The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-04
Cousin Evelyn.

the rose briar, shading the study window
and fell across the table where the rector
Isat writing.
He moved aside little and finished the
last sentence OF his letter somewhat hur-
friedIy.
Il told Constance last night THAI her
Cousin Evelyn was coming. Her first re-
mark was. How delightful 20 have q girl
living hereT You may expect a demon
stratiye welcome! Constance is very i'm
petu9us. She sends YOU her love and IS
longing to see you
The rector smiled as he wrote especially
when. after moment OF elaboration. he
affixed postscript. Then he folded his
letter and put it into his breast coat pock-
81 with q good deal Of care.
~ must not let Constance question me
about her cousin too much he thought
as he pushed open the French window
and walked across the sunny lawn. "A
little mystery''-here he sniled-"will only
add charm 10 the coming OF Evelyn Dud-
ley
A tall girl was walking IN the garden
reading and dreaming by turns, as she
paced between the rows OF heavy white
lilacs which bordered the garden path on
either side. She was Constance Darce. the
rector's orphan niece and the acknowl-
6QS6Q beauty I06 HGlSHOOTQOOQ-
The rector Joined her.
What a glorious afternoon my dear!'
Constance closed her book and took his
arm.
IF It wasn't so insgfferably dulIi This
is such lonely paradiser'
But you will have Evelyn soon"
II don't forget. What JOY it Will be!
am nineteen. Uncle Gerard. and have
never had a real corr Danion of my own age
yeti'
You will like Evelyn"
81 am sure Of II. and''-a little smile OF
pleasure parted her l1ps-"I am 30 glad she
says she loves me, merely from seeing
my photograph Perhaps che Is impuI-
sive. as you say ] am
Very possibly; yes she certainly seem
ed to fail in love with you at once when l
showed her your photograph And she
insisted on keeping it
cit is strange 10 have heard nothing Of
her beforel She Is your own niece Is she
not?'
Yes; but my sister married = man
whom we all detested and went away to
India with him. She never wrote TO any
of her family afterwards. aid not know
of her death or even Of Evelyn's exist
ence until the other day"
| ana Is Evelyn Ike ner
VERY much. Constance. do you remenn-
Der my aversion TO the form Of catechism,
even though ] do happen to be a clergy
mann"
| The rector's face was cuizzical. Con-
stance sighed.
II feel so dreadfuily curious about her"
she said alphabetically.
so I see. But In a week from today
she will be here. Then you can learn all
you desire
The rector stopped to kiss HIS niece.
then left her and went into tho village
to post his letter.
Tho day of Evelyn Dudley's expected ar
rival had come. Constance, as the after
noon wore on, became excited and lowered
from room to room In state of indecis-
ion. Finally she went up to the room she
had prepared for her cousin
To Constance, who had lived life of
isolation in the old rectory. the prospect
of another girls companionship was very
sweet. She had written to Evelyn telling
her so; had said, also. in her impetuous
way, that "shs loved her already" and
was longing to meet her, when she knew
she would love her more than ever"
Constance sat on the end OF the little
white bed and remembered all this with
a smile.
Uncle Gerard said she would be shy at
first, but l think my letter would dispel
much of that. 1 hope she won't be disap-
pointed in me"
She went to the glass and arranged the
dainty ruffles at her thoat.
She turned from the glass suddenly at
the sound of the rector's laughing voice
in the hall.
Its all right, Evelyn We've come in
quietly and Constance hasn't heard us.
but l know she is on the lookout some
where
Constance rushed down stairs and int
the study.
"Evelynw she cried.
But only a man was there A dark,
handsome man, who came forward look
ing a little shy as the rector. with infinite
gravity. introduced them suavely.
Constance. my dear-your cousin, Mr.,
Evelyn Dudley!''
"But Tn awfully sorry for your disap-
pointment; I am. really!"
Being sorry doesn't mend matters. 1t
was cruel OF Uncle Gerard and you. too. /
expected Evelyn would be girl. nat
urally."
AND mere man turned up! I've Decn
here three weeks, Constance, and I've
never dared to sympathize with you.
You've looked such daggers at meI''
1T serves you right|'
Docs it?"
Certainly. thought I should have
companion. Now you're going away soon
and 1 shall be as lonely as ever"
"Win my going make any difference7"
You're better than nobody"
Evelyn Dudley looked down at the love
ly. petulant girl he was swinging IN the
hammock,
That's sweet OF you"
When are you going. Evelyn
There was something in the voice now
that caused the mans heart to beat He
bent down suddenly. caressingly.
Not till you tell me something that
you once wrote-that you love me. Nowi"
He caught sight of her blushing. tell
tale face-then laughed low at her strug
gle for freedom, as he held her in his
arms.
Il insist that you make good all your
protestations," he said.
And she had to obey him.-Ex-
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