The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-06-15
FOUND


HaTtney has always cherished ten
der re~collections of his Cousin Lucy.
When he was a small boy his par
ents frequently used TO take him bacl
TO the small town from which they
both had come. There he rioted among
uncles and aunts, grandmothers ant
cousins galore, all of whom he &C
cepted light heartcdly, as belonging *
the established order of things. Lucy
especially was his chum. She had big
blue eyes n a wide mouth that al
ways laughed and a most wonderful
knowledge of birds and bugs and
toads. Everybody remarked how beau
tifully the two get along together.
They exchanged Christmas presents
and kept up a correspondence till they
both were grown. Then outside inter
ests gradually divided them. Hartney
hadn't been back to the old town in
years.
In the first place, his wife always
preferred to go east or to Europe
when he had any spare time. and in
the second place there really wasn't
anything to go back for, since he had
outgrown the joys of blackberrying
and making sand pies.
But 1t was with real pleasure that
Hartney recently learned over the
telephone by the voice of Cousin Lucy
herself that she was in town for the
day on her way east. She said she
had Cousin Bertha's daughter with
her and they would be delighted 70 ac-
cept Hartney's invitation to luncheon.
Hartney determined they should
have a luncheon they would remem-
Der. He reserved a table at n of
the most fashionable places in town
and even made out a menu with con-
siderable care.
The cousins greeted each other with
genuine affection. Then Cousin Lucy
said, in a surprised tone, indicating
the tall and awkward girl of II who
was with her. why, Cousin Henry,
don't you remember Adeline? Cousin
Bertha's daughter, o know. OF
course, she was a good deal younger
WACn yOu saw hCl ldol. OOAhO ~
think of It, she was only 2 when you
saw her before. That was the year
the barn burned down. You emem-
Der about the barn."
To Hartney's embarrassment he did
not In the least remember about the
barn, but he had the presence of mind
to conceal the TACT. Still, he was
startled to find that Cousin Lucy was
bubbling over with conversation about
the relations whom he remembered
only dimly or not at all.
You'd neved know Aunt S~alina,'
she told him over the soup. She's
gained forty-five pounds and hasn't an
ache or pain and it's just because she
stopped taking those bitters she count
ed so much on. Didn't she always do
her hair up queer?"
Il should say she did," Hartney re-
sponded. To himself he was repeat
ing over and over, Aunt Salina!
Which one was she?"
"Of course, you know about Artie,'
Cousin Lucy remarked, as she accept
ed. without any display of interest the
specially prepared chicken with its
wonderful sauces. She said It In a
tone which made one realize how ut
terly unthinkable it was not to know
about Artie, so Hartney said, airily,
'Oh. vest"
We'll" pursued his cousin, with
excitement, what do you think
about it. really? I'd like your %opinioni
Could he have done otherwise thar he
iid?"
Hartney began to perspire. Cousin
.ertha's daughter was cycling him
critically and offering no help. so
here was no escape. Pm afraid
know anything about it," he
confessed. T.
What" Cousin Lucy exclaimed,
lggrieyedly. Il should think at least
,ou'd take enough interest in your
citations to remember when one of
hem gets a divorced You remember
What a pretty girl she was-Hattie
the blond one?"
YES said Hartney, automatically,
his tone betrayed him.
Henry said Cousin Lucy, edo you
mean to say you don't recall Hattie
though you used to eat cookies
y the ton at her mothers? I'm sur
rised at you! ! think Hattie always
,as a little fighty after Tens DEATH
"Oh. was she married before?" Hart
ey ventured. |
Tom" said Cousin Lucy, coldly, {
was her brother. You used to go s
shing with Tom. There we're items i
/ all the newspapers about his awful I
9
why. of course" interrupted Hart t
Have some of this salad dress
a special kind. How do you
these tomatoes?"
1--WE grow bigger ones 10 our gar +
en- said Cousin Lucy. "Of course. !,
lese are fixed up different Uncle !
laid up with his les again" y