Cousin Maude

he favorite, partly because he was much like herself and partly because of his name, which she thought so exclusive-so different from anyone's else. His romantic young mother, who liked anything

ays, however, adapting his remarks to the nature of the person with whom he was conversing. Thus to Nellie Kennedy he said a thousand foolish things, just because he knew he gratified her vanity by doing so. Although possessing the reputation of a wealthy man, J.C. was far from being one, and his great object was to secure a wife who, while not distasteful to him, still had money enough to cover many faults, and such a one he fancied Nellie Kennedy to be. From Mrs. Kelsey he had received the impression that the doctor was very rich, and as Nellie was the only daughter,

finished education, and a quiet, gentlemanly manner, to say nothing of his unbounded wealth, and musical voice, whose low, deep tones had stirred the heart-strings of more than one fair maiden in her teens, but stirred them in vain, for James De Vere had never seen the woman he wished to call his wife; a

ed to introduce her stepsister, and as Mrs. Kelsey was too much absorbed in looking at her pretty niece, and in talking to her brother, to notice the omission, Maude's position would have been peculiarly embarrassing but for the gentlemanly demeanor of James, who, always courteous, particularly to those whom he thought neglected, bowed polite

to Nellie: "By the way, Nell, who is that you

tepsister," answered Nellie. "I'm

then Mrs. Kelsey went upstairs, taking her niece with her; and as Dr. Kennedy had a patient to visit he, too, asked to be excused, and the young men were left alone. The day was warm, and saunte

med J.C., as he saw a curiously shaped chair

, as Louis skipped across the floor on crutches and cli

tood by his side, carefully ministering to his wants, and assisting him into his chair when he was through. Then, pushing back her curls, and donning the chec

nd still keeping his eyes fixed upon the figure in white, as if to one of his fastidious taste there was nothing very

met in the cars between Springfield and Albany, several years ago when we were returning from

n for certain? I tell you what it is, Jim, I've thought of the speech more than a thousand times when I

ou know she told us her name was Maude Remington, and that the naughty man behi

a moment: "The old fellow looks as that man did. I guess you are right. I mean to questi

ing the broom-handle so vigorously?" and he pointed to Maude, who was

answered the African, assuming a dign

man, "but tell us how long has she li

e blue-eyed mother of hern, who is lyin' under them willers in the graveyard. We couldn't live without Miss Maude. She's all the sunshine t

J.C., beginning to feel greatly

ool of a city chap has made her b'lieve are so white and handsome," and a row of ivory was just visi

e grass he replied, "You don't mean me, of course; but tell us m

ldn't let her do that-but she does mend Nellie's gownds, w

y interested now, and coming nearer to John he s

atly exaggerated. "Nobody knows how much 'tis," said he: "but everybody s'poses that will and all it must be thirty or fo

ied, "It would be funny if you should make this Maude my cousin instead of Nellie. Let me see-Cousin Nellie-Cousin Maude. I l

n't think I'd marry a rude country girl for her money. No, give me la charmant Nellie, even t

where J.C. asked Nellie to favor him with some music. Nellie liked to play, for it showed her white hands to advantage, and seating herself at

ly sent for. She came readily, and performed her part without the least embarrassment, although she more than once half paused to listen to the rich, full tones of James' voice, for he was an unusually fi

Remington," he said, as N

reason like this, she answered, "Yes, sometimes," and taking her seat she played several pieces, keeping

d out the envious girl, who, not satisfied with having en

lled to the gentle tones of his voice, just as many another maiden's had done before. Mr. De Vere was exceedingly agreeable, and so Maude found him to be, for feeling intuitively that she was somewhat slig

at last she came to give him her accustomed kiss he pushed the thick curls from off h

d Maude. "There a

e me, Maude, but I sat ever so long at the head of the stairs, listening

blue eyes, dark brown hair, and a mouth just fitted to his voice. Farther than this she could not tell. "But you will see him in

he can't endure red hands he'd laugh at my withered feet a

she joined him in the parlor, and, together with J.C. and Nellie, accompanied him to the graveyard, where, seating herself upon her mother's grave, she told him of that mother, and the desolation which crept into her heart when first she knew she was an orphan. From talking of her mother it was an easy matter to speak of her Vernon home, which she had never seen since she left it twelve years before, and then Mr. De Vere asked if she had met two boys in the cars on her way to Albany. At first Maude could not recall them, and when at last

sively, "much better than Miss

nd leaning forward he put back from her forehead one of her shor

tingle as it did. Still, on the whole, he liked it, and half-wished the wind would blow those curls over the upturned face again, bu

king love to Maude was utterly distasteful, but because he fancied she might be ann

rept a nameless chill-a fear that she had been degraded in his eyes. "I must go back to Louis," she said at last, and rising from her mother's gra

ll embarrassment in her future intercourse with himself, he said to her as they reache

s she ran upstairs, hardly knowing whe

Maude; and when Louis asked what Mr. De Vere had said beneath the wi

r then maybe he'd call me brother, even if I am a cripple.

pend with Mr. De Vere, who was to leave them that evening. When, however, the carriage which was to

Laurel Hill with pleasure. In Hampton there are not many ladies for whose acquaintance I particularly care, and I have often wished that I had some female friend with whom I could

ush on Maude's cheek for an unwillingness to do

d his visit at Laurel Hill, and as soon as his cousin left he intended removing to the hotel, where he would be independ

mes, for, when at parting he took his cousin's hand, he said,

dding that James need have no fears, for there was not the s

r the carriage drove away, he saw the shadows on her face, and suspected their cause, he felt a strong desire that his departure might affect her in a similar manner. That evening,

of Laurel Hill was highly conducive to his rather delicate health; but whether he meant the invigorating bree