The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-30
THE LOVERS ELM.
BY MARY N. PRESCOTT.

~ A@O ia > AlA1lAs
BY MARY N. PRESCOTT.
Della sat on the doorstep, with a
basket OF mending in her lap. Paul
stood leaning against the bole OF an an
pie tree, trimming an elm twig, and
anon vouchsafng a leok at Della. who
was well worth looking at, with her
dimples and roses and sunny expression.
You know, she was saying, "Aunt
Hitty is all I have. She is my own
flesh and blood, and she needs me.
"And so do /, said Paul, briefly.
"Oh do you?" returned Della,
frightening "but you can do without
me awhile"
"How can p
"Ayel that's what you must learn.
sir, she laughed with pretty assump-
ton of Importance.
"I can't see," complained Paul,
"Why you should prefer the society of
an uncomely old woman. who dose'nt
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
and miserliness, that won't hire help
nor treat tn m that give it with decen-
cy," answered 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 a woman who'll live till
she's ninety"
well, Paul" said Della, gravely,
"if it is a burden for You to wait for
me, don't do it. I've given you my
reasons for going TO Aunt Hitty. There's
no pleasure in il but It's a duty that I
owe my own kith and kin. You can't
want me to stay when conscience says
Co. And the twins are getting to be
a help to your mother, so she can do
without me but maybe you have some
other girl in your mind, who wouldn't
need to keep you waiting and could
bring dover. don't want to stand
in your light"
al 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'll be far finer than
marrying poor farmer.
81 don't want n copper of Aunt Hitty's
money. You eught to know me better,
returned Della. 90 You ought to know
that, if you had been as poor as a church
mouse, I'D have waited for you forever
and thought nothing of it.
"Yes," said Paul, thrusting the elm.
twig which he had bean trifiing 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 well, said Della, the quick
tears shining in her eyes. " 1 shan't
want to see it grow, slipping a ring off
her hand. Goodbye, if it must be
80"
Paul put the ring on his little fng ?,
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
man in a blue blouse a flock of gray
geese were gossiping at the margin OF
a wayside pool birds were flying
among the old elms; thin clouds floated
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 Delia's
experience but whenever did green
fields and blossoming hedges add more
than a passing solaoe to heart bereft ?
1t had all been so sweet and precious
but little moment since. What was
1t that had so suddenly stolen the bloom
from these familiar aspects? It seemed
to Della that she could not remove her
self too speedily from her old sur
roundings. And perhaps at Aunt Hit
tvs she might be able to forget how I'M
klnd Paul had proved how readily he
had acted upon her suggestion OF sepa-
ration, as If the thought were nothing
new, aud how little he had appeared to
regret. Thinking sadly, her eyes res ed
upon the elm twig that Paul had
planted in mockery of her constancy.
VIII if the unpromising shoot should
take root some day, when she was gone
and forgotten, and bear tardy witness IN
her favor2 Then she chided herself for
encouraging such an Improbable fancy
aud went 10 pack her trunk for the lit
lie journey to Highgate and Aunt Hitty.
Della had lived in the family of Mrs.
Carruthers for eight years. She had
gone there when Paul was down with
typhus fever, and all the neighbors
were fighting shy and nurses weren't to
be had for love or money. She had
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 and
offered her services. Naturally, as
soon as Paul was able to move about,
his mother fell sick, and by the time
she could use her own feet Della had
so endeared herself that Mrs. Car
ruthers refused TO part with her: and
nothing to do but Della must make her
home with them, and 60 ont sewing as
much or as little as she pleased, and
teach the twins her handiwork. Della
found it very pleasant to have even the
semblance of a home, 10 be sure that
somebody took an interest IN her goineE
and comings, il the fit Of her gowns
and the color of her ribbons; in brief, il
was simply delightful to be of import
ance to somebody delight which she
had thought would follow her to hei
journeys end, when aunt Hitty's neces
sity changed the programme.
SO you've come, hev you p VA
aunt Hitty's salutation. II didn'
know as you'd. be able to tear yourself
away from them folks as amt got non'
Of your blood in their Yeine. However