The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-22
Cousin Emily's
Revolt
By CARROLL w. RANKrN.

edge Of the long ore dock. One was
small, soberly-dresHed woman of
perhaps 40 years of age. The other
was a tall, radiant girl of IT. Their
eyes were fixed upon 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 -wo 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.
ibid you ever see such beaming
lot? Isn't 1t lovely for them to have
chance to take lake trip? Wasn't
it nice of Uncle Joe to think OF send
ing them all? Isn't it fun to see
folks off?7
''No," said her companion, unex-
pectedly, ''it isn'tl"
"Why, Cousin Emilyi Anybody'd
think you weren't glad to have them
go. Think what change it will be
for motherl Ten whole days without
q mite of housekeeping to think off"
"0f course I'm glad for your moth
er's sake; she really needed the rest.
But you just wait. KathC<ine, until
you've been seeing people off for 40
years, without ever going to 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 l haven't been a dozen
miles from home in all that time.
First of all, / saw everybody off
80 the Centennial. Did GO? Not a
bit of I'll Young as l was, | had to
stay at home with your grandfather's
SCREAMED ankle. Then all the family
went to Mary Banning's wedding, and
left me at home to poultice Uncle
Timothy's felon. Did | go to the
circus? Did go to Chicago to the
opera? Did l get to the worlds fair
or the Paris exposition? Did II"
"Why, Cousin Emily"
did l go to the family gathering
at Madison? No, didn't. Somebody
had to stay in the house to keep the
water-pipes from freezing, and l was
that somebody. Did | go to the last
whist tournament? ! wanted to, but
somebody had to stay with Cousin
Anne's teething baby, and of course
/ was the one.
II didn't even get to Grandfather
Perkins funeral. | saw all the fam
lily off in a private car that time; but
was left at home with the Denberry
twins. There are those twins on that
boat this very minute; and here am |,
seeing them off and staying here my
self TO chaperon YOU"
"I'm sorry" began Katherine.
"Oh, you needn't be. 1t isn't your
fault. 1t isn't anybody's fault, unless
it's mine. 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, It
was necessary to proceed cautiously
in order to avoid rubbing ones gar
ments against the ore-crimsoned tim
beers on the one hand, or tumbling I'M
tremendously 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.
swell, that's over" said Cousin EN-
ily. examining her sleeve for possible
ore-dust. katherine, ] want you TO
promise neyer to tell anybody what
said about being sick or seeing
people of and never going any.
where myself. I'm ashamed of my
self for saying it. The family
has been as good az gold to me all
these years. / 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"
GAN the better" laughed Katherine
''She'd hem all the way from here to
Cleveland If she had il. II Tom finds il
he'll throw IL overheard TO keep her
from sewing. Never mind, Cousin En-
lily. Rub out that anxious wrinkle and
come along! shan't tell 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 SC
many others TO plan things for her
sRsax several days in deep thought
TsfM %as so unusual that Cousin I'm
ny xent surreptitiously for the fam
lily doctor, who felt the girls pulse
whsle pretending to shake her hand
and then grayely recommended .
freekle lotion,
Katherine's father was not wealthy
but on her mothers side the family
was a large and influential one. II in
cluded one millionaire, one mine-own
er and three railroad men. To be sure
the millionaire was stingy, the mine
owner eccentric, and the railroad mel
too busy TO be bothered; but Kath
crime was not the girl to be hamperet
by trifles like these.
"Pooh." said Katherine, tearing III
a six-page letter, the result of an hour
hard labor. Uncle John hasn't tim,