Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-10
100000 COCO ocoo ocoo ocoo OK
THEIR OLD MAID
COUSIN.
BY W. R. ROSE.

Coo oCSo oCCo oCCo oCCo oc0o oCC
1t was a 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.
1t was all because of the old maid
cousin who had come from her far west
fathers urgent request, was to remain
for an 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
eral unpleasantly remembered occasions
Besides, he seemed to have taken
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. 1t was business trouble, the
girls fancied 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. 1t seemed to have begun
with one evening in August when they
found their father in the library earnestly
talking with this cousin with a good
many papers on the library table before
them and their father arguing very ear
nestly as they paused at the doorway.
They had been to a concert with Mrs.
Jamison, their next door neighbor, and
had Just returned. Their father looked
up and saw them.
Come in, girls" he said, land kiss
your cousin Laura and thank her for all
her many kindnesses." 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 tenderly, but they
wondered at it all and sorely resented
the power she seemed to have gained over
their father.
Cousin Laura was handsome woman
of perhaps five and thirty years, wom-
an of unassuming personality and plain
attire, who bore in her manner 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, "and
we must be very good to one another"
The girls knew that she wasn't even a
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 far distant western mining
town came to announce her purpose of
making them a visit il agreeable. She
came, and she staid. And all the time
they felt that her influence was gradual
ly bearing them down to state Of domes-
tic subsection.
And now this particular morning. with
its brightness and its reflected sunshine,
seemed to have brought matters to eli
max.
May had softly slipped into the little
writing room that adjoined the library,
Dul uellHeT SOuSiu Laura uOI AeE ldLutE
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 it in many ways"
Mays fathers voice suddenly grew
harsh.
''Have they been impudent?" he quick
ly asked.
"No, nop' cried Cousin Laura. ."rhey
are ladies. / don't think they could be
rude if they tried. But it's 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 meddling old
maid"
Mays father laughed loud and long.
"We will presently cure all that" he
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
is 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. ] accidentally overheard a
conversation between Cousin Laura and
papa in which they admitted that the
wedding would take place very socn."
"What weddingY" inquired Margaret.
"Papas and Cousin Laura's" groaned
unhappy May.
And it was this dire probability that
drove away the sunshine and cast the
cloud across the two pretty faces.
1t was not merry breakfast table.
Their papa and Cousin Laura talked a
little, and then the maid laid letter on
Cousin Laura's plate. The twins saw
that it bore a quick delivery stamp.
There was q little blush on Cousin