Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-23

DOy--Cathortne no0 SOLD ner cabinet
organ to buy the furniture and Dor
cas- In a clean white apron and rib
bons was busting around, while Mrs.
Hopper had already arranged her
stock OF bonnet frames, ribbons and
artificial flowers In the lower win
dows.
1t was a lovely June day, with the
sky blue and clear as baby's eyes and
the air full of scents from the blossom
ing buckwheat fields, Catherine More,
having. not without difficulty, obtain
ed temporary substitute In her
school, went to New York to meet her
new charge In the steamer Harvest
Lass, which had been telegraphed
from Sandy Hook the day before.
Little Willie will know me" she
said to herself, because / sent my
photograph by the last mail. / wanted
my face to seem familiar to him, poor
lone lamb"
She stood on the pier eagerly scan
ming the countenance of every child
that landed, her face Frightening once
or twice as she saw boy whom she
thought might be Willie, when all Of
sudden hand was laid lightly on
her arm and she found herself look
ing up into handsome, bronzed face
far above her.
"Sirw she cried, starting back.
II beg your pardon said frank,
pleasant voice, II did not mean to
alarm you. But is this Miss MoreT'
She inclined her head.
II am your cousin William"
And this time Catherine started back
in more surprise than ever.
Sir" she said. ''you are mistaken.
William Is a little boy
Hardly" returned the tall stranger,
unless you would call me a little boy.
Dear cousin Kitty. no one ever told
you 1 was child or poor. 1t was
your own inference. Thank heaven.
am Independent and wealthy, and as
have come to mans estate, think 1t
is rather my duty to take care Of you
than to allow you to take care of me-"
Catherine looked at her handsome
cousin in mute amazement. This
grand upsetting of all her theories
and ideas was more than she could
comprehend just at once.
But, Viii"
But, Catherine. Nay, my dear little
gray-eyed cousin. the lawyers have
told me how willing you were to adopt
and care for the homeless orphan, and
how my cousin Millicent shrank from
the task. And from the bottom of my
heart I thank you for what you are
ready to do
How Dorcas started when she saw
what sort of fellow little Willie"
had proved to be. How Mrs. Hopper
giggled behind her bonnet frames
when she thought of the little child's
crib and the picture books upstairs.
"Of course, such an elegant young
tel" said Mrs. Hopper. But he did not.
He stayed at the cottage, sleeping on
the back parlor sofa until other ac-
commodations could be provided for
him. And when Millicent came over
with her prettiest smile and outstretch-
ed hand the young Australian received
her with an odd, curt GOODNESS that
made her feel excessively uncomfort-
able.
You see. Cousin Milly," said he,
you didn't want to be bothered with
me; you thought the Australian au-
thorities ought to be compelled to pro-
vide for me-"
And when Mrs. Hopper heard that
little Catherine More was to marry
her rich cousin she wasn't at all sur
prised.
Its the most natural thing in the
world" said she, "only it's a pity that
Cathie isn't little prettier."
But Catherine More was satisfied
with her lovers declaration that to
him her plain face was the sweetest
in all the world.