The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-05-07
AUNT ELINoR,s EASTER OFrrRING

AUNT ELINOR'S EASTER OFFERING.
Such CONSERVATION as the news of
Nell EaEle's runaway marriage caused
Nle staid inhabitants of Newton to be
hkene1 only unto the shock of severe
earthquake. 1t was a social earth
quake, shaking 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
wayne should go, and when he Is old
he shall not depart from it?" There
fore, when everybody 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 EiinOr-when
every body knew this, and then heard
suddenly that Nell had "broken ranks"
uDgracefully (disgracefully some put
it,, and that just on the eve of her
marriage to the grave, to the dignifed
old Professor of mathematics of the uni
versity she had started off one bright
May morning in a simple buff linen
suit, and 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-this was the
terrible shock that made the New
g tOnians tremble. If Nell Earle, whom
everybody thought the "prettiest be-
haved 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 daugh-
ters?
Aunt Elinor was almost distracted
when she read the letter that reached
her the morning after NelPs departure.
g am sorry, dear auntie," it ran,
that [ have been obliged to do, in
going away from you in this manner,
what | feel to be wrong toward one
who has filled for me the place of
mother. 1t is uudutiful and unkind,
but, auntie, you have wrOnged me as
well. Was 1t not undutifuI and un-
kind, in you to insist upon my marry
ing a man for whom felt only a filial
respect? told you did not love Pro-
fessOr Roder. I begged you to let me
say no to his repeated solicitations for
my hand, and | did not ever say 'yes
L answered him, you remember, Give
me time to consider You both took
1t for granted that in time would an.
swer affirmatively, and you then,
auntie, announced my engagement and
ordered my ty'O1tssedu without one word
of encouragement or acquiescence from
my lips. l thought sometimes l would
past let things go ont would please
yOu, and do owe you a great deal, and
i wish l could please You as well in the
different choice have made thought
/ would let things go on; the Professor
was good and kind, and I would try to
make him happy, and | would strive to
let respect crowd out and kill the tiny
seeds Of love that lay in my heart, only
waiting for a word from the rightful
lips TO make them take root and bios
som. And, auntie, the words were
spoken at last, and last night when
Karl ROder met me on the rustic bridge
down by the brook, and told me all
and asked me all-then / answered all.
How could [ consent to become q
mother to the man whose wife gladly
amp
H"I hope in time Won will forgive me.
i ask your pardon for leaving you in
this way. [ saw no other. l had not
the courage, after all the preparations
you bad made for my marriage with the
Prof II, to announce to you my deter
mln' ito TO marry bis son We sail for
EIrope at noon to day. Dare | hope
that, if [ ever return, you will meet me
with kiss of forgiveness? We have
forwarded a letter of explanation to the
Professor, which. I trust, will be re-
ceived in the spirit with which it was
p written. AffectiOnatelv, your niece,
ELINOR EARLE RODER."
When she had finished rea ling the
episile, Miss Elinor took off her glasses.
folded up her letter into four folds.
then toIe it mp into four times four,
aud threw the pieces out of the window,
where the fresh May breeze caught
them up and whirled them down the
garden walk.
Il will never receive her into my
house again. l cast her ont of my
heart, rs | toss her letter to the wind :"
aud Aunt ElinOr sank back into the
chair, and went to rocking furiously.
Professor Roder was walking slowly
up the village street, about that time,
Z his head bent down in study, as usual,
and a letter which he had Just gotten
at the pos,Office still unopened in mis-
hand. just as he reached Miss Elinors
gate one of the little white squares of
Nel's torn letter lighted on his black
gloved hand. He looked at it closely
and read, q did not ever say yes ; l
answered him, you remember, Give
me time"
The Professor recognized the writing
ana the words. He stopped then and
picked up one or two other bits that Law
mt his feet. IS [ told you did not love
Professor -, -" waiting only for a
word from the rightful lips" "Could
] consent 10 become a mother to the
man whose wife I gladly amp"
All, Professor, only tiny bits of the
mosaic, but the whole tablet of mys-
teries is understood now.
Very slowly walked the grave Pro
fessor up the garden path. Miss Elinor
saw his approach, and met him at the
door, her face afame with shame and
Indignation.
Before any explanations, madam,
said he, "allow me to read this letter
from my son, received this morning ;"
and then he seated himself, and read
through twice the announcement of his
sons marriage, and the little plea of
love and supplication for forgiveness
signed by both.
After a long silence, in which the
song of the young robins in the cherry
trees outside sounded very sweet and
near, the Professor arose, and with his
hat in his hand, said MADAM, I
think we have both forgotten that
spring time and young love go together.
l remember it now. / congratulate
you upon the gain of a nephew. Karl
is a good boy. / in turn await your
congratulations / have a daughter,
aud one whom shall always love dearly
as such. Good morning T. and taking
his cane, the grave Professor walked as
slowly down the garden walk and up
the village street, and no one in Newton
ever heard him say another word on the
subject. He answered one or two who
questioned him, however, as to the
whereabOuts of his son. my son and
his wife are abroad on their wedding
tour. hope to see them upon their
return"
Aunt Elinor was not so forgiving to
the delinquents nor so reticent over her
wrongs She declared TO every one she