The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-26
A COUNTRY COUSIN
She Came and Saw and Conquered.

ed simultaneously.
"By George, if l hadn't nearly for
gotten" quoth Stafford pere. He rum
mayed in an inner pocket.
Cant find the letter. Must have
left it 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 cousinship2 1t is
mythical. and you know it,
ITS certainly remote" conceded the
beaming paterfamilias at the opposite
end of the table, but there once was
relationships long time ago, l ad-
nit. But Chester and l have traced
back until we found it. He's a good
fellow, Chester. I've always been urg-
ing him to manage that our young peo-
pie may become acquainted. He writes
that his daughter will pass through
Chicago tomorrow, on the way to New
York and will spend few days with
us. He says he wishes one of my fam
lily would meet her. Bless my soul,
here's the letter after ALL" He put on
his spectacles and read aloud: you
can't mistake her. She's curly head
ed little girl in gray gown and hat
with gray feathers. She's a nice child,
and I'll be glad to have her meet your
youngsters. Therew'
"a child! groaned Ralph, who was
% and Studious.
He swallowed his cafe noir at a gulp
and rose disgustedly.
youngsters, indeed" cried Dick dis
painfully. Does he take us for kin
dergartners"
Ross, who was the eldest, smiled in
quite superior and disinterested fash
ion. He boosted a fourishing mus
tache. He was studying law. Plainly
the subject had no interest for him.
But one of you must meet the
child!' cried the head of the house
you'll go, Ralph?'
Cant, sir. I'm doing an article on
the architecture Of the tenth century.
1t takes a lot of research. III be all
morning in the Newberry library"
Henry Stafford, huge of girth, roseate
of visage and twinkling of eye, turned
his face imploringly toward his young
est son.
You, Dick?"
"Got a golf match on. Can't make 1t,
SIR"
Dear, dear! If your sister were only
st home
She'll be back tomorrow afternoon"
put in Mrs Stafford.
But the little girl gets here in the
morning. She must be met She is
from a comparatively small town. She
would be quite bewildered were she to
find herself alone in Chicago"
He sent the good looking young fell
low with the mustache an appealing
gllnce.
81 wonder now, Ross, if YOU
Ross laughed leniently. "You poor,
perplexed old chap! Yes, I'll see that
the child gets here all right
"Goodw said Henry Stafford, with a
sigh of relief. "Goodr
But when the western train disgorg-
ed its jostling multitude in the Union
depot the following morning Ross Stat
ford, standing close by the iron gates,
found that he had undertaken task of
greater magnitude than he had at the
time imagined. There was such crush
of people, stout and thin, tall and short,
big and little There were children
professions of them. But they all
seemed to belong to the folks who hur-
ried them along. Never glimpse could
he catch of a curly headed little girl
in a gray gown, wearing a hat with
gray feathers. Or was the dress brown?
BY Jove. He wasn't even sure of that.
The last laggard group trickled away.
Ross knew the conductor of the Den
yer train and spoke to him as he came
hurrying along.
"All off your train, Brigham"
"Surep
"There was a little girl coming to
Chicago-had curly hair, blue dress,
q green hat blest if l remember!
Wasn't she onT
''Alone, was she?
Eyes"
"NO, sir. Didn't come. Sure? Course
/ am"
Ross wheeled around. "Well, I'll tel
e9hone the folks that she wasn't on.
Dad can wire her people and find out
/ beg your pardon"
And he suddenly found himself bow
ing profoundly, hat in hand, before
young woman with whom he had al
most cOllided in his haste, a slender
young woman, graceful young wom-
an, lovely young woman, as his sus-
ceptible heart instantly acknowledged.
She accepted his apology with
slight bend of the head and a vivid
blush. Half way up the stairs he
glanced back and saw her standing
where he had left her. He hestated
and went back.
"You are waiting for some one? Can
be of service?"
"Thank your What a sweet voice.
81 am afraid there has been a mistake.
No one has come to meet me. May
ask you to call cabY
And when he had done so, when she
had thanked him, when he stood bare
headed on the curbstone as the vehicle
rolled away, he recollected tnaU ne nau
not listened to the address she had CIV
en- the driver, and he walked off in a
towering rage at his own imbecility.
Never was there so dreary day, al
though the late August sunshine found
it's way into his office; never had the
reading of the law seemed such q dull