Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-15
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE COUSIN
by Anna l.. Finn
MARIAN CAREw aimlessly fingered

the letter she had finished reading.
We'll of all things she s~oliloquized.
Just when mother has gone on a va
cation and left me alone to keep house
a country cousin whom I have not
seen for years decides that she will
pay us a vista fine state of affairs.
| simply cannot entertain her, but how
/ am going to avert it is more than
] know
For several minutes she sat in deep
thought. trying to devise n means of
cvading the issue, but could not arrive
at any definite conclusion. Finally a
bright thought occurred to her - she
would call Bob into conference. Robert
Leyland was Marian's devoted sutton
and she had great confidence in his SUI
perior judgment. She felt certain Bob
would find the right solution.
well. it isn't so bad" Bob re-
marked, after listening to Marian's in
Vulnerable IL And ] see moth
ing for you to do but have her come.
I think you can manage the cooking
somehow and I'll promise to do the
entertaining
VERY we'll. Bob. but remember your
part of the agreement Marian con
cluded. you are to do the entertain
ing" agreed Bob replied. We'll
show her a good time even if she is as
homely as n hedge fence. Leave it to
NELL do the honors.'
Accordingly all arrangements were
made for the coming of Flora Winston.
the aforesaid country cousin Marian
declared that she was entirely too busy
to take the time to go and meet her,
80 the task fell to Bob.
Now. to be sent to meet a girl you
have never seen is not altogether easy.
Starting of in his little roadster, how
ever. Bob met the situation with his
usual calm dcmeanor. Lets See he
soliloquiZed Straw colored hair,
freckles and u turned-up nose-rather
odd combination guess I'll find her all
right"
Upon reaching the station he learned
that the train had just arrived, so he
lost no time in beginning his search.
He eagerly scanned the faces of what
seemed to be hundreds of girls, but
none answering the description of
end of the platform was Bob's last
hope. Surely that must be She" he
thought, but closer inspection revealed a
wealth of beautiful golden hair. II per-
feet nose and not the slightest trace of
a freckle. He was about to depart
when. to his complete surprise. the
dainty bit Of fcmininity he had been
s~crutinizing. timidly approaching him,
inquired if he could direct her to the
tarew home. "Why. you're the very
person I've been looking for, y" Boz
gleefully exclaimed. How stupid OF
me not to have known you"
1t was not strange that Bob failed tC
recognize Flora Winston. for time haG
worked a marvellous transformation il
the little country cousin To say thai
Marian was surprised upon meeting hel
would be to express her feelings very
mildly. She was quite astonished ant
not a little disappointed, for in her sh,
Immediately recognized rival. "A per
feet vision of loneliness" Bob thought
l Happy We're the days for Flora which
followed. A series of tennis, golf ant
canoeing served to while away the i'd,
hours. and Bob. in the role of enter.
=, tainer, played his part TO perfection. l
t was not long before Marian noticed tina
he was paying marked attention t
Flora. In fact, the two, were INSOFAR
able. aud Marian was decidedly i'll tn,
background. AS time went on this at
\ t~cntion became more noticeable. an,
Marian realized that the situation wa
becoming quite serious-she was great,
concerned.
I The climax was finally reached on
day when Bob and Flora went motor
ing together. leaving Marian to enter
: tain herself as best she could. She ha
reached the height of her endurance
t aud determined to give vent to her feel
ings. Upon returning Flora locke
d quite charming, began to elaborate o
Bob's fine qualities and his very cour
u tcous treatment of her, wholly unawar
t of the approaching storm. Every wor
was a dagger in Marian's heart, an
she promptly expressed her version o
!. the subject. which was anything but
favorable one.
oh, I'm so sorry" pleaded Flora
- II would not for the world have com
between you. ! will leave at once, neve
e to see him again, although it will mea
70 Il great sacrifice TO me-"
IL 1t was not until after Flora had gor
and Marian was alone that she full
realized all that had happened. Mean
~ while, several hours later, as Flora wa
Quickening her pace down the drive
~ way, she stopped short at the appear
ance of a familiar face. "Oh, Bob
II she exclaimed, you're the very perso
I'm trying to avoid" Bob looked mys
tilted. But / am glad to have tn
opportunity to EXPLAIN she continued
II never realized what Marian meant
" you" But hat was as far as she 60
She never meant anything to me con
pared to you" Bob in%terposed. "Ar
- YOUR not going off like this-at lea
'' not until you promise to make me Il
happiest man in the world
~ Flora's cup of joy was filled to oyel
7 flowing. and smiling through her tea
she fondly inquired, But how abo1
M~arian:" With his ever-ready solutiC
Bob promptly replied. ''Oh, We'll ha'
er her for bridesmaid" and as the tv
proceeded down the driveway even n;
turc seemed to smile on the happy pal
The neXt complete noyelette-,ion