The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
The Euening Story
Cousin George Arrives.
(Ry Louise Oliver.l

cause Daisy was still engaged in open
| ing the morning mail, and she re-
turned to the sunlit breakfast room
bursting with news. However, when
she saw the look of CONSERVATION upon
her sisters face she exclaimed invol-
unfairly, whats the matter?''
Matter" exclaimed Daisy, holding
| up a letter in dismay. Have you
ever heard of a branch of our family
which went west years ago? Father
knows all about them, but whenever
he started on the subject didn't care
to listen, and I don't suppose you did
either 1 don't consider rough-and-
western relatives any particular asset
Well, anyway, here's a letter from
one of them-George Salisbury he
signs-saying he is coming this week
and would like to hunt up the couS-
ins. He's coming here today"
Rosette sprang up; ;o,, Today es Why Why
time? He'll completely ruin our gar
den party!"
'Of course he WILL" agreed Daisy
That's the trouble. If father were
home he could take him motoring or
something, but, of course, he will ar
rive in the midst of all the festivities
sombrero, boots and all. Oh, dear.
can just see us introducing him to
Mrs. Star Page-'Our cousin from the
west, dear Mrs. Page!' 1 can see her
lorgnon fairly culver with Indignation
| Oh. what shall we do?"
| "And Aunt Margaret just telephoned
that she is bringing an Englishman
along! And If her neuralgia gets too
bad she'll see that he gets here any
way. She's so anxious for us to be
! nice to him and says she is not at all
averse to having him in the family.
! AS she puts it, an alliance with such
| a rich old English family as his would
be most gratifying to her! can see
us introducing our country cousin to
him!" The girls groaned in chorus.
What is all the fuss about, girls ?"
asked a quiet voice in the doorway.
stood there with her arms full of red
roses. Her dark brown hair, deep
gray eyes, and blue linen dress made
a combination of color that might
| have stepped out of frame.
| Hello, Elsa?" in duet. Come in,
early bird, and we'll tell you. Trouble
| enough, indeed" And they rapidly
related as coherently as they could all
that had happened.
Elsa laughed. You poor children!
things do turn out! To think that
the very day you have your smart
| little garden party cooked UP and
asked all the big toads in the whole
resort to come and play in your little
puddle, a great big cowboy has to
come stamping around and spoil all
| the fun
The girls looked their disgust How
can you laugh?" Indignantly. ut
isn't like you, Elsa! You've come to
the rescue before and helped along
some way. In fact, we rather counted
on you this time
Elsa wiped her eyes and her face
you deserve a little punishment for
your very snobbish ideas. I heard
what you said about the English al
lance and it sounds too cold-blooded
| for Riddles your age. Aunt Margaret
| ought to be ashamed"
| The girls looked guilty. They
adored their cousin who lived with
them. and a word of chdling from her
was not to be taken lightly.
Because" she went on, "I can't see
that the joke is on anybody but me.
When this Salisbury man comes, I'll
have to take care of him-that's all.
I will stay close to the end of the per-
COLA, where 1 can see the drive and
all newcomers. If he is completely
hopeless, I'll run away with him al
once. If his appearance is passable,
I'll trot him along to you to say how
DIV let him shake hands with one or
| two of the men, and then snow MIN
the roses and Italian garden before
| any one discovers that his verbs and
| participles have been neglected. Just
! trust me-that's all, And If he proves
to be all right. I'll give him free rein
and let him run loose"
You're a dear, Elsai What re-
lief! Just keep him away from the
| Englishman-that's all we ask The
| English are so particular about fam
lily, you know, and this would be an
awful give-away."
Trust me, girls. Now L must put
away my roses!"
| The garden party was in full swing.
AS Elsa had said, all the big toads of
Summit Lake had been asked and all
kinds of smart equipages lined the
drive A gaily- dressed crowd formed
itself in groups around tea tables un-
der striped canopies and low shade
trees Some were in the pergola, some
wandering through the garden and
| others had found seats in the natural
grove of elms that the landscape gar
dener had had the good sense to leave
| undisturbed. Here on a rustic bench
were seated Elsa and Cousin George
Salisbury
Elsa had adopted the second plan
on her list-that of presenting the
westerner to the girls in the pergola
and a few of the guests. then running
off with him. The outward appear
ance was reassuring, in fact, perplex-
ing. Certainly they had no need to be
ashamed of the smart trap that had
brought him or of his well-made
white clothes. True, he was bronzed
but the weatherbeaten look only
added distinction to clear-cut strik-
ing face.
But, to be on the safe side about the
verbs, Elsa had stored him naturally
and quietly away from the crowd, and
he fell in instantly with her plan.
/ As they seated themselves in the
cool shade of the trees, the man looked
up through the spreading elms and
around at the soft, velvety grass and
then his gaze rested for an instant
upon the quiet, pretty girl at his side.
dressed simply in soft, exquisite white.
He sighed ever so softly and half
closed his eyes.
This is-delicious, and-if you will
pardon me-a pleasant surprise.