The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-06-11
THE
ORPHANED
COUSIN
By BERTHA r. MCDONALD
1926. Western Newspaper Union. ,

A S A picture, Gracia Kenear was
"A exquisitely easy on the optic
I nerve. Tall, graceful, with melt
ing brown eyes and complex
ion like ripe peaches, she habitually
maintained the manner best described
as aristocratic. She had a certain
amount of that elusive thing called
personality, which always commands
attention, but as an individual, she
certainly was in class all by her
SELF
Gracia thought first, last, always
and only of Gracia; the kind of a
girl who adventures broadly whenever
and wherever she chooses, but who
continually cautions the other fellow
against like procedure.
She domineered over father, mother,
the servants-ev who hap
pened to be under her own roof tree,
with a selfishness that was colossal.
Mother was continually having to an
swer for or adjust her mistakes; to
say nothing of hiring and firing serv-
ants, because of her Objectionable
ways, with rapidity which would
have done credit to a machine gun.
And yet, to the outside world, Gracia
was able to pose as a considerate, low
Ing, homing pigeon, with only the best
interests of her dear ones at heart,
and get away with 1t.
Into this precarious atmosphere
there was one day precipitated, lonely
orphaned cousin, the daughter of Mrs.
kenear's youngest sister, girl with
out funds and no relatives except
those in the city where the Kenears
made their home. Here, there lived
also eccentric Aunt Lydia, Mrs. Ke
near's oldest sister, for whom Gracia
had been named originally, but whose
name the young lady later repudiated,
choosing the more modern "Gracia."
She was able to square this account
with Aunt Lydia, whose fortune she
was hoping one day to inherit, only
by insisting that Gracia was a mid
die name which her parents had neg
lected to supply.
When apprised of the approaching
advent of Elsie Long, her orphaned
cousin, Gracia, shrugged shapely
shoulder and remarked character
istically: How tiresome! Why must
we be bored with this bread and but
ter creature, mother?
"The poor dear has no other place
to go, unless it be Aunt Lydia's. Per-
haps-"
"Oh, no." interrupted Gracia quick
ly, sit wouldn't do to have her go
there" making mental calculation
not to allow this country lass to see
much of her rich old aunt. 81 sup
pose we will have to put up with hav-
ing her. No doubt she will be able to
make herself useful"
Little Elsie Long was the direct
antithesis Of her sophisticated cousin
Gracia. Small, delicately formed, she
was blonde and most bewitchingly
blue eyed, with pink and white skin
which suggested the perfection of vel
vety dollhouse rose petals. She was
sunny and cheerful, and best Of all,
When she met Gracia, whom she
never had seen before, she was more
or less awed by the grandeur of this
regal creature who was her relative,
and Gracia, quick to scent any oppor-
tunity which might be turned to ac-
count for her own needs or desires,
Immediately began to play up to the
impression she observed she had
created.
Elsie was given a small but cheerful
the back of the house. She was per-
fectly satisfied with her quarters; de-
lighted with the pretty chintz dra-
peries, the long, low shelves, filled with
such books as Gracia wished to cast
aside, it's comfortable rocker and it's
inviting white bed, but Gracia made
a point of not wanting her to get
homesick the day after she got there,
inviting Elsie to sit in her own spa
cious room fronting the drive, while
she dressed for an afternoon tea.
"Want to run the ribbon In this
teddy?" Gracia asked patronizingly,
as soon as Elsie was seated, tossing
into her lap bodkin, bolt of ribbon
and filmy pink thing that almost
took Elsie's breath away, it was so
beautiful. Elsie was glad to. She
loved handling the soft, silken fabric
and the satiny ribbons.
And so her serfdom began; months
Of. like service, always suggested with
an air Of granting rather than Of ask
ing favor. The little cousin was al
ways close at hand, unobtrusive and
self-effacing, ready to meet with swift
responsiveness Gracia's subtlest mood
Uncle Rob, otherwise Kenear pater,
to whom his own daughter was often
coldly repellent, grew to care a great
deal for the sunny little orphaned
cousin, whom he nicknamed "Cinder-
elsie"
1t never seemed to occur to either
Mrs. Kenear or her daughter that
Elsie might care to participate in any
Of the revelry which went on about