The record-union., 1897-08-24
COUSIN MAR ELIzYS VISIT.

Just what I told Jenny" declared
Mrs. Basset approvingly, from the
depths Of the striped rocking chair in
which she passed her evenings. There
ain'tno need to turn things upsidedown
Decause o COUSIN Mar EliZy's visit.
Tidy the rooms a bit and set a good,
plain table, and let it go. 1t don't
seem possible it's twenty years sence
she Was herei"
What's good enough for us is good
enough for her, and 1 want you should
bear it in mind" observed Mr.. Basset
with masculine emphasis.
wy, of course it is. Now Jenny had
q notion to take her carpet up and
make a rug for the dining-room out O.
the best breadths; said she'd do 18th a
bare floor for herself But I told her
that Id be clear ridic'lous-wouldn't it,
Nathaniel?" and Mrs. Basset raised her
gray eyes inquiringly over her spec
tacles.
"Ridiclous? I shd say so! Might
better buy a carpet out-and-out," said
Nathaniel shortly
wy, sc you might-if there was any
call to- And it matches the wall paper
full as we'll as It's, anyhow. Well, well!
To think O. seeing Mar Elizy again.
don't know as Well know her; but then,
faint likely there'l be another woman
stop off here on the same train. How
fair she used to be, and al'ays wore her
roll. Father wouldn't let me, on ac-
count O. being Methodys, but Uncle
Robbins used to say the better a Wo-
man looked the better she acted and I
don't know but what he was right
She was lively, sOciable girl as you d
as to see, and she had three good of
fers, to my own knowledge, Mar Elizy
did"
Mebby you had better get a new
carpet, when all's said and DONE" OBJ
served the master of the house slowly.
Wool goods is marked down now, and
there's hole in my end of the table
that I've ketched my chair leg in twen-
ty times if I have once
Ny, fatheri" exclaimed Mrs Basset
In deep tone of wifely concern. Now
why didn't you say the word and I'd
have put a good stout patch under it ?
You know how poor my eyesight is.
and rs for Jenny, tell her she wouldn t
see 'em if there was. circus posters
pasted up on the meetin' house door.
Well, to be sure if you feel like bein'
at the expense of a carpet, I amt the
one TO gainsay you. We want to make
Mar EIZy's visit pleasant for her. and
any one might get their death of a
fall when a carpet ketches that way.
] don't know how William Judd was in
his last years, but he was close as wax
when she was married to him That
was ono thing that set me ag'in him.
him; he'd never part with a cent. even
in his courtin' days, without lookin'
at both sides of it. But he prospered.
and if she's left we'll off now, I'm sure
don't begrudge it to her She was
fond of good time from her youth up.
and liked seem comp'ny," said inno-
cent Mrs. Basset. preparing to wind
up her carpet rags.
It's likely you heard of all the of
fers she had. for you was more like
sisters than cousins" remarked Mr..
Basset, refiectively
That's true; we was just like own
sisters, assented his wife. though
come to think I never told her abou,
William Judd's askin' me, and vet
might a done if he hadn't made M to
her so quick. Dear dear have tc
laugh when I think O. the letter he
wrote me! Twas beautiful. and very
feeling. but I no sooner set eyes on If
than / see twas taken down ont n,
Danps Genteel Letter Writer
fetched pas book. and there twas word
Tor word, with two answers. a yes and
no, and I was just mischievous
enough to cut out the no and get my
brother TO give it to William when he
called round that night 1 remember
how fiery he looked at me next tiue
We met and ii want but a fortnit after
that he put the question to Mar Elizy
She took him up quick enough. and
reccllect she was kind of boastful tc
me, though YOU was waitin on me ther
yourself, Nathaniel But want ag,sn
to spile her ard Williams ENJOYMENT
by lettin' out how I had first choice.
used often TO say I wouldn't look at a
man : had not the spunk to SPEAK
up
As to well off and i'll off. broke ir
Mr.. Bassett. it's my belief there's more
money put into them Western mortga
ges that never comes out. Specially
when they fall to women folks. I never
could see as William Judd was so tur-
rib,e smart about business. and I wagal
my wife can make as good an appear.
anee As his, and my girl hold up hel
head with the best and no thanks tc
anybody
La, father" said Mrs Basset sooth.
ingly. you needn't heat up that way
/ amt faulted YOU none. have u Tn
sure my good black silk was the tall
Of the town when I bought it. And deal
knows it's wonder if Mar Elfzy':
Harriet can come near our Jenny fol
looks-the Judds was all peaked faced
and that foxy hair is sort O. apt 10 rur
in families Jenny might "a been mar.
ried twice over if you'd seen fit. and 81
I shall tell Mar Elizy."
That silk is. as good as ever. ain
it,? demanded Mr.. Basset suspiciously
Wy, yes, I call it so"-with a slight,
forced air of cheerfulness. The worr
spots amt noticeable. and that streal
o wagon grease yielded some when
took napthy to it, and if it amt UP Il
the top-noteh of the style. wy me ant
you amt as young as we once was.
tell Jenny. if the waist gets mucF
smaller was Mrs. Basset,s fg.
urative way of alluding to her own in.
creasing amplitude)-'if the waist get.
much smaller, I'll give it to her. ane
the skirt and overskirt'H make a new
pair o sleeves. and maybe trim up 3
hat She's wore that spotted delain,
for best goin' on three years now. There
Just heft that, viii you. Nathaniel -
and the good lady put the last touche,
to a corpulent rag bali.
Where is Jenny. anyhow asked Mr.
Basset after a pause.
T guess she's gone up stairs to he
room" answered his wife, with a Ger
tain air of timidity shes felt all up