Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-18
ThesTWo MainWaring Cousins

AlSGIhOH NulINdll " CtS loI - Duu
fellow at heart, but we always thought
in the regiment that his jealousy Of
his cousin Percival amounted almost
to insanity. Percival was Algy's SUI
perior in every respect; it was a pity
they both fixed on the Grey Horse, for
if two fellows don't like each other it's
rather a bore to have them at close
quarters. But as i'll luck would have
it, nothing would serve Algy bat the
Grey Horse-chiefly, believe, because
his cousin had just been appointed.
don't think Percival shared his dis
like. He had got the best of ii all
round. The two men came against
each other at every turn; they were
Goth good shots, both tirst-rate riders.
But Algy carried his jealousy into his
sport and the other didn't which gave
him very much the advantage.
Gradually Algy was making himself
horribly unpopular in the regimen,
and, indeed, in all the neighhorhood,
by the bitter cynicism of his tongue,
and also by an idiotic habit of practical
joking, which seemed to be growing up.
on him, and ended by shutting many
doors against him. But he was
handsome fellow, tall, well set up, with
awfully good manners (whan he was
so minded) and he was nearly always
fayorite at first; so when enc door
closed another opened, and his eNpe-
riences, instead of doing him good,
only served to make him indifferent TO
peoples opinion, and sor. OF don't
careishness" settled down on MIN,
which did not help to make him more
popular.
When Ae and Percival botn fell in
love with Maude Lafona we really
thought there would be bloodshed, but
fortunately for the peace Of the realm,
there never was a question as to
which of the two Miss Maude pre-
ferred. Algy just walked in and won
and, although | think he alored
Maude, half his satisfaction lay in the
besting of Percival. He, poor fellow,
took his beating like man, although
he was awfully cut up. They said he
rode very hard that winter, and |
think we were all glad when the regi-
ment left Harpenden, and poor old
Percival had no longer got the specta-
Gle of the triumphant Algy perpetually
before his eyes.
The engagement was likely to be
long one, for Maude Lafone had very
little money of her own, and the out
at-elbow condition of her fiance was
proverbial. Things dragged on for
year, during which Algy's temper be-
came something awful. think he
couldn't make up his mind to leave
the regiment and try to get something
to do; he was cut out for soldering,
and scarcely fit for any other occupa-
ton.
Old Lafone had little place in
Rosshire, on the coast, where you
could put in a couple of weeks very
comfortably after plover, rabbits and
such like, and even get dozen or so
brace Of grouse. They had little
steam launch. ana the deep-sea fishing
was rather fun, all around Cromarty,
About the time of the Inverness meet
ing, Algy and | went up there and
lad a capital weeks sport. All went
veil until the last day Of our visit,
when old Lafone talked business with
Ilgv ana upset him dreadfully. He
aid his future son-in-law must make
mis- mind what he was going to do
whether he was going TO try for an
djutancy or leave the army altogeth-
:. He cLafone) could not have
aude hanging on and spelling her life
" nothing. All he said was fair
lough. If he hadn't upset the whole
1ple-cart by saying ii was jolly pity
aude hadn't fancied Percival. l
mt think he meant anything by II,
Algy was simply furious, and then
d there broke off the engagement. |
ink old Lafone was a bit startled, |
Algy was too angry 70 listen 70
I'D. and he left the house an hour
err without seeing Maude. In fact,
behaved like the wayward, ill-tem- /