Year: 1869

He was large, and she was little; he wa
slow, and she was swift he was pink, an'
she was pale: his name was Peter and her
was Philomena.


And these were the least of their diyersi
ties for Philomena was alive with the warm
demonstrative nature that came down to he
from Irish ancestors; and Peter had th'
sluggish German blood OF some past genera
ton Yet they were as fond of each ohe
and as happy together as people often are
For eleven years they had lived in the Same
high, stone house, standing far back in the
centre OF wide grounds, that sloped down be
hind to a gorge and dingle, and were bounC
in front by the principal street Of the village


Just before dark, one dripping day The
railway coach ratified along the street, ant
stopped at the gate.


''Peter somebody has come. Hadn't vol
better 90 out with an umbrella ?n cried Phio
mena, dropping her sewing and running tc
| the door.


Peter was lying on sofa by the western
window, reading newspaper.


''What 81 said he, rustling his paper.


Philomena did not wait to repeat her re
mark but threw on a waterproof cloak ant
by the time Peter aroused himself and shuf
fled to the piazza, she was at the gate will
the umbrella, and her arms already full o
shawls and bags that somebody from within
the coach was passing out.


''It is enough for one to get wet feet said
Peter looking at his slippers.
| So he Just stood there till Philomena had
come so near with her guest that he could Sc,
and dimplcs. And then he forgot all abou
slippered feet, and went out to help at the
| baggage with a great deal Of hospitality.


'.There is cousin Alice, Peter" said Philo-
mcna.


81 am very happy to make cousin Aice's ac
quantancc," said Peter, with much sincerity


And, indeed he might be- for she wa
delightful enough to be own cousin to thl
! queen.


II am so glad to get here" said Alice, as
soon as she had come through the door; ant
then, sitting upon the first chair, suddenly be
gan to cry.


Peter stepped awkwardly back, feeling rs
much out OF place rs an OK in a lark's nest
while Philomena came still nearer.


And l am SO glad you are here. Arcn't
YOU we'll, cousin Alice?H she said, in a t1uttcl
OF sympathy and affection.


on Philomena's shoulder, and crying the
more, only repeated, 81 am so glad to be
here


Peter picked up his newspaper, which was
always a tent of retreat to him. Once behind
that he might be social or SILENT he might be
moody and indifferent to any degree for
like charity, it covered a multitude of sins
If the level Of interest in the talk around him
rose abovethat in the paper, he could Join in the
talk, but he felt no personal responsibility ir
making il worth hearing, for man must
keep up with his newspaper


So now he read with his eyes and listcncC
Al, L.
mcna carried cousin Alice directly up stairs
test spirits in the world. Peters newspaper
wcnt'lown al this sight like the walls of Jericho
at the sound of the shouting and did not gC
up again all the evening through.


isn't cousin Alice charming ?' said Philo
mena, after she and Peter had gone 10 then
room for the night. Il always knew you
would ike her." She added iniudiciously.


''Wcll, yes, she is fair to middlng. Quite
u decent sort of person, l should say return
ed Peter with a great show of Indifference.


His manner was more offensive than hi>
words. and Philomena resented both. So she
began to unite her hair without another word


Presently Peter who had been full of cu-
riosity as any two women all the evening
through, asked, with labored carelessncss
''What was all that hullulldom about when
your cousin first came%'


II do not know Of any hullullidom," re.
piled Philomcna, with severe dignity. There
! wonder if Bridget set her bowl of yeast il
pan. She never thinks Of it if don't looh
after her; and it will make q pretty mess i
she ddn't-running all over everything, she
added, going down stairs without her shoes
Whether she was looking at her yeast all
the time OF induiging in Il confidential scold
TO herself about the Dutch blood to which she
was allied, she staid so long that Peter lying
on his face deep among the pillows, wa,
aslccp-0r ought to have bcen-long before
She came back She walked in the morning
still somewhat stiff and SILENT which was rs
near to y quarrel rs she ever came with hel
| husband.


But by dinner time a little solid man sense
was needed and before that need, formality
melted like icc-cream in the sun.


When Peter came home to dinner he per
ceived at once that something had happened
The very air showed it somehow, as well Il;
the little look Of excitement in the face Of the
women; and he had hardly opened the door
when Philomena went directly to him.


"Oh, Peter, come and tell us what to do =
she cried. trying to lead him to his favoritt
| chair, which was the largest and soltest in tho
| room.


LET me wash my hands first" replied
Peter, stamping into the bathroom.


"Washed his hands the last thing before
he left the Office, probably; he is as partcu
lar about these ceremonies as an old Islaelitc, >
said Philomena gaily.


IL was the business of Philomenas life t(
cover the ark of her husbands phegm will
the ivy of her own sprightly enthusiasm but
when he came back, turning down his wrist
bands as he came, a little sense of pique al
his apparent want of interest, made her be-
gin a frivolous conversation with cousin Alic,
on the subject Of Uncle Barker's hair.


II always thought said she, without pay
ing the least attention to Peter, "that red hail
never turned but uncle Barker is pillar O
testimony against any such a compensating
theory. You know, cousin Alice, how crispy
and stiff his hair always stoodu on his head
1t does the same way now, only being snow
white it looks like a halo instead of a burning
bush. DO you suppose it is in token Of aun
Betty making such martyr of him? ?'


Peter took out his newspaper and began t(
unfold it.


II thought you had something to tell me
| am all ears" said he.


eve prefer you to be part tongue" replied
cousin Alice.


Peter smiled at this, and began to trot hi
foot, which was an excellent sign.


Then Philomena looked at cousin Alice
and cousin Alice looked back to Phiomen;