The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-29
THEIR OLD MAID
COUSIN.
BY w. R. ROSE.
'0o oGGo o0So o0oo oGSo oSSo oc


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 prcttiness was sadly married by
the unpleasant frowns they WORE
1t was all 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 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 We're self willcd and some
what spoiled, and they resented this in
reference from one whom they consid-
cred a stranger. But they took good care
not to show this feeling before their
father lie 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 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, "and 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 tcndcry. but they
the power she seemed to have gained over
their father
Cousin Laura was a handsome woman
of perhaps five and thirty years. a wom-
an of unassuming personality and plain
attire, who bore in her manner a sugses-
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 swift glance mt their father, "and
We must be very good to one another"
The girls knew that she wasn't even n
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 n far distant western mining
town came to announce her purpose Of
making them a visit if agreeable She
came, and She staid. And all the time
they felt that her influence was gradual
ly bearing them down to a state of domcs-
tic subsection.
And now this particular morning, with
its brightness and its reflected sunshine,
seemed 20 have brought matters to eli
max.
May had softly slipped into the little
writing room that adioincd 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
cd 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.
"Havc they been impudcnt?" he quick
ly asked.
mo, no." cried Cousin Laura. They
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 mcddling old
maid"
Mays father laughed loud and long.
I'VE 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 unobscrved and lightly
ran up stairs to seek her sister.
SISTER" she cried, do you know what
is going on down stairs?"
"Broakfast," said the more matter of
fact Margaret.
May frowncd heavily, trick she had
caught from her father.
Don't get maudIin. but listen to me,
Margaret. ! accidentally overheard a
conversation between Cousin Laura and
&, II, OIL 81, Z
wedding would take place very soon"
"What weddingY inquired Margaret
"Papa's 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
little, and then the maid laid letter on
Cousin Laura's plate. The twins saw
that it bore a quick delivery stamp.
There was a little blush on Cousin
Laura's checks as she looked up at the
head of the household.
Certainly" he added, with laugh.
Cousin Laura tore open the envelope
and read the letter. Then her blush
aeepeneG, and she smiled at the twins
father.
To-day" she said.
"Wel, WELL" said the girls father,
''this does seem very sudden" And he
laughed again.
Then the girls softly withdrew from
the table and went away to their own
ROOM 1t was all too evident that their
father again contemplated matrimony.
Their designing old maid cousin had