Grey apologized for the mistake he had made 
In introducing Jessie, and said he would try to 
remedy It. Ills friends—tho lady and gentleman 
who had originally proposed the sojourn—now 
joined us, and Jessie introduced them to mo as 
her husband! 
I hastened to deny the relation; but Grey and 
Jessie laughed off my denial In a most extraordi¬ 
narily cool manner, so that I actually began to 
wonder If I hadn't. In a fit or abstraction at some 
period, been married to my own cousin. 
"I shall know to-night," thought I, “at the 
Tide-mill House; for If Jessie and l have but one 
room allotted us, I shall probably be aware of tho 
fact!" 
Arrived at tho watering-place, Grey offered to 
attend to all tho business of getting apart ments, 
seeing tho baggage disposed of and taking care 
of Miss Vaughn who, overcome by her emotions 
and the ground-swell, had been most unpot llcally 
sea-slek all the way. 
I mean to say that Ninon do l’Enclos, Catherine 
of Kussla—yea, Sappho, or Asptislft herseir— 
would be unpObtlcal and unattractive If sitting, 
sea-slek, with a basin before her. 
I had to take earo of Jessie still, and did so with 
as good a grace as possible, although I felt really 
vexed with her. She evidently had fixed upon 
favorite watering place about twenty miles off, 
where parties frequently went for a jaunt, A 
gentleman and his wlfe-frlends of Grey Endl- 
cott—were going, and wanted some young folks 
to accompany them to make tt pleasant. With 
this Idea they had commissioned Grey to make up 
a little coterie. 
“If Miss Jessie will accompany us,audit you 
can get some agreoablc young lady to accompany 
“ I thtffk wo may have a 
of the country editor. I mado such fine Byromc 
speeches to her, that she returned my affection, 
almost as Jersey Jockeys swap horses—“ onslght, 
onseen." ^ _ _ 
My UtUe'cousIn'Jessle'nnd I were confidants. 
We told each other everything. Tf 1 went to a 
supper and brought away too much champagne 
under my waistcoat, T freely confessed It to Jes¬ 
sie. If she had shown too much preference, to 
some smooth-tongued stranger and made her old 
triends Jealous, she told me of it. If 1 fell In love 
—which I did in those days about once a week— 
Jessie was the recipient of my rhapsodies, and If 
any one of tho young men ot the neighborhood 
succeeded In getting bis courage up to the point 
of proposing to Jessie—not a very rare occurrence 
—I was the first, and generally the only person, 
who knew ot the poor fellow’s overthrow. 
Heretofore we had agreed charmingly, but now 
we were at open Issue, and Idella Vaughn was 
the rock upon which we split. Of course, when I 
told that young lady (twenty-six Is not too old for 
a young lady-la it, girls?) that I was her slave 
THE NEW YEAR, 
Rise all ye bells ! m merry crnme. 
And welcome in the gladsome tone. 
The {dad New Year of hope and joy, 
?hebright New Year without alloy 
The hundredth year of Freedom’s birth. 
EEr wSix low her priceless worth 
_-j fpuds and factions state, 
all evil, malice, bate, 
d strife, that’s past. 
you,” said Grey to me, 
very pleasant time." 
Charming! Miss Idella and I must go, of course, 
1 thought, 1 pictured to myself tho delight we 
should have In wandering by tbo shore and pick¬ 
ing up shells, and “ enjoying the fresh," as the 
French say, or sitting upon tho front piazza of 
tho Tide-mill House In the moonlight. We must 
go, and Idella should write poem on tho sojourn. 
My cousin Jesalo Interrupted my meditations 
with what scorned to mo like a very malicious and 
uncalled-for remark. 
“ it you tuko that Vaughn thing, 1 won Cgo! 
Grey looked Imploringly at rao; but I was de¬ 
termined and merely retorted: 
“Then, my dear child, you will not go." 
By some means unknown to me, Grey succeeded 
in persuading her to change her resolution audio 
accompany us, even If “ that. Vaughn thing" was 
of tho party. He was a very persuasive fellow— 
was Grey Eudlcott—especially with soma folks. 
I Tho morrow was fixed upon for our trip, which 
was to last two or three days. Wo got together a 
largo assort ment ot fishing tackle, baskets, etc., 
and Grey laid In an ample supply ot cigars. 
“For.” said ho, “take my advlco and never 
Ring out. all 
Ring out i— 
Rtnsr out the gall bit-- . 
Rinj,- in kochI-wIU and peace, at last, 
Rimr in a purer, better day 
Of Truth and Honor for alway. 
Tbe romrh-hewn rears, now past and gone, 
Shall be the frame of those to oome. 
The finished, furnished house to hold. 
As builders frame in rougher mold, 
AIhxIch of beauty, taste and art. 
Whore dwell the cultured mind and heart. 
Beneath the tree of Liberty 
Our houBe shall ever sheltered be, 
There. Love and I’caco shall e’er abide, 
Jn trust the Inmates there reside; 
Iirtoli our a brother’s right, defend. 
Till all in harmony shall blend. 
Rimr. oil ye bells ! in merry chime, 
And welcome in the gladsome time. 
The glad. New Year of hope and Joy, 
The bright New Year without allow. 
The hundredth year of Freedom’s birth. 
That well doth show her priceless worth. 
’ riR) otttu UV| -.-V. 
smoke a watering-place etgar-ll will be some¬ 
thing to haunt you on your death-bed If you do.” 
Two stages bore us to South Milestone—two 
miles from l lto Center—and a small sort of a sin- I 
glcrbam led steamer bore u.s the rest ot the way. 
Miss Idella Vaughn and myself occupied one stage, 
while Grey and Jessie mado themselves miserably 
happy, with Grey’s married friends, In the other. 
Whon wo arrived at South Mtlcstono and as¬ 
sembled on tho pier. Grey confronted us and, 
much to my astonishment, banded niy cousin 
over to rac and walked Miss Idella, on board the 
boat himself. As I followed with Jessie 1 heard 
him say; 
“ I don’t know as you aro acquainted with my 
friend’s lady—shall I Introduce you!" 
Tho fair lclella responded that sho would be de¬ 
lighted and, as wo gained tho upper deck of the 
boat, Grey presented Jessie—my own cousin -as 
my wlfel , , 
Mlsa Vaughn was thunderstruck. A gloomy 
cloud gathered upon her brow and double-action 
lightning flashed from her eyes, which she rolled 
so far Up that It seemed Impossible they should 
ever attain a natural position again. 
Without a word she bowed low, and before I 
could got my rnernth open tc deny that my cousin 
was my wife. Grey ted her away toward tho bow 
cerato herseir there for tho rest, of our stay. I 
was determined to put an end t.o tho Idea that 
Jessie and i were husband and wife, so i accosted 
her on tho piazz,a, betoro a number of people, with 
•• Well, wlfey, let’s go up to our room and dress 
for dinner.’’ 
Instead of blushing and exposing tho deecptlou, 
as I had fancied she might, tho llttlo witch said 
she was Just about to propose tho snmo thing and 
seized hold of my arm In that real youug-wuo 
style. 
Wo went to tho onico and tho clerk, on Inspect¬ 
ing tho register, found that wo were put down U3 
a married couple, but handed out two keys. This 
was not. extraordinary, howover, for Grey Endl- 
oott’ft frleuda had two rooms also, ana tho rtiso 
was not yet exposed. Wo sought our rooms and 
found them adjoin big each other. 1 gave Jessie 
her key with a savage growl at her, and opening 
my door, entered. 
At that instant there appeared at another door, 
nearly opposite mine, tho form of my beloved 
Idella, in rather a shocking stato ot undress, 
which did not. heighten the beauty ot her personal 
graces in the least. As sho looked out she saw 
mo enter my apartment, and In walked Jessie 
Immediately after me. 
“ O, husband," alio cried, In a loud tone of voice, 
and would have continued her senteuce; but the 
sudden slapplng-to of tho opposite door rendered 
it unnecessary, and sho only finished with laugh¬ 
ter. 
Grey, the rascal, had secured these two rooms 
because they bad a door communicating between 
them, and Jeaslo could bo Been going Into and 
coming out of mine, often enough to convey the 
natural Impression that we occupied tho two In 
common. 
That evening, os I was meditating what steps 
to take to disabuse tho charming idclia’s mind, I 
saw Endleott pass by with tier on his arm, going 
out to take a stroll on the, beach. 
Jessie had already gone out with tho other 
couple, a nd 1 was lea alone In my glory, while tho 
conspirators could plot andUrcy couldstreuKthcn 
j iiiella’s already strong conviction that, 1 bad 
! either been on tho eve of committing bigamy, or 
i had tampered outrageously with her budding 
■ affections. 
Thoroughly disgusted and quite misanthropical 
in spirit, I set out for a lonely walk ami Boon 
found myself wandering distractedly along tho 
i ahore. As I passed a sharp promontory of rock, I 
• saw. in a Uttle recess near the top, Grey unci Jes- 
It undoubtedly is—In my private anairs. 
“ I don’t cars whether It is any of my business 
or not—If you marry that girl, I’ll never sp.-ak to 
you again." . ... ,, ,, 
“ M on t you ? I’m sorry to hear tt. Miss idella 
Vaughn la a young woman of great respectabilit y. 
Ilcrltamlly is unquestionable; her education Is 
complete—a great deal better than yours, ray 
dear—and sho has some wealth. These aro world¬ 
ly considerations, but they should bo satisfactory 
to my friends. For tbe rest, sho has an affection¬ 
ate disposition—'" 
“ An affectionate humbug 1 
“ A sympathetic heart—" 
<< Ycb * ftlio carries lior tcufB In Ucr pocketr-hand- 
kerchler, and applies them when required.” 
“ Sho has a beautiful countenance— 
“ What an imagination you are gifted with I” 
“ A line figure—” . , 
“Oh, oh, that is going a uttle too far! She Is 
veritably a bone—nothing but.a bone; and I must 
say, a very lU-fthaped bone at that." 
“Miss Jessie, I protest against any such abuse 
of a person whom I esteem, l have told you that 
I have offered myself to her, and that I cherish a 
greater regard lor hex* than for any other young 
lady I ever saw. These facto should Insure her a 
due degree of respect from my friends and rela- 
tlves.’ > 
“Duedegree of nonsense! 1 tell you, cousin, 
you are a many, and that glrl-no, that spinster 
nr. mnrfl tit to bo your wife than she Is to talk 
JW»>' .XVV 
