226 MY COUSIN. 
was conscious of it. These may seem trifles, my 
dear sir, but the proudest of us all have seen the 
day when such little proofs of affection from the 
one we love have sent a thrill through every nerve 
in our frame, and in our ecstasy almost lifted us 
from the earth. Ah, sir, it don't do to laugh at 
these trifles; many a noble, many a monarch, 
would have given his broad lands, his greatest vic- 
tory,- or the finest jewel of his crown, to win such a 
trifle from the one he loved. I'm wandering. The 
two months were up, and yet in all this time I 
hadn't got a kiss from my cousin. 
It was the night but one before I was to go 
away. I determined to make a last efibrt. We 
were sitting by the window, and the old folks 
were next door. My sweet little cousin looked 
pensive, and doubtless felt so ; for though I had 
been to the Black Hills, and shot buffalo, I was 
somewhat sentimental myself. It was just the 
night for melting thoughts ; and the moon shone 
tenderly upon the river in the distance, pour- 
ing her silvery light like fairy verdure on the 
distant hills. ^ My pretty cousin sat by my side, 
and we were talking of my approaching de- 
parture. 
" I shall be very busy to-morrow, and I don't 
know whether I shall be able to come here in the 
evening," said I. 
She slowly raised her dark eyes to me, till the 
very soul seemed pouring out from beneath the 
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