The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-16
AUNT ELINOR'S EASTER OFFERING.


Such CONSERVATION as the news Of Nell
Earle's runaway marriage caused the
staid inhabitants of Newton may be liken-
ed only unto the shock OF severe earth
quake. lie was a social earthquake. shak-
ing TO the very foundation all the old
timed theories and beliefs in the wisdom
of Solomon even, for does he not say.
" Train UP a child In the way he should
90. and when he is old he shall not depart
from it?'' Therefore, when every body In
the whole town of Newton knew that,
from a little child, Nell Earle had been
not only trained but drilled TO march
through the straight and decorous paths
young ladies are expected TO promenade,
and with the sternest of captains at her
head in the person of her Aunt Elinor-
when every body knew this, and then
heard suddenly that Nell had broken
ranks" ungracefully ldisgracefully some
put III. and that just on the eve of her
marriage To the grave, dignifed old Pro-
fessor of Mathematics of the University
she had started off one bright
May morning in simple buff linen
suit. aud taken the train for New York,
where she was met by the Professors
young son. and then and there married
him instead of his father. and sailed for
Europe the next day--thls was the terri
BILE shock that made the Newtonians trem-
Bile. Ii Nell Earle, whom every body
thought the "prettiest behaved and
"best brought up" girl in that part of the
country. would act in this outrageous
way, what were they to fear from their
own wild. wilful daughtersy
Aunt Elinor was almost distracted
when she read the letter that reached her
the morning after Nell's departure.
am sorry Iaar affpfip - ir ran
=" that have been obliged 10 do, in going
away from you in this manner, what
feel to be a wrong toward one who has
filed for me the place of mother. IL IS
undutifil and unkind, but. auntie, you
have wronged me rs well. Was 10 not
undutlful and unkind in you 10 insist
upon my marrying man for whom felt
only n filial respects told you did not
love Professor Roder. 4 begged you 10
let me say mo- to his repeated solicitations
for my hand. and did rot ever say yes
answered him. you remember, Give me
time TO consider You both took IL for
granted that In time would answer af
firmatively, and you then, auntie, an
nounced my engagement and ordered my
troussedu without one word of encour-
agement or acquiescence from
my lips. thought sometimes
would just let things go
ONT would please you. and do owe you
a great deal, and wish could please you
as well in the different choice | have made.
thought would let things go on; the
Professor was good and kind. and | would
try TO make him happy. and would strive
to let respect crowd out AMI Kill the tiny
seeds of love that lay In my heart, only
waiting for word from the rightful lips
to make them take root and blossom.
And. auntic. the words were spoken at
last. and last night when Karl Rodcr met
me on the rustic bridge down by the
brook, ard told me al'--aad asked me all
then answered all. How could con-
sent to become mother to the man whose
wife gladly am?
al hope In time you will forgive me.
ask your pardon for leaving you In this
way. | saw no other. had not the cour-
age, after all the preparations you had
made for my marriage with the Professor,
To announce to you my determination to
marry his son. We sail for Europe at
noon to-day. Dare hope that, IL ever
return, you will meet me with a kiss OF
forgiveness? We have forwarded letter
OF explanation to the Professor, which.
trust, will be received In the spirit with
which It was written. Affectionately,
your niece, ELINoR EARLE RoDER."
When she had finished reading the cpis-
tie, Miss Elinor took off her glasses, folded
up her letter into four folds, then tore it up