The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-11
MISS ERIsM.s oOpIUIL.

Miss Rebecca Erism, a valetudina-
Tien of sixty, lay dying at her house in
town. She had held SO tenacious a
grip upon life that it was difficult for
the two young people to realize the end
was so near. These two young people
were Gerald Erism, her nephew, and
Miss Luane Williams, her companion
and nurse.
Gerald had seen the young woman
every day for the three yeC q she had
lived with his aunt, but never until this
moment had bestowed a serious thought
upon her. He did not even know the
color of her eyes till his aunt gasped
out sentence that caused him to look
at her attentively. Then. he found
them shining luminously in the somber
gloom of the sick chamber, and some
thing therein forbade him to hate her,
although the sentence his aunt had
uttered was to the effect that she had
left Miss Williams all her money.
IL you expect TO pay for that horse
Tor Emily Thorpe to ride with the
money you got by my death" said the
dying woman, you're mistaken"
Gerald.
g II was an infamous transaction, &"
said the old lady, " and what I call a
postobit. l found out enough about it
to make me put a codicil to my will
That rascally horse dealer'l lose his
money after all, and Emily Thorpe shall
Haunt none of her Gnery at my expense.
I've left my money to Luaue Williams!''
1t was then that Gerald looked at
Luane ; but his aunt suddenly stretched
out her hands to him pleadingly, and
finding a gray .pallor spreading over
her face, he lnelt down by her bedside
and took her cold withered hand in his
own.
q" If the horse had been for any one
but that Emily Thorpe faltered the
poor old lady.
"Oh, aunt" said Gerald, "if you'd
let me explain"
'' l would il / had time" she said :
but must die now"
In ten minutes it was all over, and
Gerald went out of the house with a
great ache at his heart. He was very
sorry for bis aunt; she had been very kind
to him-too kind, for she had reared him
for the useless life of a dTone, when
now IT appeared he must work for n
living like all tho rest of the bees. 1t
had hitherto been something of a bore
to him merely to spend money, and tho
fact began 10 dawn unpleasanuy upon
his mind that to earn it must be in
tnitely more wearisome.
Walking aimlessly ON his, feet took
mechanically familiar direction, and
he found himself pausing before a fine
house in fashionable quarter of the
city, from which shambled a somewhat
bent and awkward figure that presently
disappeared in brougham before the
door.
Gerald recognized the man as Mr..
Badger tho millionaire, and involun-
tarlly contrasted his condition with that
of the fortunate soap dealer. He was,
however 30 absorbed with the direful
news he had to tell Emily that before
she came into the parlor he had forgot
ten Badgers existence.
II was singular that her remarkable
beauty and brilliant toilet did not APP
pail Gerald at that moment; that the
fact OF his no longer being able TO grace
that lovely hand with BETTING gems
did not prevent him from seizing il in
both his own, and kissing it rapturous-
ly. But for an enchanting moment he
was allowed TO forget the gloomy cham
Der where bis aunt lay deaG, and the
woman who waited there for the money
he had been taught TO consider his own.
1t seems to me that you are very
beautiful this morning." was all thar
he could say.
Emily drew her hand gently away
from his caress.
" Gerald, she said, 81 have some
thing to tell you"
Her accent was cold. There was
something in her manner that caused
him to step back and look at her with a
dim premonition Of what was to come.
"a XfarH EHnur - uIan kfreV.a1
bitterly opposed is your aunt to your af-
lection for me. She has told me herself
that she will never consent to our hap
piness. Gerald, I am too fond OF you
TO wreck your whole life. There was
but one way to end IL ell"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eye, now wan and haggard,
upon her face. Then she sank pale and
trembling into a chair, aud covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved
with Tity, perhapF, or a vague regret.
At last she spoke.
Il have Just accepted an offer OF
marriage.
From Badger" cried Gerald, and
walked 10 the door. Your prudence. !"
be added, standing upon the threshold,
has served you well. You have Just
got rid Of me in time. My aunt died
this morning, and has left everything
10 her nurse and companion"
Then he got into the street, end
walked along with a faltering, stagrer-
ing step. His eyes were wild his lace
lividly pale. People turned 20 look at
him az he went by, and two or three
wondered what was sending that man to
the devil,