Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-07
succeeded the storm, the postnan
brought a letter from Cousin Eliza

succeeded the storm, the postmar
brought a letter from Cousin Eliza
beth. 1t contained but few lines:
"Our plans are changed, dear, too
and instead of meeting Jack, the colo
mel will wait and come with me on the
s o'clock train. With love,
"CoUsIN ELIZABETH"
"What luck |" shouted Jack.
"But," said Nan, dolefully, "we've
got to call them something. 1 don't
see that matters are mended much"
ooh, their name will be on their
baggage. and Cousin Elizabeth will
have to introduce her colonel. That's
all right! Now T must be off !" With
kiss Jack was gone.
The day passed pleasantly in prepa'
ton, and when in the evening the
guests arrived, Cousin Elizabeth
thought she never saw prettier home
nor a more winesome mistress.
Nan, on her part, was proud of heI
husband when he heartily greeted Cous
in Elizabeth's portly husband with
~ am glad to see you, colonel" ro1
betraying by any hesitation the dread
full blank that existed in his mind after
that military title. For the baggage
had revealed no name!
The lady, with sweet graciousness
had said, "You must call me cousin
Elizabeth DEAR" and the husband
had been introduced simply as "The
Colonel" -,
"Never mind" said Jack. "Well
find out somehow. It's immense
though, having visitors and not know,
ing their name. But I've thought Of
q way"
$50 have l." said Nan. "We'll see
who will find out first"
Soothed by the certainty, she set to
work to entertain her guests; not a
hard task, for she already loved Cousin
Elizabeth, and no one could help liking
the colonel with his simple, hearty
ways and utter devotion to his wife.
The next morning, when Nan saw
the postman coming down the street,
she remembered that Cousin Elizabeth
had said she was expecting letter to
be forwarded, and so she rushed to
meet him, eager to read the address,
Just as she reached the door she was
met by Cousin Elizabeth, who held up
letter. :,
"Only one, dear, and that's for me"
and away went the envelope into the
the little morning fire blazing on the
hearth, before Nan had a glimpse OF
the superscription. Jack grinned.
"Foiled again ' he whispered IN her
ear as he gave her his good-by kiss.
Off went Jack into the city, and
from there he sent the following tele-
gram to his sister:
"Wire at once Cousin Elizabeth's
married name. JACK.
After Nan had given her days Or
ders, arranged her flowers, and settled
Cousin Elizabeth on the lounge with a
new book, she dressed for the street:
give little shopping 1 must DO; 90;
Cousin Elizabeth. I know you will
excuse me for while"
"Dear child" murmured Cousin
Elizabeth, as she watched the slender,
graceful fgure down the street.
A little later Nan came back radiant,
clasping square package. She hur'
ried up to her room, undid a pretty
blank book bound in soft, white kid,
tied it up with long yellow ribbon
and laid it on the little desk IN the
guest.room. Then she went back to
her company. :,
"Dear colonel and Cousin Elizabeth"
she said, 1--WE are so happy to have you
az our first guests. I knew some
thing was lacking in your room, and 1t
lust occurred to me it was guest-oook:
So I went out and got one, and now l
want you to write your names on the
very first page"
"Bless you, dear !" said Cousin Eliz-
abeth, "what a privilege to be the
first of what hope will be a long and
happy list''
In the middle of the afternoon Jack
received an answer to his telegram
"Do not remember name. He was
a colonel. Father and mother in Edln-
burgh. They would know. SUE"
After lunch, while the guests were
doing in the library, Nan stole into
the guest room. There, on the first
page of the new book, were the words
"Cousin Elizabeth" and beneath, in
bolder writing, "The colonel"
"It's the funniest thing ever heard
Of" said Jack, after they had confided
their disappointment to each other as
they were dressing for dinner. =.
"Funny 7" exclaimed Nan. "lt's
fearful 1t seems as if everything
was in conspiracy against us. What
would they say if they knew we did
not even know their names ?"
The guests took their departure the
next morning. While they were wait
ing for the carriage, Nan put her arm
around Cousin Elizabeth and said
lovingly:
"You must leave US your address
dear. We want to write and heal
from you often. You belong to us
now, you know"
Cousin Elizabeth kissed the rosy
cheek.
~ thought of that, and had all this
ready for YOU; :" and she pressed