The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-20

then. Laura having such good tnle ana IL
would spoil everything to have country cousin to
take with her everywhere
Laura did not admit it to herself. but the other
girls knew that her good times" meant occasions
in which Juck Towsley present
Laura Van Ness had always had beauX. but Jack
was different. Sine would have told you he was
lawfully nice and kind but that all. What
made Jack SO fascinating" to the girls was that
none Of them felt of him. Yet of late they "n
admitted that he paid Laura attention than he
did any else.
He CAME from the East and said to be Of fine
family. He tall and slender and very straight.
and had what the girls called an aristocratc nose,
and altogether desirable.
There being a general impression that he prided
himself on his ancestry, Laura had furtively con-
suited the books geneology in the city library and
had found to her delight that Van Ness an old
and honorable name and that in the old country her
ancestors had been people of rank and Importance
Laura had told herself that she liked Jack lows
ley because she afraid of him, just little just
enough to be interesting Her father had hard
store and Jack lawyer, the of
judge and though he said So she was
he despised trade was a pleasure, therefore, 70
tell him of her recent discoveries and of her dis
tinguished Dutch ancestry.
He colored little and rather quiet
painted in glowing coors the glory of the Nesses
of medieval days. 'You value these things very
much Miss Van NeSS?" he asked.
mo more than you do, sure" she replied
Il don't know. l do care for honest blood, but
think that is about all. Perhaps if 1 had your
ancestors to be proud of it might be different"
He smiled slightly and Laura bIushed and feared
she had said too much and admired him all the
more for his mOdesty
Like most patriotic Americans the young Deop1e
of LauraS set were given to celebrating the Fourth
of July by getting far possible from the SOUND
OF the cannon and frecackers and even the occu-
Sonal reading of the Declaration of Independence
which belong properly to the traditional observance
of the day. They to have picnic as usuar
this year, and as Laura said. it was really too bad
that Elmira should arrive the I'd for a months
visit MI Van Ness had been guilty of extending
an InJudciousy elastic invitation to his sisters only
daughter, and this was the result
Laura could not say respectfully ooh papa
how could you? which would have been a relief 70
her mind, for sisters daughter is rather a near
relative, and she wouldn't have hurt papas feelings
for the world.
She hadn't seen EImi1a for some years. but there
was painful photograph of her. that Aunt Emily
had sent framed, hanging the wall of the family
sitting room
What troubled Laura most was the marked
FAMILY likeness between her and her cousin only IN
Elmira Laura's defects were exaggerated almost
cirlcatufed, and whereas Laura distinctly
pretty Elnira was as distinctly plain. She was FIVE
years older than Laura and five inches taller
Oh the evening of the 1st of July Jack Towsley
called. My cousin Emira Is coming tomorrow
said Laura abruptly.
THAT is nice" he replied innocently "she VIII
be here just in time for the picnic"
Yes" said Laura. with so little animation tbat
Jack looked at her questioningly 81 suppose she
will go to the picnic?" he asked
Oh, yes suppose She-she is a few years
older than l, and she lives in very small town and
don't think she Dances" said Laura hesitatinsIy
"0h, well then. picnic is just the thing" said
Jack cheerfuly. at VIII give her chance to meet
everybody. Is she going to stay some time?'
Yes, about month. believe"
"I'hat will be pleasant for YOU 1t must be very
lonely for a girl not to have any sister,"
How kind Jack u.s." thought Laura; "'but he
hasn't seen Emira. If only some of our nice look
ing, agreeable relations coming. As 1 remesn-
Der poor Elnlira she wasn't bit interesting and her
e grammar wasn't always above suspicion either"
The next day Elmirl came, and Inu1.,'s worst
fears were realized. The family had evidently ex-
erted themselves to make Elmra 'presantable"
She would have appeared better in her ordinary
clothes. The profusion cheap lace and Gibbons of
uncOmpromisng hues worse even than Laura
'>-->-NAt'tNt' anu
y arranged, illkept flower garden almost drew from
IauIas lips an exclamation Of dismay
EAmira, mistaking her expression for enc of sur
prised admiration smiled complacently as she ex-
planned,
It's gay. amt it? But we've got q real sw ell
milliner in Woodbine now. She goes to Centerville
every spring and fall to get the fashions"
That's very nice" said Laura feeby fbut we
girls wear sailor hats much of the time YOU can
this one"
Il don't want to-" said Elmira MA said if
ever wanted good clothes I'd want 'em now We
live kind of quiet at home"
feeling of pity for the tall awkward girl near.
ly thirty, who had known nothing outside the limits
of one small country town. and who evidently regard
ed this as the opportunity Of a lifetime surprised
Laura into laying her hand her Cousins arm and
lifting her face for kiss, which Elmira gave shyIy
Dear Elmira," said she kindly. 81 do hope you'll
have good time, and Pm glad you've come In time
for Fourth Of July picnic"
I'm glad. too; always like picnfcs, and aint
much of hand for dances and the like o that said
ElmiIzl simply.
When the morning of the Fourth came Laura IT
duck skirt shlrtwaist and sailor hat, explained to
Elmira that that the way all of the girls would
dress, but in vain "of course, that's all rignt