Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-05-28
Cousin Emily's
Revolt
BY CARROLL W. RANKIN.

NV pam VAIN at Ile outer
edge of the long ore dock. One was
a small, soberly-dressed woman OF
perhaps 40 years OF age. The Other
was tall, radiant girl Of II. Their
eyes were fixed upon a huge ore-car-
rier, steaming slowly out into the
clear blue of Lake Superior. Five
handkerchiefs of varying dimensions
fiuttered gayly from the stern rail,
and five happy faces smiled back at
the two watchers silhouetted against
the ore-stained timbers Of the dock.
What an advertisement they'd
make for tooth-powderl" said Kath-
crime, watching the receding boat.
did you ever see such beaming
lot? Isn't it lovely for them to have
chance to take lake trip? Wasn't
1t nice Of Uncle Joe to think of send
ing them all? Isn't it fun to see
folks off?"
mo" said her companion, unex.
pectedly, lit isn'tl"
''Why, Cousin Emilyl Anybody'd
think you weren't glad 10 have them
go. Think what change il will be
for motherl Ten whole days without
a mite Of housekeeping to think off,
"Of course I'm glad for your moth
er's sake; she really needed the rest.
But you just wait, Katherine, until
you've been seeing people off for 40
years, without ever going 10 any
place yourself, and see how you like
i'll I've seen people off on steam
boats and ore-carriers, on special
trains and private cars, and just
plain, everyday cars ever since / was
born; but / haven't been a dozen
miles from home in all that time.
First Of all. saw everybody off
to the Centennial Did ! go? Not a
bit Of IT. Young as I was, l had 10
stay at home with your grandfather's
sprained ankle Then all the family
went TO Mary BSnning's wedding, and
left me at home 20 poultice Uncle
Timothy's felon. Did I go 70 the
circus2 Did / 60 20 Chicago to the
opera? Did ! get 10 the worlds fair
or the Paris exposition? Did +"
"Why, Cousin Emily!"
"Did / go to the family gathering
at Madison? No. / didn't. Somebody
had 10 stay in the house to keep the
water-pipes from freezing, and was
that somebody. Did go TO the last
whist tournament? l wanted TO, but
somebody had to stay with Cousin
Anne's teething baby, and Of course
l was the one.
Il didn't even get to Grandfather
Perkins funeral. / saw all the fam
ily of in a private ear that time; but
/ was left al home with the Denberry
twins. There are those twins on that
boat this very minute; and here am l,
seeing them off and staying here my
self TO chaperon YOU
am sorry" began Katherine.
ooh. YOU needn't be. 1t isn't your
fault. II isn't anybody's fault, unless
its mine. 1 tell you, Katherine, it
doesn't pay TO be a useful person
But come; let's go'home. The boat
went around the point two minutes
ago"
The plank walk was none too wide.
While there was no actual danger II
was necessary to proceed cautiously
IN order TO avoid rubbing ones gar
ments against the ore-crimsoned tim
hers ON the one hand or tumbling I'M
into the lake on the
other. So katherine led her more
timorous second cousin along the
narrow ledge, up the steps and INTO
the safety of the broad, covered walk
in absolute silence.
"Well. that's over" said Cousin En-
ilv. examining her sleeve for possible
ore-dust. katherine, ] want you TO
promise never TO tell anybody what l
said about being sick or seeing
neonle of and never going any
where myself. I'm ashamed Of my
self for saying il. The family
has been as good as gold 70 me All
these years. 1 think | must have been
tired and nervous after flying around
all the morning trying to get every
body's things packed in the right bags.
I'm afraid now that | put your moth
er's thimble in Toms suit case.
"Au the better" laughed Katherine.
"she'd hem all the way from here TO
Cleveland ii she had it. If Tom finds II
hen throw it overheard to keep her
from sewing. Never mind, Cousin En-
ily. Rub out that anxious wrinkle ana
come alongl l shan't tell a soul about
all those trips you didn't take.
And Katherine did not; but the girl
who had never in her life planned any
thing for herself, since she had so
many others to plan things for her
spent several days in deep thought
This was so unusual that Cousin En-
ilv sent surreptitiously for the fam
ily doctor, who felt the girls pulse,
while pretending to shake her hand,
and then gravely recommended
freckle lotion.
Katherine's father was not wealthy,
but on her mothers side the family
was a large and influential one. 1t IN
cluded one millionaire, one mine-own-