The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-03-20

ideas Of his expected cousin.
A girl, very tall, very straight and
very handsome. in a dark. southern
style, dressed in ill-ftting gray linen,
with a plaid shawl on her arm, walked
past him to the dressing-room, with
free, graceful step and poise Of her
glorious hea5 eminently suggestive Of
country life in the vest.
"she is a perfect squaw,' Clarence
thought, slowly following her to the
ladies' room. The next moment, grace
fully bowling, be asked;
"HaVe I the pleasure Of greeting Miss
Myra Delano, my cousin?s
"Ah, you are Clarence she said,
showing two dazzling rows Of teeth in a
smile Of frank pleasure. rs Cousin
Clara here9"
"My mother IS at Chestnut Hill, but I
have my carriage here to drive yoa out
Of town. Shall I take the checks for
your baggage2'
II am desperately hungry" she an
swered; "eould we get something 70 eat
while the trunks are beng carried eat2
Here? T could drive yoa to a quiet
er restaurant
"No, no; herey could eat fried
whale. I am SO starved. | have had
nothing but gingerbread and apples
since yesterday noon.
There was no resisting such an APP
zeal, and Clarence led the way to the
depot restaurant and offered his cousin
the bia of fare lt being one Of his
great points in feminine perfection that
the appetite should be delicate and
needing coaxing. he was absolutely
shocked to see Myra Delano eat. Such
an indiseriminate tumble Of provisions
would have made his mother III for
month; but Myra heartily enjoyed
steak, eggs, coffee, pie, rolls, cakes
oysters, anything and everything, as
the waiter put it before her.
She was not rude, did not eat with
her knife or fingers but she had not
one of the little dainty tricks of man
Ter that made Mrs. ParlSer's table ETH
qnette so charming, and Clarence, trl-
fling with his own luncheon. wondered
# in six meals he could eat as much as
this "sqaaws ate IL one. In his own
mind he chfistened her "sqaaw,
though he was far too courteous ever
to speak so of her, even to his mother,
All through the long drive home,
she chatted, frankly as child, Of her
Journey, her home, her antieipations oil
pleasure in her visit, and, while heI
voice was clear, ringing and musical
Ter language was well chosen, giving
no lar to Clarence.s fastidious taste
though he wished her tone more sub
dued. But her dawdy hat. her cotton
gloves. her stout leather boots, her un
tidy hair. were all an offense.
In his first hour alone with his moth
er he infplored her to buy some dresses
for their guest that were not two sizes
too big and seven sizes too short.
And Mrs. Parker. utterly over
Whelmed by the tall, handsome CIR
thrown upon her care, found her life
suddenly burdened with unwonted re
sronsibility. First, there was a daily
fight to settle between Lueilla, her Owl
French maid. and Myra.
But, madame, the dresses neyart
will fit. nevare, If mam'selle will no
wear re corset. or let me mike re fit,
the maid would protest.
II cannot breathe, all pressed up 20
Cousin Clara" Myra would remon
strate, IL should stifle in an hour"
II was difficult to compromise, bu
/ Mrs. Parker, by exercising the patienc'
and gentleness natural to her, finally
presented Myra with a well-choscI
wardrobe that gave her the freedom o
ldngs and movement she crayed, anC
yet set off the magnificent figure.
The girls own utter ignorance o
dress amazed the little woman Of fash
I ion She found that half-yearly yisi
to the nearest town, an order to thu
/ dressmaker to make warm dresses foi
winter and cool ones for summer. com
prised Myra's idea of dress. Serupu
1 lousy clearly, she was absolutely with
cut vanity, and as pleased as a ehilt
to note the improvement in her look
produced by becoming arrangement
of her abundant raven hair, and Tia,
tasteful brooch of bright color in hel
tastefully appointed dress.
The first time Clarence saw her in
dress of black silk tissue with a dasi
of vivid crimson here and there, at tn,
throat, in the glossy braids Of hair
the sash and sleeve knots, he was abso
lutely amazed at her beauty.
III only she was not such savage,
he thought, rcgretfuliy.
But there was not one hour Of the daJ
that she did not jar upon his fastidiou'
IDEAS. He rode with her at her request
and told his mother, eonfdentially, tba
he never imagined anything bu
an Indian or a eircus-rider could so man
age a horse.
He sang with her, and found that b,
must actually exert himself to proven
his deep baritone notes being overpow
cred 10y her ringing, powerful voice, full
OF sweetness and music, but utterly un
cultivated.
lie found her in the garden, driving
the gardener distracted 10y her criti
cisms upon his plants, and proving nj
her theories by transferring roots will
her own hands to spots OF her own Sc
lection,whero they invariably improved
He caught her in the woods, praetic
ing with revolver, shooting OF a mark
and she pathetically told him she wa
ell out of practice, and only bit her mari
six times in nine.
81 suppose there is no shooting to b,
bod herc2" she said, dolefully, and thei
described hunts she had taken with he
father, in the far western woods ant
plans, as If shooting deer and squirrel
were everyday affairs in young lady