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

UlNLAfLs aAAA-
have to tell him about Miss about
Nancy
Nj Richards face flushed quickly.
eve said before. mother. that | ex-
pect Uncle Alexander 10 mind his own
affairs" he remarked in Ominous tones
Il am Indebted 10 him in no way. and
I don't mean 10 be. Did | ever ask
him for any Of his money: Who con
stiruted him my guardian
Il am sure that your Uncle Charles
and did what was right about-about
Nancy" said the widow, who seemed
always To have a little struggle in call
ing Miss NARROW by her Christian
name. but | know all the same that
your Uncle Alexander will be very an
CRY, and you know how stormy and
passionate he is
Look here, mother" Mr.. Richard
said definitely. Il want you 10 under
stand this: | am not going TO allow In
Gle Alexander TO worry you about Nan
cy or upon any other subject II ne
has anything TO say. let him say it to
Inc. anu Tie SAl4A nslNN ne - @1NN
il | find him beginning to bully you
shall show him the way 10 the door. !
suppose you may live all your life in
China and yet not have forgotten how
TO take hint"
Alas, when Uncle Alexander arrived
at Woodend, accompanied by a tall,
handsome and bright looking young
lady, who appeared TO take possession
of the VIII e house in a bewildering
sort of wa, he was in no truculent
mood. He vas a complete wreck, he
declared. The long voyage had shat
tered him; the rattling across France
had still further destroyed his nerves;
his consolation now was that he could
lay his bones TO rest in his native land.
II is true that as Mr. Richard watched
the performance of this big, heavy, bill
ious compleyioned man at luncheon he
was of opinion that for moribund
| person he possessed a remarkably
brave appetite. His narrowing descrip-
| ton of the sensations he suffered dur
4 ing the wakeful hours of night did
not interfere with his large consump-
ton of steak and kidney pie, and by
| the time that cheese and celery were
produced he had got through the best
part of decanter of old Madeira. He
had been growing more and more ST.
| lent, however, as the repast proceeded,
and when all rose from table he said
| he would retire to his own room and
| lie down for awhile, as he found that
a nap after lunch had a soothing eff
feet on his nervous system.
And here were mother and son with
this strange young lady left on their
hands. But the strange young lady
was in nowise disconnected.
"Well, cousin" she said gayly as
she turned to Mr.. Richard, "are you
coming to show me over the curiosi-
ties Of Stratford? l suppose | may
call myself an English woman, and an
| English woman ought to know some
thing of Standardization. How far
is it in to the town, pleaseT
"a little over a couple of miles," said
he. But | will drive you in, il you
like"
''Oh, thanks. That will be capital"
| said she. "You can tell me when the
carriage is ready. | shall be in the
drawing room with Aunt Cecilia" And
Herewith she quite naturally and af'
fectionately put her hand within the
widows arm and led her away with
her.
In less than half an hour thereafter
Mr.. Richard found himself seated next
this light hearted cousin Of his, who
had begged him to give her the reins
1t was a pleasant afternoon. The snow
had altogether disappeared from the
countryside now. There were mild
airs blowing, and touch of sunlight
here and there. A feeling of spring
was abroad.
I'm awfuly fond of driving" sale
she. "And driving through an English
landscape in the springtime-what car
be better than that"
"Ill have the pony chaise brought
round for you every morning, If you
like, Miss Kingston" he remarked.
Miss kingston she exclaimed, will
an audacious smile. "Well, well! Why
my name is Floss, and am your cous
in. Can't you put these two together
and give me nicer name than Mis-
Kingston? I am going to call you
Cousin Dick. You see," she continued
giving the reins a shake to wake up
| tho old feripl c,1I, cd 4
such formalities and conventionalisms
in ordinarily talking to gentlemen that
where there is a chance of little ia
miliarity it is quite delightful. Cousin
Dick sounds all right, doesn't it?'
yves" said he. He was thinking
of poor little Nanciebel and her shy
ways, and he was hoping that Kate
NARROW might not see him and this
dashing cousin of his if they had occa
sion to drive along the High street.
When they got into Stratford, how
ever, he put up the horse and trap a
the stables belonging to hotel where
he was known, and thereafter they con
tinued their peregrinations on foot. Blu
first of all Cousin Floss paused at i;
milliner's window and looked in.
"Will you wait for me-" said she, 90
come in and sit down? I'm going t.
buy some little things for your mothe
to break up the unreleved black of he
mourning. Why, it isn't at all called
for, and it is the greater pity in he
case, for she is comparatively youn,
woman and very nice looking, and VIII,
should she wear nothing but black? o
course widow will protest and ma,
even think you cruel, but you have onl
to talk a little common sense and b
firm, and you'll see if don't get some