Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-08-22

little relnOTstlul, anu us N'iNA' ''"
suddenly assumed the shape of n re
solve TO go TO Cousin Floss and tell her
all about his engagement to NanciebeL
He did not stay TO ask why that should
be considered as making amends TO
Nancy. He only felt that he Was some
how called upon to tell the whole truth;
then Florence could think of him as
she pleased. Was il not due to poor
Nanciebel? Why should she be is
nored amid all these gayeties and dis
fractions? She had her rights ana
she had not been too eXacting. Her
last letter had been piteous rather than
petulant and quarrelsome.
But this proved to be terrible busi-
ness. He chose an opportunity when
Cousin Floss had gone out into the
garden to have look at the spring
blossoms or perchance TO survey with
feminine curiosity the backs of the art
lists houses across the low brick walls
When he overlook her. she was appar
emily busy with snowdrops and prim
roses and daffodils, and she was SO
good natured as to pick for him pur
pie crocus and even to fix it into the
lapel of his coat. How could he refuse
this simple kindness? He was not a
boor. Nevertheless in about twenty
minutes or so he and she and the lit.
tie widow were to set out for the pri-
vate view of certain picture gallery,
where they would most likely meet
such people as they knew, and he
would be wearing Cousin Floss flower
in his buttonhoe. Was he going about
with her. then, under false pretenses:
The confession had become all the
more imperative.
But how was he to begin?
Cousin" said he, with a most un
usual hesitation, for under her skillfu
tuition he had come to address her il
the most frank and open and uncon
ventional manner, Ibid my mother ever
speak to u-about-about-a Miss
Marlow?"
She noticed his embarrassment in
stantly.
"Why, no" she said in some surprise
"Miss MARROW? No, l don't think ]
ever heard the name. Who is she?"
How could he explain? He wished
that Cousin Floss had not such cleal
eyes and mouth so ready to smile.
"At present." he went on in rather o
stammering fashion, "she-she is living
with my Uncle Charles at Bristol-at
the vicarage near Bristol"
Cousin Floss laughed. 1.-THE govern
ess?" she said.
mo, no; but have something to tel
you about her. l think ought to tel
you, for sooner or later you will heal
of it," he continued. And he was blush.
ing like schoolgirl because Cousir
Floss was evidently amused by his
tmidity. 81 thought the mater would
have told YOU
All of sudden Miss Florence put
her hand within his arm in the most
friendly way and thereby intimated
that she wished him to pace up and
down the garden path with her.
cousin Dick" she protested, 81
won't hear word. l know what you've
got to tell me, and | can see how it
vexes you, but 1 will spare you tile
confession. Oh, don't | know what
dreadful flirts young men are! Don't
know? But they can't help it, the poor
dears, and / am always ready to for.
give use-because-well, be-
cause there are sometimes girls wicked
enough to lead them on and pretend
they enjoy it too! Cousin Dick, why
should you tell me-do you think it
would be newsW
ooh, but you're quite mistaken Flor
ence," he exclaimed-"quite mistaken!
assure you she is not the kind of girl
to amuse herself in that way at alp
"Oh, simple innocent, is she?' said
Cousin Floss, with another little bit of
laugh. Eyes, they sometimes look
like that-sometimes it is part of the
game-with the clever ones
"Oh, but really
ooh, but really" she repeated, with
the most obvious good nature, 81 won't
hear another word! l won't, indeed,
Cousin Dick! Do you think | don't
understand? You see, my dear cousin,
girl who has lived good part of her
life in India and still longer time in
China and knows what voyage in a
P. and o. ship is like-well she isn't
quite a baby, you know, not quite a
baby, and if you were to begin with
your confessions I might have to be-
gin with mine, and wouldn't that be
mutually awkward? l wish you had
seen young aid-de-camp, a Captain
Webster, who came on board this last
trip at Alden and remained with us as
far as Suez. He was dear, and that's
fact. But papa didn't seem to see
much in him. Papas never do see any
thing in young men who have pretty
mustache, but no income to speak Of.
So, you understand, cousin, l might
have story or two to tell as well as
you, and l shouldn't like it, for blush
ing doesn't become me. Besides, it is
let bygones be bygones. No, you need
not interrupt, Cousin Dick. / won't
hear another word from you, not a
word. We will both let bygones be
bygones. tell you, it's safer"
And as Mrs. Kingston appeared at
this moment at the French window
and called to them what could he do
He gave up the hope of explaining to
his cousin. He went to the private
view, wearing the flower she had CIV
en- him. And If any one drew infer
ences from his being constantly seen
with her-well, how could he help that?
In due course Of time the visit Of
Mrs. Kingston and her son to their
London relatives came to an end, and
they returned to their Warwickshire