The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-12-18
A COUNTRY COUSIN


Had you ever cousin. Tom?
Did your cousin happen to sing?
There are brothers and sisters by dog
ems. Tom.
But cousins a different thingl
Anon.
The news and the dessert were served
simultaneously.
by George, IL l hadn't nearly for
gottenl" quoth Stafford pere. He rum
mayed In an inner pocket
Cant find the letter. Must have
left 1t at the Office. Anyhow. it's from
my cousin, Godfrey Chester"
Now. Henry" interrupted the mild
voice of Mrs. STAFFORD In amused ex-
postulation. why will you keep up
that fiction about the cousinshipf 1t
Ia mythical, and you know it,"
tits certainly remote" conceded the
beaming paterfamilias at the opposite
end of the table. but there once was
a relationship long time ago, / ad-
nit But Chester and have taken the
world as we found 1t. He's good fell
to manage that our young people may
become acquainted. He writes that his
daughter will pass through Chicago to-
morrow on the way to New York, and
will spend few days with us. He
says he wishes one of my family
would meet her. Bless my soul. here's
the letter after ALL" He put on his
spectacles-read aloud "You can't
mistake her. She's curly-headed lit
tie girl. in a gray gown and hat
with gray feathers. She's a nice child,
and I'll be glad to have her meet your
youngsters" "There!"
"a child" groaned Ralph, who was
20 and studious.
He swallowed his cafe noir at
gulp and rose disgustedly.
youngsters, indeed" cried Dick dis
painfully. Does he take us for kin
dergarteners?"
Ross, who was the eldest, smiled In
quite superior and disinterested fash
ion. He boasted a fourishing mus
tache. He was studying law. Plainly,
the subject had no interest for him.
"Eh. but one of you must meet the
child" cried the head Of the house.
Youth go, Ralph?"
Cant, sir. I'm doing an article on
the architecture OF the tenth century.
1t takes a lot of research. I'll be all
morning In the Mewberry Library"
Henry Stafford. huge of girtsrsose-
ate of visage, and twfnkling OF eye,
turned his harvest moon face implor-
| ingly toward his youngest son.
you. Dick?"
Got a golf match on. Can't make
1t. SIR"
Dear, deari 10 your sister we're
only at home"
She'll be back tomorrow after
noon" put in Mrs. Stafford.
But the little girl gets here in the
morning. She must be met. She Is
| from comparatively small town. She
would be quite bewildered were she to
| find herself alone in Chicago. Besides,
I I'm unuer several obligations to Ches-
| ter in business way" He sent the
| good-looking young fellow with the
! mustache an appealing glance.
II wonder now, Ross, II you
| Ross laughed leniently. "You poor
perplexed old chapt Yes. III see that
the child gets here all right"
Good" said Henry Stafford. with a
Sigh of relief. Good"
But when the Western train dis.
gorged its jostling multitude In tho
Union Depot the following morning
Ross Stafford, standing close by the
iron gates, found that he had under
taken task OF greater magnitude
than he had at the time imagined
There was such a crush OF people
stout and thin, tall and short. big ant
little. There were children-proces
sions of them. But they all seemed t
belong to the folks who hurried then
along. Never glimpse could he catcf
OF a curly-headed little girl in a graz
town wearing a hat with gray feath
srs. Or-was the dress brown? B,
Lowell He wasn't even sure of that
The last laggard group trickled away
Ross knew the conductor of the Den
, yer train-spoke to him as he cam
, nurrying along.
,, "All off your train. Brigham.
"Surel"
mere Was Httle girl coming
|, Chicago-had curly hair-s blue dres
= "a green hat-blest If / remember
Wasn't she on?"
> Alone, was shefs
3 Eyes"
r mo. sir. Didn't come. Sure? Cours
am"
r Ross wheeled around. WELT T.
i telephone the folks that she wasn't Oh
Is Dad can wire her people and find o,
q Il beg your pardon!"
And he suddenly found himself bow
ing profoundly. hat in hand. before
young woman with whom he had a
most collided In his haste. a slend,
* young woman. graceful young WI
~ man. lovely young woman. as h
susceptible heart instantly acknow
~ edged.
at She accepted his apology with