The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-07
THE EVENING STORY
The American Cousin.

The American Cousin.
Bertha" said Herr FIeischman stern
", something is wrong-very wrong.
l ooh hke the way things are drifting
at all. This stranger of whom we
know nothing-this man with the COM
Iionplace name John Jcnes-is going
70 make fool of you. You know that
py arrangement with your uncle in
america you are promised to his son,
your cousin, who may be here any day
70 claim you. What happened last night
at the garden?"
Wei, father, 1 couldn't help it, It
was this way: Mr.. Jones, I and the
others were sitting quietly listening TO
the music when one of a 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
TO the table before him, then paid no
further attention to him Soon after
we left the garden"
Yes, and there will be a meeting,
you will be defended by this-this John
Jones. and what girl can have a man
fight for her protection and not fall in
love with him?''
But, father, has not our cousin
sighted US? He has been at the uni
versity all this time and has never
been to see u.s.
Students at Bonn are not supposed
to go gadding. They are there 10
study"
Herr FIeischman 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 insulted 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 q 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 a LADY,
"Oh, Mr.. Jones. how can I thank
"You don't need to thank me. I
only did what any gentleman would
have done under the circumstances"
do tell me some way by which I
can show my appreciation of your
kindness-the risk you have taken for
me-
''There is but one way" he said,
lowering his voice. land that cannot
be-"
Name it, she replied, knowing
what it was without his telling her.
your father has told me of your
American cousin
Bertha knew that this was a
declaration. She lowered her eyes.
''WeI?" she said softly.
1.-TWO persons cannot possess the same
gen.
At wish my American cousin were at
the bottom of the sea-"
"And 1 were Mr.. Magnify. Then we
could fight 1t out"
Bertha smiled. At the same time she
did not think Mr.. Jones regarded the
matter in a serious enough manner. Il
shall have to do as my father wishes,
she said. We German maidens are
trained to obey our parents in such
us it your father or you who are to
be suited with a husband?'
'tI"
"Then see no reason for you to mar
dy to suit him instead of yourself
you talk like an American. won
der if my cousin has such remarkable
views
At this point Herr F1eischman enter
ed. scowling at the couple. who were
sitting quite close together on sofa.
Herr Fleischman,'' said Mr.. Jones,
1--WE have been discussing the German
and American methods of proposal for
wife. Fraulein Bertha prefers the
German, I the American. / wouldn't
consider a girl worth marrying who
would let her father choose husband
Herr Fleischman turned red with an
ger while Bertha looked at her wooer
astonished. =.
at ask for the hand of your daughter"
continued Mr.. Jones. ST leave her TO
choose between me on the one hand
and you and this American cousin on
the other
had been captivated by this down
treading of established rules and the
defense she had received-indeed, the
sweeping methods OF this novel lover.
It was a hard struggle with her TO DE-
eide between what she considered her
duty and a lover who had no respect
for established forms. but love tri-
umphed, and she threw her arms
around her lovers neck. Herr Fleisch-
man was boiling with rage.
Leave this houSe!
srWhy should I leave a house to
which I have been especially invited p
said Mr.. Jones, with imperturbable
invited? p" roared Herr FIeischman.
Eyes, invited. I've got the invitation
right here in my pocket" And he
drew a letter and handed it to Herr
F1eischman.
nephew, Henry Fleischman.''
!fWeli, uncle, I reckon this comedy
has lasted long enough. I am your
nephew. And L am your American
cousin" he added, turning to Bertha
ST don't want any old country arrange
ments in a matrimonial way. We
Americans choose for ourselves, and
we want our wives to choose us in the
same way
"You Americans are a very queer
peoplei" exclaimed Herr Freshman.
LENA NJ. BROOKS.