The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-04-12
d suppose she meant by today 2"

you suppose she meant by today"
"P.p-perhaps they are going ito
elop- gasped May.
"I'll run into papa's room and see IL
he has packed anything" cried Margaret
and darted away.
Pretty soon she came back.
"No," she said, nothing Is disturbed.
PApa's valises are both on the high shelf
b his closet, and there's dust on them"
So the girls moped through the morn
Ing, miserable, suspicious, watchful. Aft
er luncheon. Cousin Laura, who was In
excellent spirits. went to her room. say
ing she would be down presently.
Then came ring at the bell. and, the
maids being busy, Margaret hurried to
the door. Perhaps curiosity Quickened
her footsteps.
There was a gentleman In the vesti-
bule, distinguished looking gentleman
with gray beard and very bright black
eyes, q gentleman who raised his hat
and asked for Miss Laura. Then he
added, with a bright smile:
''Is this Miss May or Miss Margaret"
Before the astonished Margaret could
reply there was q quick rustic ON the
stair, and the old maid cousin came fut-
tering down with both hands outstretch-
ed, and the gentleman caught the out
stretched hands In his and, STOPPING,
quickly kissed Cousin Laura full on the
lips.
At this poor scandalized Margaret
beat a hasty retreat, and q little later
she and May talked the astonishing cir
cumstance over. But really they could
make nothing of Il. Cousin Laura's call
er fingered In the parlor. and the girls oc-
casionally caught the hum Of lively con-
versation.
Perhaps" said May. "he's the minis
ter that's come to marry them"
'Do you think sol" groaned Margaret.
"But he seemed 80 affectionate. Well,
we shall soon know"
And just then they heard their father
coming In. He went right into the par
lor, and then the hum Of voices suddenly
grew louder. May and Margaret, sitting
In the library. strained their ears to catch
q word.
"Does It sound like the marriage cere-
mony" gasped May.
"No," replied Margaret, mot yet.
There's too much laughing"
A little later they heard the door open,
and then their father came into the IL
brary.
"Oh. you are here, girlsv' he said. IT
came out to find you. have something
pleasant to tell you. It's about Cousin
Laura" May clutchsd at Margaret's
hand. "Do you know why she came
here? She came to be married" Mar
garet pinched Mays fingers until they
ached. 1--WE are her only relatives, you
know" May stared at Margaret, and
Margaret stared at May. What their IA
theirs last sentence had to do with 1t
they couldn't imagine.
"I've been afraid at times" their father
went on. shat you have failed to appre-
ciate your cousin. want you to under.
stand now that you owe her a debt Of
gratitude. Your cousin h a woman of
wealth and Of unusual business ability.
When she came here, your fathers bust
ness, through an unexpected turn In the
market, was in very bad shape. Your
cousin Laura found this out She exam
lined into my affairs, and when she was
clearly satisfied that they were not en-
tirely hopeless she advanced to me q
large sum OF money and became q silent
partner In the firm. am very glad to
tell you that her money and her advice
have put me back on a solid business
footing. tell you this, my dears, be-
cause want you 10 unoefBC0n0 tnaL al
the respect and regard you can pay your
cousin can never offset the aid she thrust
upon your father in his hour Of trial."
He paused, and the twins gave a little
gasp. There" he went on, shat will do
for that. The gentleman who is with
your cousin In the parlor Ii Senator Lori
mer, who has just returned from abroad.
It Ii the senator whom she Is to marry,
and the wedding will take place here
some day next month. It Ia to be quiet
wedding, but there will be q number Of
out Of town guests, and your cousin will
need all the help you can give her. One
thing more. They will take q wedding
Journey to the Pacific coast and then go
at once to Washington, and Cousin Lau-
"a wants you girls to come and spend the
winter with her In the new home the
senator In fitting mp. That's all, my
dears." their father concluded. "And
now come into the parlor and be pre-
scented to your prospective relative"
He stepped into the hall. but the twins
hung back.
"Let me take your handkerchief" whis-
pered May.
'T can't" shifted Margaret. "I'm using
it"-Cleveland Plain Dealer.