Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-03-24
CTHERE are some advantages"
said Ronald meditatiyely, 'in
- heinp q cousin after all -

said Ronald meditatively, 'in
- being a cousin, after ALL"
He addressed Angelica, who sat op-
posite him. All about them was deep
blue serenity-on one hand stretching
away to meet in line with fainter
azure, on the other merging distantly
into long shining masses of greenish
brown rocks. with ragged cliffs tower
ing above them. Angelicas hat was
tilted a little forward and the breeze
darted in among her curls, tossing them
merrily about her face. She was
diminutive person in all respects save
two, which two were particularly la! ge,
brilliant languishing, and in every way
dangerous.
"But on the whole, Angelica" added
Ronald, deliberately, 81 regret that
am in any way related to or connected
with you"
"Ronaldr' she exclaimed, 81 really
cannot allow you to be so iattering."
"a cousin is nondescript, variable
sort of being-at times an absolute
stranger, at others a sort of second
hand brother-in that capacity ex-
tremely useful. OF course, that is
something; but still -"
81 think it's a great deal; but l see
you are the same as ever. You always
were a greedy little boy" said Angel
lea.
"Thanks. You, on the other hand,
were rather nicer as a little girl than
you are now in some ways-Oh! you
could still be nice If you tried"
"If tried? How funny! l shouldn't
know-you see most people think"
she regarded her shoes inquiringly.
~ dare say; but am not most peo-
ple.' l stand alone"
81 thought you were sitting down."
interrupted Angelica. (She certainly
was provoking to-day) And 1 wasn't
aware that you were alone. But per-
haps l don't count"
"My dear, that's the worst Of 1t. You
do count, and there's no one else in the
world who does. just worship you,
Nan! Have startled your
Not at ALL" she answered, politely.
"YOu see they all say that or some
thing equivalent" She turned her head
a little and dabbled in the water with
her hand.
"Oh, yes, | know! OF course, I'm a
presumptuous fool. All the same, 1
have thought lately''-he paused and
then added: "Do you remember last
week at Cowes?"
"Yes," said Angelica, radiantly. "On
that afternoon-I don't mind telling
you, Ronald very seriously consider
ed falling in love with you. There Is
yacht quite close to u.s." she added,
quite hastily; 81 considered, and after
due del.beratlon, decd d"
well, Nan?"
"Not to fall in love with any one at
ALL"
Ronald, if you don't row how can I
steer? We don't want to be swamped.
Love Is so inconvenient."
You're pulling the wrong rope. l
confess | don't quite see how"
well, 1t doesn't always go with other
things"
"But is 1t not worth more than-other
things|
Ronald" replied Angelica, some
what irrelevantly, have you any idea
of the price of Paris hatT"
"rhe left rope again. All, now we're
safe! A Paris hat? I-well, l have
heard that they're something ridicu-
lous."
"They are - absolutely ridiculous.
That fact alone" said Angelica, solemn
ly, SIS enough to make any thought of
love impossible and wicked"
Except for any one with heart,
with soul, composed In fact Of any
thing but shallowness and vanity"
my dear boy, If you go on" she said,
encouragingly, you will in time make
the accomplished flatterer of the age"
Don't Jest with me, Nan It's moth
ing to you, perhaps, but to me It's every
thing. love you. If you knew what
the word meant" he burst out We
hemently, "you could not sit there
coolly breaking my heart In your
hands,"
Hush! Not so loud. Yes, l know I'm
wicked penitently). l oughtn't to be
here with you at all, when am going
to marry some one else"
You're going to-Nan, Is this trueY'
"Mr. Rathbone," said Angelica,
dropping.
"Are you engaged to him."
"He will ask me tonight"
"How do you know thatT curtly.
"Ronald, don't be so absurd! How do
j knowT"
This was convincing.