The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-01-29
Cousin Enlily's
Revolt
Nv CARROLL w. RANKIN.

1.-TWO persons StOod upon the mar
row plank walk at the outer
edge of the long ore dock. One was
small, soberly-dressed woman of
perhaps 40 years of age. The other
was a tall, radiant girl of II. Their
eyes were fixed upon huge ore-car-
rier, steaming slowly out into the
clear blue of Lake Superior. Five
handkerchiefs of varying dimensions
fluttered 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-powder!" 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
it nice of Uncle Joe to think of send
ing them all? Isn't it fun to see
folks OFF,"
no" said her companion, unex-
pectedly, st isn't!'
"Why, Cousin Emily! Anybodyd d
think you weren't glad to have them
go. Think what change it will be
for mother! Ten whole days without
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 4o
years, without ever going to any
place yourself, and see how you like
it! I've seen people off on steam
boats and ore-carriers, on special
trains and private cars, and just
plain, everyday cars ever since 1 was
born; but / haven't been a dozen
miles from home in all that time.
"First of all, 1 saw everybody off
to the Centennial. Did l go? Not a
bit of it! Young as l was, had to
stay at home with your grandfather's
sprained ankle. Then all the family
went to Mary Banning's wedding, and
left me at home to poultice Uncle
Timothy's felon. Did I go to the
circus? Did 1 go to Chicago to the
opera? Did l get to the worlds fair
or the Paris exposition? Did L"
"Why, Cousin Emily!''
But Cousin Emily, after silence
of 40 years, was airing an unsuspect-
ed grievance, and paid no heed to as
tonished Katherine's interruption.
.Did / 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 l go to the last
whist tournament? / wanted to, but
somebody had to stay with Cousin
Anne's teething baby, and of course
i 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 I,
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. I 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
bers on the one hand, or tumbling un-
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-
lily, examining her sleeve for possible
ore-dust. katherine, l want you to
promise never to tell anybody what l
said about being sick or seeing
people off and never going any
where myself. I'm ashamed of my
self for saying it. The family
has been as good as 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"
All the better" laughed Katherine
shed hem all the way from here to
Cleveland if she had it. If Tom finds it
he'll throw it overheard to keep her
from sewing. Never mind, Cousin En-
liy. Rub out that anxious wrinkle and
come along! shan't tell soul about
az 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.
ms was so unusual that Cousin EN-
~ sent surreptitiously for the fam
ny doctor, who felt the girls pulse,
while pretending to shake her hand.
and then grayely recommended
freckle lotion.
hatherine's father was not wealthv