Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-08-25
hNOU mentioned that you were 60
ing to call upon your cousin,

hNOU mentioned that you were 60
ing to call upon your cousin, "
| observed Jim, as we walked along.
"Yes; you better join me-" said l.
"No, thanks, old man. But Heaven
knows I wish could" he sighed rather
than spoke.
What's the worry, jim? You never
were serious about Connie, were you?"
"Wasn't II"
HIN! Well, to my knowledge, it's
months since you were last at the
| house. But"
'"I say, Tom," he interrupted, 81 wish
! you would put in good word for me" !"
/ "Eh?" said I, rather staggered.
Look here; it's this way. Connie
! and l were chums for a long time, IS
! you know, and / almost believe we
would have become more than friends
if we hadn't had a quarrel. Oh! it was
nothing, really, but Connie wouldn't
| make it up. And now when we meet
she won't speak o me-"
Dear, dear" | murmured with
sympathy. Have you tried writing
| to her?"
Eyes; once"
ANY reply?"
"My own letter" he said, shortly.
I'm afraid, Jim, that your matter
for disagreement amounted to more
than you care to tell me-"
We'll" said my friend, "the thing
was nothing to begin with, but some
how it got exaggerated"
Come away; let's hear about it,"
said l, encouragingly,
Jim groaned. at began about Violet
Hastings. l know did behave like an
ass there once, and Connie found out,
and then I discovered n previous small
! romance of Connie, and between the
two-oh, hang it, there's no use talk
I'm afraid you are most to blame,
Jim. It was terribly foolish of you to
find out anything about Connie" We
had halted at the corner of the ter
race.
"Of course, I've blamed myself ever
since" said Jim, humbly. "But will
you. Tom, for the sake of old friend
ship, do me good turn? Find out il
she cares at all-if | may see her
again" Then ne burst out almost
roughly: "You can say love her, If
you like"
SOFTLY, Jim, softly. I think you
mean what you say, but Connie dear
little girl, and don't want to make any
mistakes. | must consider"
Jim was beginning again to protest
his affection, but I held out my hand.
"Will YOU be round to see me to-
night ?" l asked him.
Thanks. I'll be glad. But, say, old
man
However, | did not wait to let him
continue. Jim's good man; he and
| are like brothers. Comics good
little woman-in fact, I But, never
mind. When | arrived at her abode |
found her alone in the drawing-room.
1t Is not an unusual occurrence, this
finding her alone, and it Is, perhaps,
the only time when | am glad to be
her cousin. By the time | had fin
ished my first cup of tea, ! had made
up my course Of action with regard
to Jim's affair; but it was a delicate
matter. In any case, ! would offer no
advice TO my cousin. Experience had
shown me that my five years seniority
had no value in her estimation.
by the way, Connie" l began, hold
ing out my eggshell for more tea, 81
met man to-day"
How you surprise mel" she OBJ
served, fippantly.
II met a man." l went on, steadily,
who, when | invited him to join me
in paying my respects to you, abso-
lutely refused-absolutely refused"
Connie regarded me pityingly.
No doubt, being a man, he had
work to do"
NO" said l. "He was literary
man"
"Oh, indeed" she remarked, trifle
| suspiciously, as she handed me my re-
plenishcd cup. Then she remarked:
"You have been out OF town lately?"
"Yes; and the first person / met
| on my return to-day was this literary
man. Funny thing, his refusing 10
call with me; | even thought Of Of
feIing to let him come in my stead"
"If you had dared" she exclaimed.
Recollecting herself, she added, cold
Iy,"I don't know what you are talking
| about"
"Wer. I've been talking some non
sense, but now I'll give you the truth"
| | slipped my tea and continued: THE
| fact is, have just left Jim Lawrence.
| | had an idea that he was on his way
| to call here, but think he understood
| from my manner that he had better
not"
'You weren't rude, anxious
! ly.
Impossible. Butt knew you couldn't
| be bothered with him; he has become
| such an idiot of late"
you shouldn't speak so Of friend
| of yours" said Connie, reproachfully.
"Oh, he is "a thoroughly good sort,
| but he has annoyed his friends dread
fully by throwing away his chances
with Violet Hastings. Why, what with
her money and her fathers influence,
| Jim would have been made for life.
Besides, vi is such a charming girl"
'Mr. Lawrence" remarked Connie,
! timidly, used sometimes to strike me
as "a man who scarcely knew his own
mind"
Right, quite right! That's just
| Jim. Take again the instance of Nio-
let. Jim has simply fallon in love with
some one else. 1t may last this timei
but hope not"
"But, surely, Tom, you don't be-
| lieve in marrying for money!"
MY dear Connie, do not let us get
.S-