Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-10-29
A COUNTRY COUSIN
She Came and Saw and Conquered.

hluSeu III an luutE poChct.
"Can't 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 cousnship? 1t is
mythical, and you know itT'
"It's certainly remote" conceded the
beamlng paterfamillas at the opposite
end of the table, ''but there once was
relationships long time ago, l ad-
init. But Chester and I have traced
back until we found 1t. He's 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 a curly head
ed little girl in gray gown and hat
with gray feathers. She's nice child,
and I'll be glad to have her meet your
youngsters. There"
"a chlldw groaned Ralph, who was
20 and studious.
He swallowed his cafe noir at gulp
and rose disgustedly.
youngsters, indeed" cried Dick dis
dainfully. "Does he take us for kin
dergartners?"
Ross, who was the eldest, smiled in
quite superior and disinterested fash
ion. He boasted fourishins mus
tache. He was studying law. Plainly
the subject had no interest for him.
"But one of you must meet the
childr' cried the head Of the house.
you'll go, RalphY'
Cant, sir. Pm doing an article on
the architecture Of the tenth century.
1t takes a lot of research. I'll 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,
lYou, Dick?"
"Got golf match on. Can't make 1t,
SIR"
"Dear, dear! If your sister were only
at 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 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
glance
II wonder now, Ross, II you
Ross laughed leniently. "You poor,
perplexed old chap! Yes, I'll see that
the child gets here all right"
"Good!' said Henry Stafford, with a
sigh of relief. "Goodv'
But when the western train disgorg-
ed its jostling multitude in the Union
depot the following morning Ross Staf-
ford, standing close by the iron gates,
found that ne 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 gray gown, wearing n hat with
gray feathers. Or was the dress brown?
BY Jtve! 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 of your train. Brigham"
"Surey'
"Tbere was a little girl coming to
Chicago-had curly hair, blue dress,
green hat - blest IL remember!
Wasn't she on?"
"Alone, was she?"
Eyes"
No, sir. Didn't come. SureF Course
am"
Ross wheeled around. "Well, I'll tel
ephone 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 a
young woman with whom he had al
most colllded in his haste. slender
young woman, a graceful young vom-
an, a lovely young woman, as his sus-
ceptible heart instantly acknowledged.
She accepted his apology with a
slight bend of the head and vivid
blush. Half way up the stairs he
glanced back and saw her standing
where he had left ber. He hesitated
and went back.
"You are waiting for some one? Can
! be OF servlce?"
! 'Thank your What sweet voice.
II am afraid there has been mistake,
No one has come to meet me. May
ask you to call cab?"
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 that he had
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 u day, al
though the late August sunshine found
its way into his office; never had the
reading of the law seemed such dull
aud tlresome drudgery; never before
had the pages rrrred into mass OF
meaningless black marks, but, then
never before bad u bewitching young
face come between him and his books
~ 4.