Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-04-26
Cousin
Charlie
He Played an Audacious
Game, but Won In
the End
BY MARY PRICE BuRNHAM

Observation-Disclosures asasassaasesssssssssS
MY dear Cousin Sue.' wrote Miss
Auchincloss. 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 great deal about
you from different members of your
side 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"
WELL" unused Miss Auchincloss, 81
dare say they will all be very kind to
me. Della having married my cousin
but since l have never seen any Of
them, not even the connecting link.
Charlie, suppose shall not feel very
much at home among them. However,
l 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 suit case standing in
the hall. Going to the window she
saw a young man just pulling up to
the curb in 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.
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 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
side the steering wheel.
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 on 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.
saw you drive up to the door and walk
away with your friend. | thought I'd
be ready for you on your return"
A meeting between two persons who
have never met before is apt to be
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 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-
peciany pressing in his queries. surpris-
ing Miss Auchincloss by his want of
knowledge of his kin ON her side of the
house. When each had been satisfied
in this matter they fell to general con-
versation 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
Mr.. Chamberlin's home. his wife hav-
ing written that the distance could be
covered within that time. Mr. Cham
berlin smiled and said he had no idea
of taking so short 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 be returned ex-
planned the length Of his absence from.
the fact that the wire was busy and
he was obliged to wait.
1t was three hours after the starting
that the auto pulled up in the grounds
of handsome place. and several young
women came out on the porch to re-
ceive the 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 young and
seemed very well pleased at the meet
ing. The guest was shown to her
chamber. where she made a toilet for
dinner. putting on the one dressy cos
tune she had brought with her.
Dear me-" she said to herself when
left alone. II didn't know that Charlie
Chamberlin was SO we'll off as to live
In this style. I wonder If the funds
don't belong to his WIFE"
The dinner went off pleasantly.
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 hav-
ing his cousin with him, appeared
especially distracted Little Frank