The Comings of Cousin Ann   By: Emma Speed Sampson (1868-1947)

The Comings of Cousin Ann

By Emma Speed Sampson

Author of "Mammy's White Folks" "Billy and the Major" "Miss Minerva's Baby" "The Shorn Lamb"

[Illustration]

Reilly & Lee Co. Chicago

Printed in the United States of America Copyright, 1923

by The Reilly & Lee Co.

All Rights Reserved

The Comings of Cousin Ann

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I The Veterans of Ryeville 9

II Cousin Ann at Buck Hill 20

III Cousin Ann is Affronted 32

IV The Energy of Judith 44

V Uncle Billy's Diplomacy 58

VI A Question of Kinship 68

VII Judith Makes a Hit 77

VIII Cousin Ann Looks Backward 89

IX The Veterans' Big Secret 98

X Judith Scores Again 111

XI A Surprise for Cinderella 123

XII Jeff Gives a Pledge 136

XIII The Debut Party 144

XIV On With the Dance 156

XV Cinderella Revealed 165

XVI The Morning After 176

XVII Uncle Billy Makes a Call 185

XVIII A Cavalier O'erthrown 193

XIX Miss Ann Moves On 202

XX A Heart Warming Welcome 212

XXI The Clan in Conclave 220

XXII A Great Transformation 228

XXIII The Lost Is Found 237

XXIV Blessings Begin to Flow 251

XXV Uncle Billy Smiles 262

The Comings of Cousin Ann

CHAPTER I

The Veterans of Ryeville

Ryeville had rather prided itself on having the same population about three thousand for the last fifty years. That is the oldest inhabitants had, but the newer generation was for expansion in spite of tradition, and Ryeville awoke one morning, after the census taker had been busying himself, to find itself five thousand strong and still growing.

There was no especial reason for the growth of the little town, save that it lay in the heart of rolling blue grass country and people have to live somewhere. And Ryeville, with its crooked streets and substantial homes, was as good a place as any. There were churches of all denominations, schools and shops, a skating rink, two motion picture houses and as many drug stores as there had been barrooms before prohibition made necessary a change of front. There were two hotels one where you "could" and one where you "couldn't." The former was frequented by the old men of the town and county. It stood next to the courthouse. Indeed its long, shady porch overlooked the courthouse green. There the old men would sit with chairs tilted against the wall and feet on railing and sadly watch the prohibition officers hauling bootleggers to court.

There were a great many old men in Ryeville and the country around more old men than old women, in spite of the fact that that part of Kentucky had furnished its quota of recruits for both Union and Rebel armies.