The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-01-24
HER COUSIN IDA
\ By Mrs. Moses P. Handy. B
Copyright, 1900, the Authors syndicate)
"VXTELL, Abby, Ida will be here
w nextweek; she wants me to take

w nextweek; she wants me to take
her to board for a SPELL"
Abby Merrill walked across the
room, sat down, and began to knit,
before she answered.: "Why? 1t isn't
summer"
"No, but her father and Mrs. STAN
ton are going to Seattle, and Ida
don't want to take the trip. I have
an idea she is not any too fond of her
stepmother. Anyhow, she wants to
stay here until they come back"
her" >
Mrs. Merrill looked at her daugh-
ter in establishment. "Of course!
Have you anything against it? I
thought you would be delighted.
You didn't want to let her out of
your sight when she was here two
years back. For my part, I'm glad
she's coming. She is such good COM
pany, and she never gives a mite of
trouble, just fits in, and is always
ready to help. It isn't every girl
who has been used to the best of
everything, like Ida, who would be
so fond of her country kinfolks."
"T'm sure, mother, her mother was
your own first cousin"
eyes, but some girls wouldn't like
me any better for that. To be sure,
we are not to say poor, but we are
different to the fine folks Ida goes
with in town."
"Yes," assented Abby, "I suppose
we are. But 1 don't know why you
think I mind her coming. I just
thought it queer"
To tell the truth, Abby Merrill did
not share her mothers satisfaction
in the expected arrival. She admired
her cousin extravagantly, and it was
for hat very reason that, just now
she would have preferred that she
should stay away. Abby understood
perfectly hat she was overshadowed
by her brilliant cousin. Ida Stanton
was unusually pretty, she had had
every advantage of education anc
travel; moreover, she was clever, anc
possessed of personal magnetism il
q high degree. Abby dreaded he1
coming; how much she did not wan
her mother to know. For the CIR
was in love, and believed her affec
ton returned, although no vows hat
passed between her and her lover
There was a new minister at Mer
rills Corner, young, unmarried, ant
in Abby's eyes altogether lovely. HI
liked her better than any other CIR
in the congregation, she was sure o
that. But Cousin Ida was coming
and how could any man fail to fa1
in love with her? "I wouldn't mind,
poor Abby said to herself, eff ther'
was n chance that, she would fal
in love with him. But she won't, sh'
will just break his heart, and maxi
him miserable. I always feel like
sparrow by the side of an oriole whel
I am with Cousin Ida, and I dom
suppose Mr.. Kirkland will look at m,
while she is here"
Ida Stanton was really fond of he!
cousins. She was a born fiirt ant
held all men as her legitimate prey
but she would not have hurt Abb,
for a great thing, still less a small
one. When Mr.. Kirkland called sool
after her arrival, she welcomed hin
as something superior to the youns
farmers whom she expected to meet
However. her long-lashed. hazel-gra.
eyes were quick to see, and Abby
blush and look of apprehension en-
lightened her instantly. Glands off,
she said to herself, and gave he:
whole attention to the shawl which
she was knitting for her cousin Jane
Nevertheless, she was conscious tina
the minister looked, not once, blu
many times, in her direction, al
though, like a good little girl, sh,
spoke only when she was spoken to
Was it her fault that Mr.. kirkland
thought her voice one of the sweet
est he had ever heard, and listene'
intently to the few words which sh
spoke during his visit? When he left
his visions were not of Abby's child
like blue eyes, but of hazel ones
yelled by long lashes, and of sin
white fingers fitting among meshe
of crimson wool.
When he called again, matters wer
even worse. Mr.. Merrill was at home
and, intent upon entertaining tn
minister, he insisted that Ida shoul
sing and play. 1t was impossible TO
her to refuse, and her voice simpl,
entranced Arthur Kirkland. He wa
p~assionately fond of music, and Ida
was of a kind which he rarely heard
"You will join our choir, won
you, Miss Stanton?" he begged.
But Ida smiled a negative. II
would hardly be worth while for tn
short time I shall be here; but I al
ways sing in church, where there i
congregational singing"
1t was all up with the reverend
Arthur Kirkland from that tim
forth. 1t was useless for Ida to en-
deavor not to attract him. Besides
Miss Stanton reckoned without he;
host. The reverend Arthur was &C
customed to be admired, not to sa.
pursued; her Indifference piqued him
and made him all the more attentive
Not that she gave him much chanc
for attention. On the contrary, sh'
handed him over to Abby, ostenta
tiously, upon all occasions. His visit
to the Merrills became more frequent
and the whole neighborhood settles
it that he was going to marry Abby
No one dreamed of Ida except tina
young woman herself, and Abby, VIII
III Il tHEalsssa t5as f#.- i s gs,ss II ass ssHs, -,