Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-09-10
THE
ORPHANED
COUSIN
BY BERTHA r. MCDONALD
q, 1925, western Newspaper Union. }

"A eXquisitely easy on the optic
4 n nerve Tall, graceful, with melt
ing brown eyes and complex
Ion like ripe peaches, she habltually
maintained the manner best described
as arlstocratlc. She had Il certain
amount of that elusive thing called
personality, which always commands
attention, but us an individual, she
certainly was in class all by her
self.
Gracia thought first, last, always
and only of Gracla; the kind of
girl who adventures broadly whenever
and wherever she chooses, but who
continually cautions the other fellow
against a like procedure.
She domlneered over father, mother,
the servants-everybody who hap
pened to be under her own roof tree,
with n 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 rapidlty which would
have done credit to machine gun.
And yet, to the outside world, Gracla
was able to pose as conslderate, low
ing, homlng 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 precipltated, lonely
orphaned cousin, the daughter of Mrs.
kenear's youngest sister, Il 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 Gracla
had been named originally, but whose
name the young lady later repudlated,
choosing the more modern "Gracla."
She was able to square this account
with Aunt Lydia, whose fortune she
was hoping one day to inherit, only
by insisting that Gracla was q mid
die name which her parents had neg
lected to supply.
When apprlsed of the approaching
advent Of Elsie Long, her orphaned
cousin, Gracla, shrugged shapely
shoulder and remarked character
lstically: How tlresomel Why must
we be bored with this bread and but
ter creature, mother2"
1.-THE poor dear has no other place
to go, unless 1t be Aunt Lydlas Per.
haps-"
"Oh, no. interrupted Gracla quick
ly, at wouldn't do to have her go
there making "A mental calculation
not tosalow this country lass to see
much of her rich old aunt. 81 sup
pose we win have to put up with hay
Ing her. No doubt she will be able to
make herself useful"
Little Elsie Long was the direct
antlthesis Of her sophisticated cousin
Gracia. Small, dellcately formed, she
was blonde and most bewitchlngly
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,
utterly forgetful OF self.
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
room which overlooked the garden at
the back Of the house. She was per-
fectly satisfied with her quarters; de-
lighted with the pretty chlntz dra-
perles, the long, low shelves, filled with
such books as Gracla wished to cast
aside, its comfortable rocker and Its
Inviting white bed, but Gracia made
point Of not wanting her to get
homeslck 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?' Gracla asked patronlzlngly,
an soon as Elsie was seated, tossing
lnto.her lap bodlSin, bolt Of ribbon
and iilmy 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 s4tlny ribbons.
And 50 her serfdom began; months
Of Ike service always suggested with
an air Of granting rather than OF ask
ing favor. The little cousin was al
ways close at hand, unobtruslve 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 repelent, grew to care great
deal for the sunny little orphaned
cousin, whom he nlcknamed "Clnder-
elsie"
It never seemed to occur to either
Mrs. Kenear or her daughter that
elsie might care to participate in any
Of the reyelry which went on about
her until one day Gracla discovered
a look Of unquestionable longing in
the starry eyes, when she was press
ing a gorgeous frock OF blue and silver
which Gracia wds TO wear that night
at a club affair.
my wordr Gracla laughed lightly.
Can It be that our Clnderelsle doth
yearn to wear such rs this and fare
forth IN her pumpkin coach to meet We
princc2 But she cOuldst not, couldst