The Republican journal., 1903-07-16
nus w1FE's COUSIN.

for Washington.
She had the chair Immediately in
front of that of the Washington man,
and after he had studied the back OF
her head for a while he reached the
conclusion that her back hair was OF an
uncommonly fine chestnut tint.
Presently she tried to raise the win
dow at her side, the car being warm:
The window stuck, of course, and
equally of course the Washington man
was glad that it stuck. 1t permitted
him to execute his little "Pray allow
me- stunt.
Then he observed that her teeth were
exceptionally fine when she smiled,
that her eyes were of haunting brown
land not without a twinkle in them,
and that her complexion was we'll
nigh perfect olive. For the rest, he
concluded that she was from twenty
six to twenty-nine, Say-and 1t was
plain that she was travelling quite
alone.
THAT does not make draught on
YOU. does it," he asked her sollcltously,
after opening the window for her.
"Bv no means,' she replied, amlably,
partly wheeling her chair in his dlrec-
ton. "Unless it makes too much breeze
for you:' she added inquiringly,. My
SELF she went on, Il am almost
fresh air crank.
..Better to err in that respect than
the other way" he said, with a grisly
attempt at pun-and so they gov w
ronyersing. He told her that he was
clad to find one woman who was fond
of plenty of fresh air-most women, IN
L martial 10 SGnfflF
ness.
And so. before the train was much
more than ten miles away from Char
,lorte she had her chair wheeled ali the
way around and they were on very
agreeable and chatty terms: When
first call for dinner was passed he very
POLITELY asked her would she honor him
by taking dinner in his company, ana,
with graciousness eQualllng his grandl-
loouence. she consented to 40 so.
/ guess maybe I'm an old chestnut
and walltower and shelved PROPOSE,
ton in general, if l am forty he SAID
to himself. with a snort OF mental
preening, as he led the way to the DIN.
ing car. Then be added, with sort OF
gulp. "Forty-and married.
1t was a very pleasant dinner, WIN
the train bounding past the rest1ul,
sleepv-looking little southern towns
and the sun-swept woods and fields.
He suggested that perhaps she would
like-er-iust little pint of the spark
inp-er-that is to say, if she felt that
-er-
..Oh. no." she interrupted with her
winning smile that showed her perfect
teeth. II never take anything, you
know. except at home, and very rarely
then. 70
The Washington man said to himself
that he rather admired woman who
didn't drink.
women who invariably Jump at the
chance to imbibe champagne are rather
bore, | think" is the way he framed
the thought to himself,
\ portlv man and his portller wife
and four tat children entered the ain
ing car. 49,, 1.-Two
Washington man. DO you:
Crazy over en- he replied.
" on are marmed?' she asked HIM,
with delicious uplifting of the broWs.
Now, noW-be nice, be nee he re-
piled, shaking an arch and Warnlngtul
f0rehnger at her-and the subject was
changed. Oh. it takes the man of forty
ana ma IIItu--lo l)ttu w elIN SNii''ii'N
article III the way OF archness.
When il came to paying for the dim
ner, she politely, but firmly insisted
nnon paving tor her own, Whereupon
tie man from Washington tried to
look abused.
The remainder of the ride was just as
delightful as the beginning had been
for the Washington man.
wac l,ct fine bpUlnnlDU of TWILIGHT
when the train pulled into the station
in WASHINGTON. He bundled Der traps
together for her and carried them to
the cab stanQ outside the ladies' Walt-
ing room.
"Well?" he said to her, admlrlng the
way her brown travelling veil blew
around her winsome face.
We'll, George, you know where you
live, don't you?" she said to HIM, laugh
ing outright.
"George."' he exclaimed, stunned and
hoarse.
George" she repeated, with a rip
ping contirmatory laugh, "Cousin-in-
law George. Please don't look so alb
surdly surprised, or | shall become by
sterical," and she went into another peal
OF musical laughter. ~ GU know, L
have at least a dozen photographs OF
you ana Gertrude"
He had to swallow quite number OF
times before he was able to murmur, in
weak. tiaccid sort of tone:
Then you are my wife's Chattanooga
cousin. Helen and | didn't know it,,
Miss Sly-boot-and you knew l was
Gertrude's husband ali the time-and
you are on a visit to us-how de do,
how de do
He looked very foolish indeed, did
this Washington man.
On the way to his home in the han
som he cleared his throat a number OF
times, and then he said to her:
''Er- by the way, Cousin Helen, If L
were you l wouldn't say anything to
Gertrude about-er-you know-my
not cognizing-er-say, you played 1t
low down on me, you know-1 wish we
had as many photographs of you as you
have of us and I'd never have-but-er
there's no need of Gertrude being
told of how-y' understand, don't you:''
and he gfinned foolishly again.
why, certainly | understand, Cousin
George she treasured him, but she
went into another peal of laughter that
was mighty unconvincing
This happened several day ago. The
Washington man is now wondering
what the occasion is of the half-amus-
ed, half-reproachful glances which he
sometimes finds his wife bestoWing
upon him since the arrival on the same