Cousin Maude

"Let him decide," was Maude's answer, as the crutches struck the

soft carpet of the room.

"Louis," said Mr. De Vere, "shall Maude go with me to Europe as my

wife?"

"Yes, yes--yes, yes," was Louis' hasty answer, his brown eyes

filling with tears of joy when he heard that he, too, was to

accompany them.

Maude could no longer refuse, and she half fancied she saw the

flashing of the diamonds, when James placed upon her finger the ring

which bore the inscription of "Cousin Maude." Before coming there

that night, Mr. De Vere had consulted a New York paper, and found

that a steamship would sail for Liverpool on the 20th of April,

about six weeks from that day.

"We will go in it," he said, "my blind bird, Louis, and I," and he

parted lovingly the silken tresses of her to whom this new

appellation was given.

There was much in the future to anticipate, and much in the past

which he wished to talk over; so he remained late that night, and on

passing through the lower hall was greatly surprised to see Mrs.

Kennedy still sitting in the parlor. She had divined the object and

result of his visit, and the moment he was gone she glided up the

stairs to the room where Maude was quietly weeping for very joy.

The story of the engagement was soon told, and winding her arm around

Maude's neck Mrs. Kennedy said, "I rejoice with you, daughter, in

your happiness, but I shall be left so desolate when you and Louis

are both gone."

Just then her eye caught the ring upon Maude's finger, and taking it

in her hand. she admired its chaste beauty, and was calculating its

probable cost, when glancing at the inside she started suddenly,

exclaiming, "'Cousin Maude'--that is my name--the one by which he

always called me. Has it been given to you, too?" and as the throng

of memories that name awakened came rushing over her, the impulsive

woman folded the blind girl to her bosom, saying to her, "My child,

my, child, you should have been!"

"I do not understand you," said Maude, and Mrs. Kennedy replied, "It

is not meet that we should part ere I tell you who and what I am. Is

the name of Maude Glendower strange to you? Did you never hear it in

your Vernon home?"

"It seemed familiar to me when J.C. De Vere first told me of you,"

answered Maude, "but I cannot recall any particular time when I

heard it spoken. Did you know my mother?"