The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-07-25
THE LOVERS ELM.
BT MARY n. PRESCOTT.

Della sat on the doorstep, with
basket of mending in her lap. Pau
stood leaning against the bole of an ap
pie tree, trimming an elm twig, an,
anon vouchsafng a look at Della, VII,
was well worth looking at, with he
dimples and roses and sunny expression
You know" she was saying, "Aun
Hittv is all [ have. She isSmy owl
flesh and blood, and she needs me.
Aud so do /, " said Paul, briefly.
"Oh do you ?" returned Dslis
Frightening "but you can do without
me awhile"
Glow can %
"Aye that's what you must learn
sir" She laughed with pretty assump
tion of importance.
81 can't see," complained Paul
Why you should prefer the society oi
an uncomely old woman, who dose'ni
care fig for anything but her money,
to the one you have as good as prom.
! ised to love and obey"
Why, you know, Paul, that I don't
! consult my preferences in this thing.
Aunt Hitty is as good as bed-ridden,
and she my own mothers half-sister and
| nobody to do a hands turn for her.
All along of her own alfred temper
nor treat th-m that give it with decen-
cy," ans swered Delia's ir:te lover.
" Haven't waited these five years with
my shoulder at the wheel, working ear
ly and late, for a home of my own
But must be put on longer probation.
on account of woman who'll live till
she's ninety"
+" Well, Paul" said Della, graveIy,
90 If Ii is burden for You to wait for
me, don't do it. I've given you my
ssesa2S01R5 as9iRg ta Aunt -Hitty. There's
Go. And ths, twins are c<s.sfSg 60 h:
help to your MOTIF Doctors, ofss. !.
without me but ma.hl and phv
other girl in your MIND, WHO ~
need to keep you waiting and could
bring a dover. 1 don't want to stand
in your light.
"I suppose that means that you want
to be free you self ?" returned Paul,
coloring angrily, thinking you'll be
able to better yourself at Highgate.
Perhaps Aunt Hitty will leave you her
money, and that'n be far finer than
marrying poor farmer.
"I don't want copper of Aunt Hitty' s
money. You ought to know me better, -
returned Della. You ought to know
that, if you had been as poor as n church
I L y
and thought nothing of il"
eyes said Paul, thrusting the elm
twig which he had been trifing with
into the loose earth. Yes, I'll believe
that when this slip of elm grows into a
tree. Actions speak louder than words. -
" Very WE'LL" said Della, the quick
tears shining in her eyes. 6 shan't
want TO see it grow" slipping ring of
her hand. Goodbye, if it must be
So"
Paul put the ring on his littlS finger,
and walked away. Della sat still and
darned her stockings. The wind blew
up gustily and shook the rosy apple
bows in a shower at her feet, filling the
air with fragrance the shaded clover
| leaves bent to and fro, tossing their
blooms the sun sifted through the
trees and traced beautiful outlines on
the grass-plot: a market wagon lott
cred down the country road, driven by
a man in blue blouse /; flock of gray
geese were gossiping at the margin OF
| a wayside pool birds were flying
among the old elms; thin clouds hoated
across the sky lazily, as If they had the
day before them and the afternoon
moon paled in the sunlight. Nature
| seemed exerting herself to make amends
| for that which was lacking in Della s
| experience but whenever did green
fields and blossoming hedges add more
| than passing solace to heart bereft
| 1t had all been so sweet and precious
but little moment since. What was
it that had so suddenly stolen the bloom
from these familissr6 as
| roundings. And perhaps ut Aunt Hit
| ty's she might be able to forget how un
kind Paul had proved how readily ht
had acted upon her suggestion of sepa
ration, as if the thought were nothing
new, and how little he had appeared Il
regret. Thinking sadly, her eyes rest e(
upon the elm twig that Paul haC
planted in mockery of her constancy
VIII t if the unpromising shoot should
take root some day, when she was gon'
and forgotten, and bear tardy witness il
her favor? Then she chided herself fo
| encouraging such an improbable fancy
and went to pack her trunk for the lit
tie journey to Highgate and Aunt Hitty
Della had lived in the family of Mrs
Carruthers for eight years. She hat
| gone there when Paul was down will
| typhus fever, and all the neighbor
were fighting shy and nurses weren't tt
be had for love or money. She haC
been earning her living going out sew
ing by the day, and when she under
stood the strait Mrs. Carruthers was in
she quilted her needle into its place ant
offered her services. Natu4ally, a
soon as Paul was able 90 move about
his mother fell sick, and by the tim
she could use her own feet Della hat
so endeared herself that Mrs. Car
ruthers refused to part with her: an
nothing to do but Della must make he
home with them, and go out sewing a
much or as little as she pleased, AM
teach the twins her handiwork. Deli
found it very pleasant to have even tn
semblance of home, to be sure tina
somebody took an interest in her going
and comings, in the fit of her gown
and the color of her ribbons; in brief,
was simply delightful to be of import
ance to Somebody delight which sh
had thought would follow her to he
journeys end, when aunt Hitty's necet
sity changed the programme.
$50 you've come, hey you p wa
aunt Hitty's salutation. 81 didn
) know as you'd be able to tear yourse
away from them folks as amt got nor
of your blood in their veins. However