The Comings of Cousin Ann

nn Looks

on one side and on the other the dining-room and sitting-room. The satiny floors-ideal for dancing-reflected in their polished sur

have-marble benches, a sun dial, a pergola, a summer house, a box maze and a fountain around which was a circle of stone flagging with flowering portulacca springing up in the cracks. The shrubs were old and huge, forming pleasant

ix had driven over from Lexington in time for supper. The mansion was filled and running over, but the overflow could always be taken c

pressed the sprigged muslin and it hung on a hook behind the door in readiness for the mistress. Then

'r, Miss Ann," he said. "I 'member how y

wn snowy locks were exposed to view. She did not relish having even old Billy see her without her wig. She drew

' 'member th'ain't gonter be nary puss

y come ye

so I reckon you'd bes' rise an' shi

ress that he would gladly have served her a

r 'sturb you none," he said as he opened the door and

skirt was ever in need of repair, with tapes that had broken from their moorings or strings that had come loose. On this evening she discovered a small hole in her little satin slipper that must be adroitly mended with court plaster. 92 The auburn wig must be combed and curled. A touch of

ll?" cried Jean Roland, and all of the gay young things gathered in the broad h

" explained Mildred. "She's our chronic visit

ung persons. It seemed to the old lady that young cousins in all the homes where she visited were growing more and more outspoken and rude and less and less considerate of her. She still deem

expect brusqueness from Betty Throckmorton, but was there not a change of manner even here at Buck Hill-not just rudeness from Mildred, who was nothing but a spoiled child, but from Mr. and Mrs. Bucknor th

t very hall and she was standing on those very stairs-perhaps in that self-same spot. There was a house party at Buck Hill and she had come from Peyton only that morning in a brand new carriage with 94 Billy driving the spanking pair of nags. Billy was young then, but so trustworthy that her fathe

ng up the steps, two at a time, and taken her hand in his: "Oh, Cousin Ann, how beautiful you

mory of Bert Mason, the young lover who had been killed in the war, was still too vivid for he

t Peyton, her beloved home, was completely destroyed by fire. She 95 had fainted. Young ladies usually fainted in those days when overcome by emotion.

ake your ho

wit

have par

is next,"

he house. Then had begun the years of visiting for Ann Peyton. Her father had died a few weeks after the fire and later an only brother. She had more invitations to visit than sh

t hall and trying hard to 96 pretend to be interested in what a beautiful girl was saying to him. The beautiful girl was the one who had made the remark about a fancy dress ball. The grandson of Robert Bucknor had not heard her sa

ow lovely you look! I'd like to dance a minuet with you." Then he gave her his arm and escorted her down the stairs. Supper was announced i

ng attendance on her. "Grabbing Jeff that way! How does she

an in a stage whisper. "Verbenas!" and then a fat boy w

t Eve

ime I

a ve

f her

thing mattered much except that Robert Bucknor's grandson, who looked so like him, had run up the steps to meet her and had told her she looked lovely and was now holding her hand tightly clasped aga

ttered. "Ain't my Miss A