Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-09-28
Beneath the Elms.
~ NJ. Q. '.

huBn ana sat D6neatn tnt
elms at even'ide. We were low
ers, and the morrow was to sepa
rate us for long time, how lope
we knew not. On tho porch our
elders sat in pleasant CONVERSE
tion, and we caught nm UNDER
tone of sadness ia their voices
They were Hugl's parents. my
uncle and aunt. who had given
me parental care and love since,
an orphan babe. bad been sent
to them from my mothers death
bed. almost seventeen years be
fore.
Presently my aunt. the sister
Of my father, who was to take me
away to the city on the morrow,
joined them. A proud looking
acknowledgement woman. bear
ing the prestige and the remnants
Of great beauty. she came and sat
beside my Aunt Mcleod. com
plsteIy ecIipsing. with h-r spread
ing lustrous founces, her hand
some and costly laces, and the
CLEANS Of q rich jewel or two, the
sober plainness Of thai best OF
women.
She wore. too. something Off
defiant air that brought the look
Of trouble to Aunt McLeod's
sweet faos. and something al
most like a frown Of impatience
TO that Of my usually calm aud
unobservant uncle
Aunt Shaw had never taken
the least thought of me before
She was not fonl OF children, she
ssid. and hearing that the Me-
Leods had taken me home, on my
mothers dscease, she had known
that I was sufficiently cared for.
But now that ] was a child no
longer, she felt it her duty to
come forward and give me some
advantages, such as / could not
receive among these very respec-
table but decidedly nnfas hionable
people. / must huve a year or
two 1T o Fashionable school, or
under good fashionable fioisb-
ing governess, and with masters
Then. mv manners brine fenm.d.
and sufficient accomplishments
gained. she woull introdnce me
into society where her position
and the knowledge I should have
gained how to make the most Of
my good points, wouIl speedily
secure me desirable match?
Tae next morning We set ont
for the city. Hugh whose wife
I had promised to be. was dis
consolats Mt our separation. Bot
II would not be for long, I said.
and l would write and explain
ell And 3, the good-bss were
aaid, and / drove away beside my
aunt, with all the dewy freshness
and beauty OF that Iovsliost 81
nl-summer mornings mocking
hs disquiet and impatient grief
pi my spirit.
y years had passed ERE I
4 d And then how changed
". the material and spiri,nsl
e. n OF nv wcrl,l. / went
%, lS0lhiless child ri sixteen. with
., ,1y CAV dreams Of ambition fit
aling through my mind / came
backs woman of th'rty-six, for
hom lie had no l,nger an,
opss or any illusions / went
Job IN friends aud j,y, ani love.
my abonndinu ,uth. in tue
arms Of youthfnl form and fen
ire. with all the world beforr
s wherein to Gull j'ys anil OK
erieDces to deck nv hearts home
the near hereafter. l came
bsk po)r, wi lsssll. chllls's.
bpeIsss anl friendIess but for
ugh. glad 10 accept the home
offered me, aud the post OF
,useseeptr in his bachelor es-
BIZ hmen', since I must err
livel Cd somewhere. and
cnty wears OF al,senee hal male
stranger in my own land
Hugh. too. was changed int
tall. br.,a l'urly man of
Fty, With prizzled lcks. eravr
ami unsu,ing mouth Uncl,
Il Aunt Mcleod we're dead. old
wants likewise. and new gen
t,on had sprung up who k ,ew
not. Only the gray old gables
nained the sasne. perhnps u
Ie mossir than Of old. eye,
elms hal grown 10 more gi-
pic sizs. AMI qnite hid th,
1oh VIII ~ cor ain nevrr-gotten
IDS hal been whispered
gh, gentleman ever, in hod
gray or b oadclnh, treated
gish mono Of the old familiar.
OF our youthful DAYS. he had
H. own avoca'ions. / mine, and
III went on our separate ways in
ymssthizing silence. observ-
ely those outward forms Of
which the vsriestsiiang ers
1 few years will suffice for all
lM history u these years Of alb
unit Shaw mere powerful
had bent mp to l.r purpose
the frat, and when. in the
' hd year OF MY residence will,
q she prop seA going abroad
2Qniesned, and even submitted
hvut murmut when she con
III 10 nrevaut nv farewell visit