The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-08
HER COUSINS WILL
It Was the Means Of Bringing
Together TWO Ardent
Lovers.
BY M. DIBBELL.

would decide you had all the right
there was to the money"
Consider me the whole sixteen
kinds then; Cousin Olive had per-
feet right to do as she chose with
her own"
With wrathful sarcasm Alice Pack
ard again broke forth. "Of course
your being for over five years at the
beck and call Of an utterly unreason-
able egotist is nothing"
Broda stopped her. Nov Alice,
you know that Cousin Olive had the
kindest Of hearts and was very good
to me. am sure shall soon find
something to do, SO don't you worry
about me-"
you need a good long rest hrst Of
all; you are looking simply tired out.
I only wish I had a home Of my own
to take you to-but what can a board
Ing school teacher do"
What a nice rhyme, and who Is the
goose now? never felt better, and
do not in the least need vacation"
But Alice insisted that a rest was
imperative, and when she departed 1t
was with the firm determination that
Broda should In some way obtain her
rights.
Broda at once started upstairs to
finish her packing, this being the day
on which she was to leave her
cousins. Promptly at five o'clock the
village hack arrived, her trunk was
hoisted to its place. and after receiv-
ing fearful farewell from Matilda,
Cousin olives housekeeper, Broda
was driven to the widow Rruce's cot.
taee whore she had engaged room.
Broda had many friends in Peter
bury and it was rot long before an
elderly couple whose last single
daughter had Just married and gone
to live in a distant part of the state,
engaged her to act as companion and
general "cheerer up of the lonesome
two that were left" It was thus
Deacon Haverhill put it. when he
came to talk matters over.
The new home proved very happy
one for RrOda. the deacon and his
wife treating her as If she were in
deed a daughter of their own.
Meanwhile John Weston, Cousin
Olives heir, had entered into the pos
session of the estate l'roda first saw
him after the morning service as she
was coming down the aisle of the
church with the Haverhills 1t was
the deacon who pointed him out, and
asked hor opinion Of him
Cousin Olive always had a weak.
ness for big men with dark eyes and
hair, and he evidently had all three of
those points in his favor" was Bro.
da's response
The deacon added, looks to me
like a good sensible fellow-I mean
to speak to him first chance | get"
This chance came sooner than he
expected, for on reaching the door
John Weston surprised them by ad.
dressing Broda.
Il beg your pardon for my abrupt.
ness, Miss Morton. but we must be
cousins in some degree, and I am 60
ing to ask II you will grant me an In.
terview to talk over an important
natter"
Broda liked the dark eyes which
met her own so frankly and answered
demurely: you must ask Deacon
Haverhill, here. II may ask you to
Haverhill House"
The deacon laughed, and gave John
Weston friendly handshake. Miss
Broda knows that our house Is al
ways open to her friends
John thanked him and Tuesday aft.
ernoon was set for the interview
John Weston was prompt to the
minute. He was no sooner seated
than he spoke to the point. Cousin
Broda, your friend Miss Packard came
to me last week and told me OF your
Ave years faithful devotion to
Cousin Olive She said that she
thought it entirely unjust for you to
be left without reward Of any sort
for such service. quite agree with
her, and have tried to think out a way
that will make matters right Cousin
Olive knew that was well provided
for and partner in growing bust
ness, so cant understand why every
thing was left to me- This is nv
plan. that you take the house-which
| Miss Packard says YOU care greatly
for-and that we divide the cash and
securities. Unless you say yes shall
| feel like thief and robber"
Broda gave little gasp at this
generous offer. Thank you thou,
sand times but cannot accept
Cousin Olive had perfect right to
do as she pleased with her own, and
she was always good and generous to
me-she never limited at anything
more than | received"
This was the first OF many visits
which John Weston paid at the Hayer
hill homestead
| The business Of which John had
spoken must have found that it could
exist without its junior partner. for \
remained the summer through ~
Peterbury. But in September r.
| presence was demanded by the Fl,