Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-17
COUSIN MORRIS.

fear you are laboring under some un-
fortunate mistake"
"Hush; not another word" said
the old gentleman, producing a roll Of
banknotes, which he thrust into his
hands. "Put these in your pocket
quickly. Some OF the servants might
overhear MS. All, here comes Alice"
and the young lady entered the room,
looking none the worse for her slight
faintness.
"Alice, my dear, kiss Cousin Morris;
he is coming back this evening to
stay with u.s."
How lovely she looked as she shyly
approached, saying in low, musical
voice: 'T'm so pleased to meet you,
cousin, holding up her sweet face in
modest, natural manner.
What could he do under the circum-
stancesl He was almost intoxicated
with the strangeness Of the position
and kissed her not once, but twice.
He felt as though he could do any
thing for her sweet sake. How he
had scoffed when hearing OF man
falling suddenly in love, but here he
had accidentally met pure and beau
tiful women with large, wistful, blue
eyes, who had spoken to him kindly.
Her presence made him feel differ
ent being, happier than he had ever
been in his life before. She had
truly sympathetic nature, and his
heart went out to her at once with O
passionate longing, an intense desire
TO do something for her sake, and
Morris for the first time in his life
knew what ii meant to fall suddenly
and desperately in love.
There was an awkward silence on
his part which was broken at last by
her gentle voice:
''You will come back tonight, Cousin
Morris, as father wishes, and do exactly
what he desires by letting the past be
forgottenp"
Before he could reply or think of an
answer there was a knock ut the door,
and q footmau appeared.
''The carriage is waiting, Miss
Alice" he said, respectfully.
Thank you, Reuben; good bye,
cousin, till the evening Tell the
coachman where to leave you, and in
the meaatime 1 will practice some
songs for your especial benefit" aud
gently pushing Morris she led the
way to the front door, the old gentle
man warmly grasping his hand, giving
him significant glance to keep ST.
lent.
In q half-dazed condition he en-
tered the carriage, telling the coach
man to drive to Fleet street. Dis
missing the conveyance close by the
Bank of England,h he hurriedly walked
to Holborn, entering the hotel and
going directly TO his rooms.
"What did it oil mean?" he solilo.
quized. Evidently they have mis-.
taken me for some one else" cousin
Morris"--how the name seemed TO
ring in his ears. Like q fash OF
lightning it crossed his mind that
he had been taken for the person who
had answered the advertisement TO
the personal, aud, drawing from his
pocket the copy, he again read it.
TX w: Meet me tonight at 8
o'clock at the entrance to st. Gather
ines docks. Fail at your peril. This
is to our mutual advantage"
THAT sounds like threat will
never believe that the old gentleman
and that beautiful young girl have
ever done anything wrong. i will
keep this appointment"
1t was cold, damp night, with
plenty Of mud and fog, but exactly
at 8 p. IN. Morris was standing
close by the entrance to st.
GATHERINGS docks II was so dark
that he could scarcely distinguish the
faces Of passers-by, most of them
being sailors and dock hands, who had
been drinking.
AT last young man, similar to him
self in height and appearance, took up
such position that he knsw it must
be the person he was looking for.
Suddenly he was startled by a great
commotion. Cries of 'Stop. himl"
''Runawayl" resounded on oil sides,
and horse aud wagon came thunder
ing along. The man he was watching
sprang forward, attempting to stop
the terrified animal, but slipped and
was dashed aside. 1t was so quickly
done that no one noticed the accident,
and Morris Immediately went TO his
assistance.
'Are you much hurt?" he said,
helping him to his feet.