The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-04-12
THEIR OLD MAID
COUSIN.
BY W. r. ROSE.

GOO oCCo oCCo oCCo oCCo oG0o oCC
It was bright and cheerful September
morning. but the sunshine that flooded
the world outside was not reflected on the
faces Of May and Margaret Chesman.
They were pretty girls Of IS, but just
now their prettiness was sadly marred by
the unpleasant frowns they wore.
It was oil because of the old maid
cousin who had come from her far west
ern home to visit them, and now, by their
fathers urgent request, was to remain
for IN indefinite time and take charge Of
the Chesman household.
They were motherless girls, these Ches-
man twins, and had known no real re-
straint since their fourteenth year. Nat
urally they were self willed and some
what spoiled, and they resented this in
reference from one whom they consid-
cred stranger. But they took good care
not to show this feeling before their
father. He was stern man when
aroused, as they had discovered on sew
erai unpieasantly remembered occasions
Besides, he seemed to have taken a
strong liking to this old maid cousin. He
was at no pains to conceal this feeling.
In fact, her coming appeared to have
made quite a new man of him. Before
she came he had been absorbed and very
quiet, and sometimes the girls would
hear him walking the floor Of his room
for hours. It was business trouble, the
girls faneied, but they didn't dare to
speak to him concerning It.
And then after Cousin Laura came he
suddenly frightened up and was quite
himself again. Il seemed % have begun
With one evening Ia August when they
found their father m the library earnestly
talking with this cousin with a good
many papers on the library table before
them and their father arguing very ear
nestiy as they paused at the doorway.
They had been to q concert with Mrs.
Jamison, their next door neighbor. and
had Just returned Their father looked
mp and saw them
"Coms IN, girls" he said. land kiss
your cousin Laura and thank her for all
her many kfndnesses." He did not speak
IN his usual calm voice, and the twins
noticed that his face was flushed and his
eyes were unusually bright.
They did as he babe them, Cousin
Laura embracing them tenderfy, but they
wondered at ft an and soreIy resented
the power she seemed to have gained over
thetr father.
Cousin Laura was O handsome woman
Of perhaps FIVE and thirty years, Q WON.
an Of unassuming personality and plain
attire, who bore In her manner a sugges-
ton Of depth Of character and strong
executive ability.
"You are all the relatives have In the
world" said Cousin Laura, as she BEAM
ed upon May and Margaret and then
threw a swift glance at their father, land
we must be very good to one another"
The girls knew that she wasn't even q
first cousin. She was only their fathers
second cousin, and he hadn't seen her for
many years when the letter she had writ
ten from a far distant western mining
town came to announce her purpose Of
making them a visit II agreeable. She
came, and she staid. And all the time
they felt that her influence was gradual
~ bearing them down to a state Of domes-
tic subsection.
And now this particular morning. with
IT'S brightness and its reflected sunshine.
seemed to have brought matters to eli
max.
May udU BOIly 6Appeu AukO tu0 hlIie
writing room that adjoined the library.
but neither Cousin Laura nor her father
knew Of her whereabouts.
"They are lovely girls" May overheard
Cousin Laura say, "but just little spoil
ed and self willed, and I'm sorry to feel
that they don't quite like me. They
show 1t In many ways
Mays fathers voice suddenly grew
harsh.
"Have they been impudent" he quick
" asked.
"No, mol" cried Cousin Laura. 'They
are ladies. / don't think they could be
rude II they tried. But it's q fact that
they do not like me-"
"And why" asked the elder Chesman.
Because" laughed Cousin Laura-"be-
cause they think I'm just a meddlinS old
maid"
Mays father laughed loud and long.
1--WE will presently cure all that" be
said.
May could not hear Cousin Laura's re
Spouse, but her father laughed again, and
then they went away.
May came out unobserved and lightly
ran up stairs to seek her sister.
"sister." she cried. do You know what
IL going on down stairs?"
breakfast" said the more matter Of
fact Margaret.
May frowned heavily, a trick she had
caught from her father.
Don't get maudlin. but listen to me
| Margaret. I accidentally overheard q
conversation between Cousin Laura and
papa IN which they admitted that tht
wedding would take place very soon"
"what weddingT inquired Margaret.
"Papa's and Cousin Laura'sr' groanet
unhappy May.
And II was this dire probability that
drove away the sunshine and cast tht
cloud across the two pretty faces.
It was not q merry breakfast table
Their papa and Cousin Laura talked q
little, and then the maid laid letter OF
Cousin Laura's plate. The twins saw
that Il bore a quick delivery stamp.
There was a little blush on Cousin
I.aura's cheeks as she looked up at thu
head Of the household.
"Certainly," he added. with laugh.
Cousin Laura tore open the envelope
and read the letter. Then her blusi
dsepened. and she smiled at the twins
father.
Today" she said.
"Well, WELL" said the girls father
"this does seem very sudden" And b.
laughed again.
Then the girls softly withdrew from
the table and went away to their owl
room. 1t was all too evident that thei
father again contemplated matrimony
Their designing old maid cousin hat
broken down his resolution to remain sin
gle for the girls sake. What an awfu
woman she was! Could it be that thei
father had grown fond enough OF her t
60 wherever she led him7 Then the.
hofh Ind n good cry