The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-08-07
COUSIN | I'M.

day aud presenting a tall Young man.
Helen and giggled Cousin Linn was
tall. and he did not know what to do with
his fitness. His embarrassment at sight
of two grow !, AID may say, handsome
young ladies, was plain.
what gawk!' we thought.
Dinner did not much improve our opn.
ion OF our relative, and it was with dismay
that we heard, us we left the dining room :
Girls, leave your Cousin Linn to your
devices this afternoon. have no doubt
you can entertain him. Then father
strobe out of the door and back to business.
The wretch mean our relative, Of
course. That very afternoon we were to
have paid a number of neglected calls that
could not longer be put off
Entertain him! Oh, yes, we would en-
terrain him. And we did.
Just wait, said my sister Helen he
tween her teeth. "He shall show US how
himself
So wien Cousin Linn had finished his
cigar-he seemed to linger over it an I'M
reasonably long time-and entered the
parlor his rather sheepish gaze met a
batting of four light brown eyes, whose
owners were prepared to make out what
ever mischief he invited
The first few moments passed tamely
enough Cousin Linn was twig of
branch Of the family tree that fourished in
neighhoring State, too far away for us to
know nore than that we there boosted also
an Aunt Lucy and Cousin Kate. We put
Cousin Linn down as an ordinary farmer
boy, with little more than his share of
the farm and of the boy about him.
Just as we expected, Cousin Linn him
self gave US the first hint of how he was
best to he held up before the power of ridi-
cnle and scorn. In despair at our brief
replies to his well meant conversational
efforts. his eye fell upon the piano, and he
in gratitude of spirit, fell upon its neck
Sister Helen began. Now, if there was
one thing we girls prided ourselves upon,
il was our musical talent and education
and father of the education, which he had
paid for with mingled feelings of satisfied
'luty and an outraged pocket.
But that day sister Helen appeared pos
sr>>rd She played nothing but the sim
pest tunes, jigs and reels and even had the
auiacity to pick out several good old hymns
with one hand. followed her lead, and
our pool old piano was made to bring forth
sounds that no self-respecting COW would
have died to.
Cant you play, Cousin Linn" asked
sister Helen. Law, that girls smile was
as innocent as baby's, but it meant mis-
chief for our cousin. That individual,
who had applauded us loudly, looked at
his shoes and said yes, he could play a
little. He would try, even after our bril-
liant performance.
Cousin Inns musical education had
evidently been on the line laid down in
our programme. He reeled off country
dances with the ease of COW walking
railroad treste. If our selections were
tum-te-tumty, Cousin Inns were tum-te-
tumtier. And to watch him picking out
the tune, using one, two or three fingers
OF each hand, his long hair bobbing about
his ears as he ducked his head at every
note, set us in fit of silent laughter.
Let us take him with u.s." whispered
Helen as he neared the end of number"
And of course l jumped at the idea of more
fun with Cousin Linn.
Pm agreeable" said that young man
when we asked him.
He spoke better than he knew
So off we set. To all OF our acquaint-
ances we paid visit, and at every house we
made new sport of Cousin Linn and his
piano playing.
First, we would play when asked, and
the girls took the cue from wink and did
the same, while Cousin Linn sat there, his
great eyes staring at his shoes, and saying
never word except Eyes and "no' m"
Then cousin Linn can play" one of
us would demurely say, and Cousin Linn
always toed the mark and the pedals.
, So it went On. We left one household
after another in commissions Of laughter,
until we came to Miss Matilda Craig's. 1t
happened that Miss Craig played irst and
We were unable to give her the cue Poor,
good Christian soul. She played the piano
as she did everything else, as her conscience
babe her, just the best she knew how So
after Miss Matilda had given us the 'Turk-
ish Retreat the Wellington Booth Quick
step and other carefully rendered selec-
tions, Helen and could do no less. We
Numbered at Bach and thrilled at Chopin
in the best conservatory style we had been
taught and snikered in our sleeves they
were wide then, too, my dears, bat at the
Bottom and not the top. How Cousin
Linn gaped. actually thought the mans
eyes would pop out Of his head.
Then we made him play. He had to be
almost dragged to the piano this time, but
we were eager and curious to see him go
through with his little jigs and reels again