Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-17
The Argus Daily Story
Cousin Charhe-By Mary PrieeBurnhaE,A
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

my dear Cousin Sue wrote Miss
Auehincloss, cousin by marriage, I'VE
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
side Of the family. Charlie win call
for you tomorrow afternoon after
luncheon with the auto and bring
you out. The distance is only twenty
five miles, and an hour viii be quite
sufficient for the journey"
Well" unused Miss Auchincloss, IT
dare say they will all be very kind to
me. Della having married my cousin,
but since I have never seen any of
them, not even the connecting link.
Charlie, suppose I shall not feel very
much at home among them. However,
/ shall get acquainted with him on the
ride and that will be a help with the
Others"
The next day at the appointed time
Miss Auchincloss was ready for the
journey with suit case standing In
the hall. Going to the window she
saw a young man just pulling up to
the curb in q 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 anghted,
and the two men walked away, leaving
the machine standing where it had
been stopped.
1t 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 of 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 a 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.
She sat there ten minutes, when the
autoist returned. He looked at Miss
Auchincloss somewhat surprised as be
approached, and when he reached thu
auto, hat In hand, there was an inquir
ing expression on his face.
Pm 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.
saw you drive up to the door and wall
away with your friend. l thought II
be ready for you on your return"
A meeting between two persons VIII
have never met before Is apt to be
little stiff, and for few moments tn
young man showed embarrassment
then he muttered a few incoheren
nothings, took his seat, attached tn
power, and the two sped away. TIL
formality of a first meeting soon disaI
peared Cousin Charlie asked a grea
many questions about his relatives, tn
AuchincloSses, and Cousin Sue aske
a great many about his branch OF til
family, the Chamberiins. He was e.
pecially pressing in his queries, surpri'
, ing Miss Auchincloss by his want O
knowledge of his kin on her side Of tn
house. When each had been Statistic
in this matter they fell to general col
: eersation ard got on famously. Mis-
Auchincloss was delighted with Cousi
Charlie. and Mr.. Ch8Inberlin was d.
lighted with Cousin Sue.
When an hour had passed Miss A.
~,
Mr.. Chamberlin's home, his wife ha'
ing written that the distance could l
covered within that time. Mr.. Chan
berlin smiled and said he had no ide
of taking so short a ride and ha
chosen q far longer route. Coming
n roadhouse. he said he would tell
phone that they would not arrive {
soon as expected and, alighting, wei
inside fer the purpose. He was goI
some time and when he returned e,
planned the length Of his absence fro
the fact that the wire was busy ar
: he was obliged to wait.
1t was three hours after the startir
that the auto pulled up in the grount
of handsome place, and several your
WOIueu came OuL bA int pOlNh ~ L
ceive the guest One of them, who
Cousin Charlie called Della, advance
gave Miss AuchincIoss a kiss, and Il
rest followed suit. A small boy Of 4
g who announced himself as Cous
Frank insisted on carrying Cous
; Sues suit case, and the party went In
the house. They were all young a
seemed very well pleased at the met
ing The guest was shown to b
chamber, where she made a toilet +
dinner, putting on the one dressy c.
It tune she had brought with her.
Dear me-" she said to herself VIII
left alone, 81 didn't know that Char
g Chamberlin was so well of as to Ii
in this style / wonder II the fun
don't belong to his wife"
The dinner went off pleasant
though it seemed TO Miss AuchinclC
that there was an uneasiness in b
cousins, and as time wore on Char
though evidently much pleased at he
ing his cousin with him, appear
especially distracted Little Fra
seemed inclined to do o good deal
Ir chattering despite efforts made
muzzle him. He kept callipg tho
of tho bla THAR u-roDO M rnpg a