The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-09-03
THE LADY IN THE
AUTOMOBILE.



had come to the city the day before
and stopped In one of a row of stone
front houses, but she was not to re-
main there. Her cousin, Tom Archard,
was coming with his automobile to
take her to his fathers place in a
suburban town. She had never seen
her cousin or her uncle or her aunt
not any one of that family. She had
never ridden in an automobile. Tom
was to call for her at 10 o'clock, and
at 1890 he had not arrived. Mary
was growing impatient
Suddenly beautiful machine turned
corner, came up the street and stop
ped in front of the house. In 1t was
Cousin Tom-who else could it be?-
handsome young fellow, who got out
and was about to mount the steps
when he looked up at the number
above the door, then turned to the
next house. Mary, naturally assuming
that he was making mistake, rushed
to the door to call him. Too late; he
had disappeared.
No matter. He would discover his
mistake and return. She would wait
for him on the stoop. She stood there
few minutes admiring the beautiful
spick and span dark green machine
with its polished brass mountings. 1t
looked so pretty that she thought she
would go down to it. When she got
there step into 1t was so easy and
the cushioned seat so tempting that
she got in and sat down.
Now, the gentleman who had gone
in next door was not Cousin Tom at
all. but Harry Craven, one Of those
gPaceless scamps who was not likely
to throw an adventure over his Shout
der. From window of his club-he
had called to replenish his cigar case
he was surprised to see a pretty girl
sitting In his machine with as much
| composure as If she owned 1t. He
was going for a spin and wished she
would stay there. But he didn't ex-
pect that she would. AS soon as he
appeared she would discover that she
had made mistake.
He went out prepared for anything
On seeing him approach the lady
smiled, put out her hand and said:
"Why, Cousin Tom, what has made
you so late?'
Later"
yes And why did you go into SO?
| wrote you to come to 49,"
"Well. now! Upon my word. Skies
and Fights are much alike. But this
is no way for cousins to greet one an
other" And the rascal bent forward
and kissed her through her veil. Then
he took his seat beside his newly found
cousin. There was a series of chugs
and off went the machine.
Now commenced a sparring on the
part of the cousinless Mr.. Craven to
prevent detection. He skilfully avoid
ed committing himself ON anything till
he had learned something about 1t
from the lady. He gathered that he
was expected to take her to his ia
| theirs residence in the suburbs. 1t so
happened that his own father lived in
the suburbs. and his mother and sis
tiers and himself as well. He turned
his course homeward.
Just before luncheon Mrs. Craven
and her daughters were sitting on the
front piazza, engaged at reading and
needlework, when up the roadway to
the house came Harry in his auto, n
young lady beside him.
BLESS mel" said Alice Craven. Here
comes Harry with some one, and
look a fright"
Good graciousw exclaimed Mrs.
Craven. "And we've nothing but scraps
from yesterdays dinner for lunch"
Mother" cried Harry as he round
ed the machine up to the porch,
you've forced me to make a guy of
myself by not keeping NE posted.
Here's Cousin Mary come to visit us.
and if it hadn't been that she's stay
ing next door to the club would have
missed her entirely"
The excitement attending the meet
ing of her aunt and cousins for the
first time prevented Mary from taking
in the real meaning Of this. Harry
handed her out and, going to her sup
posed aunt, she threw her arms around
her neck and kissed her, then did the
same with the others. She was ap-
palled at the GOODNESS of her reception
and was wondering what to do next
when Harry tipped his favorite sister
the wink and suggested that their
cousin be taken upstairs "to brush off
the dust"
While they were gone Harry made a
confession to his mother. After a
sound rating she agreed with him that
the poor girl must be extricated from
her narrowing position with great deli
cacy and that to do this the deception
must be kept up for time.
When Mary reappeared she was
made heartily welcome. That after
noon Harry went about telling all their
friends that cousin was visiting them
and arranged for a series of entertain
ments. He kept Mary much of the
time out with him in his automobile
kz1 L.