The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-27
THE LITTLE PULSIFER.

liz LII
1t was just as Miss Evans said it would
be, and that, at any rate, was a satisfac-
ton. She never had expected any better
of that Pulsifer girl, and now you saw!
Yes, you saw; and, on the whole, what
was it you saw? As pretty creature as
ever the sun shone upon, laughing, dlmp-
led, blushing innocent, but draggled; yes,
awfulfy draggled about the skirt, the once
pink skirt of that once aesthetic dress; and
such shoes! Perhaps in the past they had
been high-heeled and dainty number twos;
now they were simply clods of sticky
marsh mud. And how came they clods of
sticky marsh mud? All, there was the
whole story!
The house was very full when, one bright
July day, we saw carriage drive to the
gate with this pretty creature in it and
young man beside her, who might have
been her brother or her lover, if she had
looked old enough to have a lover. Mrs.
Colman herself stepped to the gate to
speak with them.
"They lost their boarding place over to
Bunson's Mills" said she, coming back.
Something about the mails breaking
down, and the letters not being on time,
and they had Deacon Sponsors recommend
to come here, and as | know Deacon Spen-
ser | reckon l can oblige 'em."
We'll. what was she crying for?" asked
Miss Evans.
''Oh, he's going away, the young man,
an she feels sort of womble-cropped about
it. He's bidding her goodbye now and
trying to cheer her up-mighty hard work,
for he's all down in the mouth himself.
Going down to Arizona to look at mines
this month. Buy up all Calumet and
Hecla when 1 come back says he. And
says she: 'Id rather be as poor as a church
mouse than go among those strangers all
alone so. And what if | should die while
you're gonep AM says he: what if
should die while Pm gone" AM | left
them laughing and crying and kissing like
two babies in the wood. There they be
now. Her traps I'll be along tonight. Miss
Evans, you must take her in hand. PlI go
and get up a bit of something nice for
her. Bear we one another's burdens, that's
my motter."
Parting is such sweet sorrov,n said
Miss Evans, lifting her glass.
well, it's over now. There she comes
poor thing. She's paid in advance, two
months, too. Miss Pulsifer, Miss Evans:
Miss Pulsifer, Miss Cooper; Miss Pulsifer,
ladies' Now, if you'll come this way, dear,
Pli show you your room. You don't need
to be affecting this way-two months goes
like sleep in the night, you knowo
Miss Pulsifer wasn't "a-feeling this wayn
next morning. A transparent little crea-
ture, every mood showed through; and
when she was happy she was all in a
bubble, and when she was sad she was so
blue as to be black and blue.
"Have you heard from your brother yet?"
asked Miss Evans, smoothing down the rib
bons of which she wore a swarm.
MY brother" answered the young
stranger. ooh, | wondered which one YOU
meant. No, indeed. l don't expect to hear
from him for long while. felt cut off
from every one last night, but this morning
| feel bnttpr Ron hoe fol NhoI ~
Pinckney and Delaware are coming here to
camp with parcel of other gay young
artists"
"Pinckney and Delaware"
Haven't you seen their pictures at the
Academy? Not quite first-rate vet, YOU
know, but we think well of them-perhaps
because Pink and Del did Them That's a
joke of ours. Sha'n't we have merry
month of it? L always do when they are
around. One must do something You
must see Del. He looks Just like Booth.
and Pink looks Just like Del, and they al,
ways have half-dozen others as nice as
they are; and it is so fortunate that
there should be some pretty girls in the
house" Miss Evans was beaming on Miss
Pulsifer, and quite bridling with pleasure.
You are very fond of young girls ARE YOU
not, Miss EvansW asked Miss Pulsifer. nm
Willingly picking this little bubble. THAT
is so nice of you. Pm afraid when l get
old | shall hate them"
The poor little Pulsifer" whispered old
lady Browne. THAT will finish her case"
And old lady Browne was right, II did.
And perhaps it should. But there was not
the faintest intention of offense.
ut may depend" said Miss Evans. "al
together on the young girl. A bold and
forward mink who twitS on facts, and tells
people to their faces that they ore old or
ugly"
al lyno,, - soid Mo D,1:e IL, -.
Tie yawn, and her pretty plump hand over
her rosebud of a mouth. "Aren't thew
hateful-that kind? But they can't twit
me, for nobody knows Pm day over
thirty-tive unless | tell them" The slv lit.
tie cat! doubt if she was twenty.
AS If rose should shut, and be bud
again." said |.
Are you really thirtv-fve?v asked Misc
Evans, in an establishment that made her
speak, although she had plainly intended
TO drop Miss Pulsifer like hot coal
And nobody knows how much more.
How old are your
That did finish it. Miss Evans did not
reply in kind, according to the adage, that
she was as old as her tongue and a good
deal older than her teeth, but she looked
Miss Pulsifer over from head to foot.
II wonder where you could have been
brought up" she said, with an accent OF
utter disgust, and swept away.
AhSio was very soon dIUer JnaU an Evans
party and Pulsifer party in the house
TO be sure the youth and bloom of the
family were in the latter party, and so. tc
tell the truth, was the absolute old age
But on the Evans side were the sticklers 70,
proprlety. If may be allowed the term
the critical, nothing if not critical, the dis
commended, and the loverless. Another party
occupied neutral territory. This partS
Thought it no disgrace and no sorrow t.
have reached middle age, but had acouirec
placid contentment with life, and ,
serenity of alchemized experience which
allowed enjoyment of the sight of tn,
playfulness of youth, and remembrance o
having once shared it, and of having WELD
ed 1t only to the better condition Of thi
period when the tide swings at the full, an,
all the powers are at their height, and on,
looks back at youth as the time when on
gathered treasure, ana forward to age a
the time when one shall expend it. Still
this party had, If not sympathy, a certain
pity for the Evans party, being, it must b
confessed, dreadfully afraid Of outrage,
prophecies itself Nothing at all, how