s something about Cousin Elsie he
couldn't make out. What was the matter with her eyes, that they sucked
your life out of you in that strange way? What did she always wear a
necklace for? Had she some such love-token on her neck as the old Don's
revolver had left on his? How safe would anybody feel to live with her?
Besides, her father would last forever, if he was left to himself. And
he may take it into his head to marry again. That would be pleasant!

So talked Cousin Richard to himself, in the calm of the night and in the
tranquillity of his own soul. There was much to be said on both sides.
It was a balance to be struck after the two columns were added up. He
struck the balance, and came to the conclusion that he would fall in love
with Elsie Venner.

The intelligent reader will not confound this matured and serious
intention of falling in love with the young lady with that mere impulse
of the moment before mentioned as an instance of making love. On the
contrary, the moment Mr. Richard had made up his mind that he should fall
in love with Elsie, he began to be more reserved with her, and to try to
make friends in other quarters. Sensible men, you know, care very little
what a girl's present fancy is. The question is: Who manages her, and
how can you get at that person or those persons? Her foolish little
sentiments are all very well in their way; but business is business, and
we can't stop for such trifles. The old political wire-pullers never go
near the man they want to gain, if they can help it; they find out who
his intimates and managers are, and work through them. Always handle any
positively electrical body, whether it is charged with passion or power,
with some non-conductor between you and it, not with your naked hands.
--The above were some of the young gentleman's working axioms; and he
proceeded to act in accordance with them.

He began by paying his court more assiduously to his uncle. It was not
very hard to ingratiate himself in that quarter; for his manners were
insinuating, and his precocious experience of life made him entertaining.
The old neglected billiard--room was soon put in order, and Dick, who was
a magnificent player, had a series of games with his uncle, in which,
singularly enough, he was beaten, though his antagonist had been out of
play for years. He evinced a profound interest in the family history,
insisted on having the details of its early alliances, and professed