The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-01
II Country Cousin.

For they were smiling at each Other
-merrily, spontaneously.
Indeed, no, mother!' Perhaps he
held the pretty hand she gave him a
little longer than was necessary. II
met Miss Chester this morning. Did
she not tell you I put her in cab?"
Miss Chester laughed. Ross stat
| ford laughed And the bewilderment
| of the head of the house of Stafford. OF
the golflng son, and the studious son
as they in turn presented, set them
laughing again.
Lord bless me-" cried Stafford SEN
ior, ruffling his hair your father said
you were a little girl"
"Oh. ! shall never be grown up to
papa! cried Miss Chester.
"He said" stammered the young
gentleman who was getting up an ar
ticle on the architecture of the 10th
century. "that-that you were nice
child"
Don't you think" queried Adele
Chester, mschievously. that I'm
nice?"
Whereat Ralph grew guiltly red.
"A gray gown grasped Dick. And
and hat with gray feathers!'
my travelling costume. Don't YOU"
with sparkling eyes, find this becom-
ing?"
This" was a trailing. foamy. be-
buffled robe, all delicately green and
white as the crest of breaker. Il dress
that revealed while conceaing the
snowiness of arms and bosom. Be
coming Ross told her then and there
how becoming. Not in words-dear.
no! But words are so stupid-some-
times.
Helen Stafford reached home before
dinner was over. Her brothers rap
turous reception amazed her. Never
had she known how they missed her.
Nor could she dream that each of three
young hypocrites was saying to him
self, "She won't go East in such hur-
ry if she and Helen take to each
other"
They did not take to each other.
Ross found 1t was not necessary to
keep his engagement that evening and
permitted his friend to cool his heels
alone at theilr appointed rendezvous.
Ralph learned his tenor went wonder
fully we'll with the pure soprano o.
their guest. And Dick was so anxious
to initiate Miss Chester into the mys-
teries of flashlight pictures that he
made himself no END of a bore. The
country cousin of the Staffords did not
go East that week-nor the next
When she did go all the mirth and
laughter of the Stafford domicile SEEM
ed to go with her. One morning a
week after her departure Ralph and
Dick said some bitter things when they
discovered that Ross had found out he
must attend to the business in New
York, and had left for that city on the
midnight train. And when Ross re-
turned, but smiling and eXultant they
were not at all backward about telling
him with true fraternal frankness
their opinion Of his conduct.
You We're awfully good to go to
meet that little country lassie?" COM
mented Ralph witheringly. IT believe
you knew all the time she was the
prettiest kind of young girl!'
"Kindness-sheer kindness on my
part, dear boy! But, as have striven
to impress on you, virtue is ever it's
own reward"
80. come off, entreated Dick. You
Just got the inside track, and you kept
it."
Ross pulled his moustache.
II assure you in taking my late has
ty trip had only the best interests of
my brothers at heart. My sole ambi-
tion was to secure you the most
charming sister-in-law in the world"
Helen jumped up.
20 Ross! Did you-did She"
He laughed quizzically. "Adele gave
me message to you, my dear. She
said to tell you that you are to be"
"What-Ross!'
esmaid!-Chicago Tribune.