Cousin Maude

gone-married a second time, and by this means escaped, as she verily believes, the embarrassment of refusing outright to be Mrs. Dr. Kennedy, No. 3! Not that Dr. Kennedy ever entertained the slight

brought, it was a comfort for which he paid too dearly. Still he endured it for nearly three years, but at the end of that time he determined that she should

tt, thinking her time had come, drew out Joel's picture, which latterly she carried in her pocket, so as to be ready for any emergen

e answered, an

w what to say, but I've been

I shan't do it, and if you've any kind of feeling for Matty, which you haint, nor never had, you wouldn't think of such a thin

tempted to smooth the matter somewhat by saying: "I had no intention of distressing you, Mrs. Blodgett, but I tho

roperty is at the bottom of it! But I'll fix it-I'll put an end to

the dingy office until one-half of her property, which was far greater than anyone supposed it to be, was transferred by deed of gift to Maude

world!" and entering the room where Maude was sewing, she astonished the young girl by telling her what she had done. "I have made you my heir," said she, tossing the deed of gift and the will into Maude's lap. "I've made you my heir; and the

d, but she understood it at last, and then with many tears thanked the eccentric

u, and always meant to give it to you. But don't tell anyone how much 'tis, for if the old fool widowers round here know I am still worth five thousand doll

dreamed it possible for her to fancy that Dr. Kennedy wished to make her his wife, and she was greatly puzzled to know why she had been so generous to her. But Janet knew; and when a few days afterward Dr.

g his throat and looking consider

tor replied, "I did not finish what I wished to say to you the other day, and it's a

ay eyes twinkled with delight, as she thought how crestfa

tt," he continued, "I was

f of it the day she's eighteen, and the rest on't is willed to her when I die, so you may as well let me alone," and feeling greatly flurried

st amusing interview. In Canada Janet formed the acquaintance of a man full ten years her junior. He had been a distant relative of her husband, and knowing of her property, asked her to be his wife. For several d

ied was beyond his reach; but being naturally of a hopeful nature, he did not despair of eventually changing the will

she suddenly found herself a person of considerable importance, particularly in the estimation of Dr. Kennedy, who, aside from setting a high value upon money, fancied he saw a way by which he himself could reap some benefit from his stepdaughter'

hose only servant was old and lazy, and whose eldest daughter was far too proud to work. This Maude knew, and with a flush of indignation upon her cheek she rep

e with Maude's services, and it had not before occurred to h

working for your board-all right," and feeling a good deal more disconcerte

nary at Laurel Hill, where she stood high in all her classes, for learning was with her a delight, and when at last it seemed necessary for her to remain at home, she still devoted a portion of each day to her studies, reciting to a teacher who came regularly to the house and whom she paid with her own money. By this means she was at the age of seventeen a far better scholar than Nellie, who

which he could never hope to ramble. And Maude was very proud of her artist brother-proud of the beautiful boy whose face seemed not to be of earth, so calm, so angel-like was its expression. All the softer, gentler virtues of the mother, and all the intellectual qualities of the father were blended together in the child, who presented a combination of goodness, talent, beauty, and deformity such as this is seldom seen. For his sister Maude

he graces which make a woman what she ought to be. Louis' artist eye, undeveloped though it was, acknowledged the rare loveliness of Nellie's face. She would make a beautiful picture, he thought; but for the noble, the good, the pure, he turned to the dark-eyed Maude, who was as wholly unlike her stepsister as it was possible for her to be. The one was a delicate blonde, the other a decided brunette, with hair and eyes of deepest black. Her complexion, too, was dark, but tinged with a beautiful red, which Nellie would gladly have transferred to her own paler cheek. It was around the mouth, however, the exquisitely shaped mouth, and white even teeth, that Maude's principal beauty lay, and th

king contrast to the city gayeties in which she had been mingling. Even the cozy little chamber which the kind-hearted Maude had fitted up for

, who had donned her working dress, and with sleeves rolled up and wide che

air into the kitchen so that he could be with Maude. "He would s

ever saw. He can't endure the smell of cooking, and says he would never look twice at a lady whose hands were not as soft and

ttered old Hannah, who looked upon Nellie as b

little. You know father won't, and that carpet, I'll venture to say, was in the ark. I almost dread to have J.C. come, he's so particular; but then he knows we are rich, and beside that, Aunt Kelsey has told him just how stingy father is, so I don't care so much. Did I tell you J.C. has a cousin James, who may possibly come too. I never saw him, but Aunt Kelsey says he's the queerest man that ever lived. He never

m," exclaimed Louis, who had

just suited him, particularly if he finds her up to her elbows in dough. So, Maude, it is for your interest to imp

purchased many a comfort for the household, for Maude was generous, and freely gave what was her own to give. The parlor carpet troubled even her, but

'twas hardly worn at all, and 'twas a maxim of

ted by Mrs. Kelsey, and thus was he more willing to have him come. But on the subject of the carpet he was inexorable, and with tears of anger in her large blue eyes Nellie gave up the contest, while Maude very quietly walked over to the store and gave orders that a handsome three-ply carpet which she had heard her sister admire should be sent home as soon as

Miss Maude's little fingers, red and rough as they be, than I would for both them soft, sickish feeling hands of yo

sentable as possible to the fashionable Mrs. Kelsey and the still more fashionable J.C. De Vere. The new carpet was nicely fitted to the floor, new curtains hung before the windows, the old so

he rather dreaded Mrs. Kelsey, whom she had seen but twice in her life, but for some reason, wholly inexplicable to herself, she felt a strange interest in the wonderful J.C., of whom she had heard so much. Not that he would notice her in the least, but a man who could turn

ellie, smoothing down the folds of her light blue musli

adjoining room, "wear white. Y

provoked that she had not advised the wearing of some

short, glossy curls clustering about her head, a bright bloom on her cheek, and a brighter smile upon her lip,

had wheeled himself into the room, and was w

d tasteful was her sister's dress, began to cry, saying, "she herself looked a fright, th

nt to it she generally felt better, she soon dried her tears, saying, "she w

oinder of Louis, who always defended

a large traveling carriage stopped at the gate, laden with trunks and boxes, as if its occupants had come to spend the remainder of the summer. A straight, slender, dandified-looking young man sprang out, followed by another far different in style, though equally as fine looking. The lady next alighted, and scarcely were

periences in gazing upon a rare piece of sculpture-and then the heart of James De Vere resumed its accustomed beat, for he knew the inner chamber of the mind was empty, and henceforth Nellie's beauty would have no attraction for him. Very prettily she