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Show COUNTRY COUSIN By ANNA L. FINN. h'l " Marian Carew aimlessly fingered the letter she had finished reading. "Well of all things," she soliloquized, "just when mother litis gone on a vacation nnd left me alone to keep house, a 'country cousin' whom I have not seen for years decides that she will pay us a visit a line state of affairs. I simply sim-ply cannot entertain her. but how I am going to avert it is more than 1 know." For several minutes she sal in deep thought, trying to devise a means of evading the issue, hut could not arrive at any definite conclusion. Finally a bright thought occurred to her she would call Boh Into conference. Robert Rob-ert Leyland was Marian's devoted suitor, suit-or, and she had great confidence in his superior judgment. She felt certain Bob would find the right solution. So that evening when he called Marian Ma-rian explained the situation to him. "You see," she began, "she has been In boarding school the past year, and on her way home wishes to spend some time with us. Of course, It's impossible, now that mother is away, because I cannot do the cooking goodness good-ness knows, I find it hard enough to get along alone, to say nothing of entertaining." en-tertaining." "Well, it isn't so bad," Bob remarked, re-marked, after listening to Marian's Innumerable excuses. "And I see nothing noth-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." "Entertaining!" Marian ejaculated. "Oh, Bob, if you could see her." Bob could not refrain from smiling at Marian's description of her "country "coun-try cousin." Fortunately, however, his generous nature always guided him along the right lines, and he finally convinced, her that there was no alternative al-ternative other than the one of accepting accept-ing the inevitable. "Very well, Bob, but remember your part of the agreement," Marian concluded. con-cluded. "You are to do the entertaining." entertain-ing." "Agreed," Bob replied. "We'll show her a good time, even If she is as homely as a hedge fence. Leave it to me I'll 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 and go and meet her, so the task fell to Bob. Now, to be sent to meet a girl you have never seen is not altogether easy. Starting off in his little roadster, however, how-ever, Bob met the situation with his usual calm demeanor. Upon reaching the station he learned thNt 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 saw none answering the description of Flora. A trim figure at the extreme 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, a perfect nose and not the slightest trace of a freckle. He was about to depart, when, to his complete surprise, the dainty bit of femininity he had been scrutinizing, timidly approaching him, inquired if he could direct her to the Carew home. "Why, you're the very person I've been looking for !" Bob gleefully exclaimed. It was not strange that Bob failed to recognize Flora Winston, for time had worked a marvelous transformation transforma-tion in the little "country cousin." Happy were the days for Flora which followed. A series of tennis, golf and canoeing served to while away the idle hours, and Bob, in the role of entertainer, played his part to perfection. per-fection. The climax was finally reached one day when Bob and Flora were motoring motor-ing together, leaving Marian to entertain enter-tain herself as best she could. She had reached the height of her endurance, and determined to give vent to her feelings. Upon returning Flora looked quite charming, began to elaborate on Bob's fine qualities, and his very courteous treatment of her, wholly unaware un-aware of the approaching storm. Every w ord was a dagger in Marian's heart, and she promptly expressed her opinion on the subject, which was anything but a favorable one. "Oh. I'm so sorry," pleaded Flora. "I would not for the world have come between you. I will leuve at once, never to see him again, although It will mean a great sacrifice to nie." It was not until after Flora had gone and Marian was alone that she fuHy realized all that had happened. Meanwhile, several hours luter, as Flora was quickening her pace down Ihe driveway, she stopped short at the appearance of a familiar face. 'Oil. Bob!" she exclaimed, "you're the very person I'm trying to avoid." Bob looked mystified. "But I am glad to have this opportunity to explain," she continued. "I never realized what Marian meant to you." But that was as far as she got. "She never meant anything to me compared to you," Bob Interposed. "And you're not going off like this at least not until you promise prom-ise to make me the happiest man in Ihe world." Flora's cup of joy was filled to tverflowing. and smiling through her lears she fondly inquired: "But how about Marian?" With ever-ready solution so-lution Bob promptly replied: "Oh, we'll pave her for bridesmaid," and as the two proceeded down the driveway even nature seemed to smile on the lappy pair. ;Copy: :::t. !:'". McClure New s; i;-fri' Syn dicate." |
