah. / hope you1
health continues good said Cousin
Roger patting Pompey's head ano
gIancing suspiciously at Cousin Dick
whom he deyoutedly wished at Jericho
Not so good latterly as it has been
The fact is" the old LADY, continued.
II have been thinking seriously Of
sending for Mr.. Parker, with a view tc
settling my worldly affairs without de
lay.
.Oh, there is no need of haste
cousin" broke in Dick; you have
many years before you yet, mentally
adding, What has possessed the old
creature to put it off SO long?'
We'll, well, suppose there's no hur-
ry about il" said Cousin Sarah.
"And yet" Roger ventured to hint
sit is always we'll to be prepared; none
you know
And, after all, calling in lawyer
is not so serious a matter as calling in
a DOCTOR" said Dick, facetiously.
The conversation was interrupted by
the entrance of a young and beautiful
girl, at whom Dick stared with sur
prised and troubled look.
Pardon me. ma'am,' she said, in
a voice remarkably sweet and gentle:
mot knowing you were engaged, ]
came to see if you wished me, as usual.
to read to you to-day
Presently, dear" Mrs. Varley an
swered in a tone that plainly hinsed
that her visitors would not be pressed
to stay if they offered to go.
After an awkward pause, the two
cousins took their departure together.
Who is that girl?' inquired Roger
as soon as they reached the street.
You may well ask, said Dick; and
stopping, he whispered something In
his companions ear, at which the lat
ter startled suddenly.
Good heavenl the resemblance is
certainly striking But what is to be
done? Do you think the old-Cousin
Sarah, / mean, suspects anything?"
Not yet, / think; but no time is tc
be lost | have plan which it would
be well for us to talk over together.
And the two hurried rapidly along
Mrs. Varley had occasionally found
the time hang heavy on her hands, and
so had advertised for a person to fill
the post of companion" to an aged
lady. 1t was thus that Hester Darling
had become an inmate of the house.
At as early an hour as was seemly on
the morning following that on which
we introduced them to the reader Roger
and Dick again presented themselves
before their cousin.
I'VE have thought it our duty, cousin
- began Dick.
''Our bounden duty" put in Roger.
.'As painful as it is imperative"
Dick continued.
ITO put you on your guard. ma'am, .
Roger added.
Against an artful and designing per-
son." exclaimed Dick.
Who is no better than she should
bel" added Roger, Indignantly.
Upon my word, cousins, / do not
comprehend a syllable you have utter
ed said Mrs. Varley, NOR shall be
likely to if you both keep talking at
once. Come, Dick. you seem least ex-
cited. What is the meaning OF al
this?''
What means. may venture to ask,
Salu DlOk, uiu you TAME " dSSCi toth
the character and antecedants of the
woman at present sheltered beneath
your roof?"
why, none, replied the good lady,
"Her young and truthful face were re-
commendation enough on which to give
her a trial."
I'VE have ascertained her to be a
most untrustworthy person. proceeded
Dick, ''and have deemed it proper to at
once apprise you of the discovery
Should she deny the accusation we are
prepared with abundant proofs.
And the two cousins took their leave
with an air of the most exalted hon
esty, though they took care to forget
to enter into the particulars of the ac-
cusations they vaguely hinted at.
Mrs. Varley was lady in the strict
est sense of the word respectable, :"
Much as she pitied the poor and friend
less girl, she must be promptly freed
from this vaugue and dreadful charge,
or cross her threshold never to return.
She went directly to Hester's cham
Der.
You must tell me your past history