The Republican journal., 1901-02-14
A COUNTRY COUSIN.

AOSSSAs
office Anyhow, it's from my cousin.
Godfrey Chester -'
Now, Henry" interrupted the mild
postulation. "Why will you keep up
that fiction about the cousinship? 1t is
mythical, and you know it!'
Its certainly remote" conceded the
beaming pater familias at the opposite
end of the table, but there once was a
relationships long time ago, admit.
But Chester and have taken the world
as we found it. He's good fellow and
I've always been urging him to manage
that our young people may become
acquainted. He writes that his daugh-
ter 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 family 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-headed little girl, in gray gown
and a hat with gray feathers. She's a
nice child, and Pll be glad to have her
meet your youngsters There
"a child" groaned Ralph, who was
% and studious.
He swallowed his cafe noir at gulp
and rose disgustedly.
youngsters, indeed" cried Dick dis
dainfully. Does he take us for kinder
gartners?'
Ross, who was the eldest, smiled in
quite a superior and disinterested
fashion. He boasted a tlourishing NOUS
tache. He was studying law, the subject
had no interest for him.
'Eh, but one of you must meet the
childr' cried the head of the house.
You'll go, Ralph?"
Cant, sir Pm doing an article on
the architecture of the tenth century.
1t takes lot of research. I'll be all
the morning in the Newberry library -
Henry Stafford, huge of girth, roseate
of visage and twinkling of eye, turned
his harvest moon face imploringly to-
ward his youngest son.
''You, Dick?"
''Got a golf match on. Can't make it,
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 a comparatively small town. She
would be quite bewildered were she to
find herself alone in Chicago. Besides,
I'm under several obligations to Chester
in business way" He sent the good
looking young fellow with the NOUS
tache an appealing glance.
Il wonder now. Ross, it 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. ''Good,'
But when the Western train disgorg-
ed it's jostling multitude in the Union
depot the following morning Ross Stat
ford standing close by the iron gates,
found that he had undertaken task of
greater magnitude than he had at the
time imagined. There was such a crush
of people stout and thin, tall and short,
big and little. There We're children
professions of them. But they all SEEM
ed to belong to the folks who hurried
them along. Never glimpse could he
catch of curly-headed little girl in a
gray gown, wearing a hat with gray
feathers. Or-was the dress brown?
By Jove He wasn't even sure of that.
The last laggard group trickled away.
Ross knew the conductor of the Denver
train-spoke to him as he came hurry
ing along.
''All off your train, Brigham?"
Sure"
There was a little girl coming to
Chicago-had curly hair-a blue dress
"a green hat-blest if l remember.
Wasn't she on?"
Alone, was she:''
Yes
NO, sir. Didn't come. Sure? Course
am
Ross wheeled around.
"Well, I'll telephone 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 almost
collided in his haste, slender young
woman, graceful young woman, a
lovely young woman, as his susceptible
heart instantly acknowledged.
She accepted his apology with slight
bend of the head-a vivid blush. Half
way up the stairs he glanced back saw
her standing where he had left her. He
hesitated-went back
you are waiting for some one? Can
/ be of Service?"
Thank you" Ye gods, what sweet
voice. II am afraid there has been a
mistake. NO one mas 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
given to the driver, and he walked off
in towering rage at his own imbecili-
ty.
Never was there so dreary a day, al
though the late August sunshine found
its way into his office. Never had the
reading of the law seemed such dull
and tiresome drudgery. Never before
had the pages blurred into a mass of
meaningless black marks. But, then
never before had bewitching young
face come between him and his books,
face with reddish-gold ringlets clus,
tering around white forehead, and shy
eyes the color Of woodland violets!
He leaped from his seat as bright
thought struck him. He would hunt
up the cabman. That was the thing to
do. But although he hung around the
Union depot for two whole hours, and
questioned every jehu within reach, he
could not find the man he sought. 1t
was evidently that particular claimants
busy day.
Tired and disgusted, Ross Stafford