The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1911-01-05
Her Cousin Joe
LOUISE HENDERSON
S0N~0l

the youngest boy were working. The
two other boys had gone west.
lilly never went home. now The
space between her and her father and
brothers had widened imperceptibly
until neither she nor they cared to
cross 1t. AS they had withdrawn, Joe
had come nearer, until now 1t seemed
he filled her life and her heart. She
longed to e him; the picture she had
of him told her little.
One dull March afternoon, after a
hard session in the classroom, lilly
came home to her boarding place to
find a letter from o. awaiting her.
AS she took 1t up she felt the usual lit
tie thrill of pleasure and interest. She
began to read expectantly, then all at
once something seemed to go wrong
with her heart. Slowly she turned to
the bed and sat down upon 1t and hid
her face in the pillows. But she could
not cry. though she thought her heart
was broken. Joe had written to say
that at last he was going to be mar
ried.
The most beautiful girl, Tilly-a
butterfly, an orchid, what you will of
such rare delicacy and brightness that
| tremble at my temerity in daring to
possess her. We shall be married this
late fall and I want you to come tc
the wedding"
She lived through 1t. Tilly was not
without Anniversary one Of whom
h might have done well to marry.
But she did not care for them, and had
nc intention of marrying just for a
home. Some time. perhaps-but not
now, not now.
Joe continued to write as formerly.
Sometimes he spoke of being at a par
ty or the opera with his fiancee and
Tilly tried to imagine It all, with a
brave attempt at equanimity.
That fall she got a call to q city
school at an increase of salary. 1t was
Joe still helping her, and she knew it
She wondered whether she were
strong enough to go where she must
occasionally see him. And then the
longing to see him. to be near him,
overcame every objection.
Il shall be there In plenty of time
for his wedding" she thought
She began teaching almost immedi
ately after reaching the city. She had
found a good boarding place near the
school and felt that she was going tc
be very comfortable. She had written
to Joe before coming, and she won
dered why he had not come to see her,
or at least write. He did write pres
emily from a distant state, whittier the
interests of some client had taken him
II will see you just IS soon as I re
turn" he said, "but 1 can't tell exactly
when that will be-" He did not men
ton "the most beautiful girl"
1t was on a Saturday evening a
month later that lilly was called
down to the parlor to see a visitor.
She was receiving a good many calls
now from her new acquaintances, but
somehow this summons seemed preg
nant with meaning, as If Joe himself
might be down there waiting for her
Hastily she changed her work dress
for n of plain white linen. She
made herself move slowly; she walked
downstairs quietly. She would not
lose control of herself. The instant
she saw the man who was waiting for
her she knew him, though she felt
with a glad thrill that her idea of MIN
had never lone him justice. She went
toward him, holding out her hand
quite collectedly.
I'm so glad to see you. Cousin Joe.'
she said.
They sat down together and talked
more like old friends than the stran
gers which In reality they were. After
a while Tilly asked him about the
most beautiful girl.
"Oh," he said, 81 really cannot say
She has, you know, ceased to be my
own particular most beautiful girl.
She has-in fact, she Tilted me be
cause she found someone she liked
better. / didn't blame her. Her selec
ton of me was poor taste in the first
place. AS for me, / had reached the
point where | must either neglect hel
or my profession. And | had worked
too hard for my profession to neglect
it at my time of life. So / am very
well suited"
81 am sorry" lilly said. She sat
looking down at her hands and tryins
to think.
"Are your" Joe said, smiling. 'Bui
I shall have more time for you now
"Still, / am sorry for you," Tilly per
sisted. you must feel so disap
pointed"
ooh, Welt" he said. when half
gods go-you know the rest?"
lilly did. And then they began tt
talk about Emerson.
That winter went on wings for lilly
Joe was very nice to her. He took he1
about a great deal and gained an en-
trance for her into the houses oil
many charming persons, who were de
lightfullyYk kind to her.
One Saturday afternoon, Just at the
edge of the spring, as they CHANGED te
be walking together, all of a sudden
SO suddenly, in fact, that Tilly's breath
was quite startled away-Joe asked
her to marry him.
"But-but I'm such a queer person
for you to want to marry" gaspet
Tilly, her fresh young cheeks very red
'I'm only a backwoods girl. you know
joe"
He smiled down into her eyes ant
she wondered if heaven would BE-
dearer and sweeter than his eyes will
that look in them.
You're my girl. Tilly." he said
gently, land that makes all. the differ