Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-11-26
DR.. MelviIIe's Country Cousin.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

| DIR. Melville, or Dan Melville" SIS he
was more Familiarity known among his
intimate associates, had hung cat his
sign and opened an office. TO be sure,
the sign was painfully fresh and bright.
put then Dan was also fresh-from med
icaI college. There was fair promise thar
both sign and doctor would in time be-
| come battered ana worn. Dan was some.
what fastldious, not to say extravagant,
III MS tastes; something of a cynic re-
Sardlng women-or thought he was-and
mad declared his deliberate intention to
marry, If marry he ever should, for
money. Dams people were fairly we'll
to-do, owned nice city residence, anil
| a pretty country home, where they spent
the summers, or at least his lady mother
ana MS handsome, stylish sister spent
the hot months there. Dan did not re-
member of his father ever taking a run
to the lakeside home except at rare in
terYals, and then only to stay over Sur
day. Dams father was Il very busy
man. Whether Dan would be as busy n
one or not, time would tell
just now, however, the whole family
was stirred up, so to speak, by the fact
mat the head of the house had asserted
ms authority by inviting Jonas Graves
and his wife and daughter to the city -
ENJOY Thanksgiving dinner. 1t was q
most ridiculous thing to do, so declared
Mrs. Melville and Agnes Melville. ana
| even Dan, who seldom entered into do
meStic discussions, indOlently acuuidseed
that 1t was rather absurd to bring our
country cousins here mt this season of
thankfuihess fer ali good gifts" Wheth-
| er there was note OF sarcasm in hia
remark or not, no one but Agnes WON
dered. They all knew that Dan had
some oddly democratic views. inherited
from his father" Mrs. Melville said. but
she could hardly fancy that her tall.
handsome son could really sympathize
with his father in wanting to bring II
party of ill-bred country people into the
house when she had planned for seIecs
dinner party.
"A family dinner party, too, Martin
| Melville" she said, almost in tears at.
the prospect. And here you have gone
and asked those horrid people who don't
know enough to eat with the forks -''
Nor which SPOON" interrupted Dan,
lazily, from his side of the table, for they
were at dinner. Mrs. Melville glanced
susplei0usly at her son, but he was look
ing earnestly at the glistening silver in
the, shape of spoons, which lined off grad
ualiy beside his plate.
1t is because it is family affair that
determined for once to have my side of
the house represented" said Mr. Melville,
mildly but firmly.
For once. indeed!' cried his wife.
One would think that you never had
any rights in your own house."
YES. one would think that" MUIR
INJURED the doctor, now toying with one of
the spoons, presumably the one designed
| ior the soup. His mother paid no atten-
ton. but continued:
I'D like to know if you didn't have
those same Graves people here two whole
days once at New Years time?"
Yes, l remember | did" was the re-
ply. 1T was some eleven years ago if
| remember rightly"
Yes. and that ill-bred little Sue cut M
all sorts of FRANKS. Say, Martin, do YOU
remember what a mischieyous child she
wasp
We'll, yes, believe she did appear at
| table one evening arrayed in your best
bonnet that she had stolen out of its box,
and Il few like didos; but she is a Young
lady now, must he nearly 20. She will
doubtless behave better; and anyway Jo-
mas Graves is my own cousin and the
only relative | have left, and | have in
ylted him and his wife and daughter here
Tor THANKSGIVING, and | shall expect them
to be treated in polite and cordial man
her,. | trust you all understand what |
say"
Wnen Mr. Melville spoke in that stern
voice. which tone never developed cXccnt
wherein he must either assert himself or
'craWiish,' as Dan called it, the family
were silcnced. The soup was served. and
eaten without further comment. An ex-
preston Of resignation on Mrs MclyiIlo's
race did not tend to make it more youth
full, and a slight curl of Agnes red Inns
dld not add to her beauty. Only Dan
seemed indifferent to the situation He
had some faint recollection of his cousin
Sue, some few years his junior, and that
she used to frequently remind him that
he was "only her second cousin ANYWAY
and positively must not tease her. AS
ne remembered. she was quite capable of
doing any amount of teasing herself. 4
oroWn-eyed little elf. full of spirit, and
forever wanting to fuss about ut some
KIND Of houScwork, preferably cooking.
Cutie an uncommon trait. as the mod
ern young woman goes" said Dan, not
realizing he was thinking aloud. The
rest of the family looked at him in sur.
prise. Dan actually looked discounted
"ENcuSe me-" he muttered. Il was
thinking ct MI important case am treat
ing and abSeDtly spoke aloud" He in.
i'rred from the silence that followed that
he WAS excused
Meantime his mother was allowing her
fancy 10 conjure up Il most wretched pic-
ture of the coming Thanksgiving. Sho
had sent invitations, elegantly engraved
upon satin paper, 60 her own sister who
had married a rich broker; TO a wealthy
GA aunt whom She was trying. Tor rea- |
sons obvious To others. To please: IN her
Step-mothcr. who still held possession Of |
much of the family wealth, but who was
now growing plenty old enough Ia die
ANA to couple of cousins who moved in |
good society. although not hurdened with |
this worlds possessions. Mrs. NelyiIle |
prided herself that she had no relatives |
VINO were ignorant Of the ways of the /
Worid, noce of whom she could be- |
ashamed as she was sure 10 no of y,,sS
Graves and his pisia. homeSpun wife /
and their hoydeniSh daughter Sue. And |
this pleasant dinner party was to he |
spoiled hy these ignorant country folk. |