The Yale expositor., 1905-07-21
THE AMERICAN COUSIN

ly, something is wrong-very wrong
I don't like the way things are drifting
at all. This stranger, OF whom we
know nothing-this man with the com.
monplace name John Jones-is going
to make fool of you. You know
that by arrangement with your uncle
IN America you are promised to his
son, your cousin, who may be here any
day to claim you. What happened last
night at the gardenT
well, father, / couldn't help IT, II
was this way: Mr.. Jones, / and the
others were sitting quietly listening tc
the music when one of party Of Off.
GERS who were drinking heavily at the
next table ogled me and finally, rails.
ing his glass, drank TO me. Mr.. Jones,
who saw him do it, tossed his card on
10 the table before him, then paid no
further attention to him. Soon after
we left the garden"
Eyes, and there will be meeting.
you Will be defended by this-this John
Jones, and what girl can have a man
Eight for her protection and not fall
m love with hlm?"
"But, father. has not our cousin
slighted us? lie has been at the uni
verslty all this time and has never
been to see u.s."
students at Bonn are not supposed
to go gaddng. They are there to
sfudy."
Herr Fleischman stormed and cursed
the day when the Englishman came to
town, and his daughter went to her
room in tears. She knew that Mr..
Jones would meet the man who had
tpsulted her, and she had not heard
that the former was expert with any
weapon. She also realized the truth of
her fathers words. She had liked Mr.
Jones, but till his life was periled in
her defense she did not know that she
loved him.
Nothing was heard of Mr.. Jones till
the next afternoon, when Bertha was
overjoyed to see him come sailing UP
The street as though nothing had hap
pened. But it was evident that some
thing had happened, for he wore his
arm In n sling.
Thank heaven" exclaimed Bertha
as he Joined her, you are not killed.
hope you have not killed the other."
mo, but he will be in bed long
enough to think over his mistake in in
sulting n lady"
"Oh, Mr.. Jones, how can I thank
youE"
you don't need to thank me. l only |
did what any gentleman would have |
done under the circumstances"
''Do tell me some way by which / can |
show my appreciation of your kind |
ness-the risk you have taken for me"
There Is but one way" he said, low
ering his voice, land that cannot be-"
Name it, she replied, knowing what |
II was without his telling her.
Your father has told me of your
American cousin"
Bertha knew that this was a declara-
ton. She lowered her eyes. "WellT .
she said softly.
1.-TWO persons cannot possess the /
same gem"
Il wish my American cousin were at
the bottom Of the sea"
And / were Mr.. Magnify. Then we
could fight it out"
Bertha smiled. At the same time she
did not think Mr.. Jones regarded the
matter in serious enough manner. -
shall have to do as my father Wishes"
she said. I'VE German maidens are
trained to obey our parents in such
matters"
us it your father or you who are to
be suited with n husbandT'
az"
"Then l see no reason for you TO mar
II TO suit him instead Of yourself"
"You talk like an American. l Won
der If my cousin has such remarkable
views"
At this point Herr Fleischman en-
tsred, scowlIng ut the couple, who were
sStting quite close together on sofa.
Herr Fleischman," said Mr.. Jones,
we have been discussing the German
and American methods OF proposal for
a wlfe. Frauleln Bertha prefers the
German, l the American. 1 wouldn't
consider girl worth marrying who
would let her father choose q husband
Dor her."
Herr Fleischman turned red with an
ger, while Bertha looked ut her wooer
II ask for the hand OF your daugh-
ter" continued Mr.. Jones. Il leave
her to choose between me on the one
hand and you and this American cousin
on the other"
Both men turned to Bertha. She had
been captivated by this down treading
OF established rules and the defense
she had received-indeed, the sweeping
methods of this novel lover. 1t was
hard struggle with her to decide be-
tween what she considered her duty
and a lover who had no respect for
established forms, but love triumphed,
and she threw her arms around the
lovers neck. Herr Flelschman was
boiling with rage.
Leave this housey'
"Why should leave a house to