The Press., 1912-09-04
Cousin
 Charlie He Played an Audacious Game. but Won In
 the End
By MARY PRICE BuRNHAM

 My dear Cousin Sue," wrote Miss Auchincloss, cousin by marriage, "we are now settled in our new place at } Waverly and claim your long promis- ed visit. We are all anxious to meet you, having heard a great deal about you from different members of your aide of the family. Charlie will call for you tomorrow afternoon after luncheon with the auto and bring you out. The distance is only twenty five miles, and an hour will be quite sufficient for the journey"
 'WeIl," unused Miss Auch1ncloss, "I dare say they will all be very kind to me, Della having married my cousin. but since have never seen any of them, not even the connecting link, Charlie, suppose shall not feel very much at home among them. However, shall get acquainted with him on the ride and that will be help with the others"
 The next day at the appointed time Miss Auchincloss was ready for the journey with a suit case standing in the hall. Going to the window she saw a young man just pulling up to the curb in a beautiful new automO bile, painted fawn color. A man on the sidewalk advanced and the two talked together, the autoist sitting in his seat. Then the autoist alighted, and the two men walked away, leaving the machine standing where it had been stopped.
 It occurred to Miss Auchincloss that she would rather wait for her cousins ! return in the auto. He had evidently met some one he knew and they had gone off to do something, she didn't know what. When he returned she would be ready for him. She was much pleased with his appearance and this had taken away good deal of her repugnance at visiting persons whom she had never seen. So carrying her suit case with her she put it in the auto, then got in herself on the seat be- side the steering wheel. it She sat there ten minutes, when the autOist returned. He looked at Miss Auchincloss somewhat surprised as he approached, and when he reached the auto, hat in hand, there was an inquir- ing expression oh his face.
 "I'm your Cousin Sue Auchincloss. received Cousin Delia's letter saying that you would call for me this after noon to take me out to Waverly. I saw you drive up to the door and walk away with your friend. I thought I'd be ready for you on your return
 A meeting between two persons who have never met before Is apt to be a little stiff, and for few moments the young man showed embarrassment: then he muttered a few incoherent nothings, took his seat, attached the power, and the two sped away. The fOrmality of first meeting soon disap- peared. Cousin Charlie asked a great ! many questions about his relatives, the AuchincloSSes, and Cousin Sue asked great many about his branch of the family, the Chamberlins.. He was es- pecially pressing in his queries. surpris- ing Miss Auchincloss by his want of Knowledge of his kin on her side of the
 
 in this matter they fell to general con Oersation and got on famously. Miss AuchinclOss was delighted with Cousin Charlie, and Mr.. Chamberlin was de lighted with Cousin, Sue. .->.
 When an hour had passed Miss .Au- chinclOss asked if they were not near MT. Chamberlin's home, his wife hay ing written that the distance could be covered within that time. MT. Cham berlin smiled and said he had no idea of taking so short a ride and had chosen a far longer route. Coming to roadhouse, he said he would tele- phone that they would not arrive as soon as expected and, alighting, went inside for the purpose. He was gone some time and when he returned ex- plained the length of his absence from the fact that the wire was busy and he was obliged to wait.
 It was three hours after the starting that the auto pulled up in the grounds of a handsome place, and several young women came out on the porch to re ceive :he guest. One of them. whom Cousin Charlie called Della, advanced. gave Miss Auchincloss kiss, and the rest followed suit. A small boy of ten who announced himself as Cousin Frank insisted on carrying Cousin Sues suit case, and the party went into the house. They were all voting and seemed very we'll pleased at the meet. ing. The guest was shown to, her chamber. where she made toilet for dinner. putting on the one dressy cos tune she had brought with her.
 Dear me-" she said to herself when left alone, "I didn't know that Charlie Chamberlin was so we'll off as to live in this style. wonder if the funds don't belong to his wife"
 The dinner wont off nloaeomtIv though it seemed to Miss AuchinclOsS that there was an uneasiness in her cousins, and as time wore on Charlie. though evidently much pleased at hay ing his cousin with him, appeared especially distracted. Little Frank | seemed inclined to do good deal of chattering despite efforts made toI muzzle him. He kept calling those ! at the table by their wrong names and was constantly saying things to make the occupants of the house uneasy. | Finally just at the conclusion of the dinner he addressed Cousin Delia thus: I
 T say, Mollie. why don't you get | married?"
 There was laugh, which on the part | of the hosts was mingled with a good | deal of constraint. Cousin Charlie l looked frightened. and Cousin Della turned red in the face. No reference was made to the boys having called Della MOllie, and in time the equanlm- ity of the party returned. After dinner tt was still day, for it was the season when the twi1ights were long, and all went on to the Yeranda.
 "Charlie," said Della, you had bet ter show Cousin Sue the grounds be- fore it is dark"
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