Connecticut western news., 1883-05-23
Rich or Poor?
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

.So you've come back again, Jerome?" said old MT. Sewell. 'Well, we heard you was thinkin' of returnin' to Elm Mountain. Bad pennies always come back-ha ha! hal And you didn't make such big fortune as you calcu- lated, eh ?''
 Jerome Clay leaned over the old zig gag rail fence and rubbed his eyes. Had time stood still all these years while he had been in the South For here was Farmer Sewen in the same old blue checked overalls, with the same battered straw hat, the same wrinkles between brows, driving the same old red COWS home through the twilight lane, where the scent of trampled spearmint came LID. and the melancholy notes of dis tant whip-poor-will sounded faintly on the purple silence. And yet-and yet it was twenty odd years since he had left Elm Mountain, with all his worldly goods balanced in bundle on his back He had been dashing lad of twenty -one, then: there were silver hairs in his black locks now, and he had left dead past buried under the sweet magnolia groves. And here was Moses Sewell, just the same as ever, only trife yellower and more dried up. "Yes," Clay said quickly, 'sI've come back. And you are right when you say that fortunes don't grow on every bush. '" ssGoin' to your uncle's house ?" said MT. Sewen. leaning over the bars. 'sHe's dead and buried, poor fellow. Always had weak chest, you know. And the gals ain't no younger-the Three Old Maids v'e call 'em-ha, ha, ha p
 And again the old farmer chuekled himself into state of standardization. ssCome in and see us, said he. "My daughter Aurilla she's come back widow and does tailorin' and plain sewin'. The old woman's stone deaf, but she's dread ful quick at catchin' persons mean ing!"
 And off he trudged, over the bruised patches of sweet smelling spearmint, his broad fgure vanishing into the gloom like shadow.
 ssThree old maids, eh?" repeated Jerome Clay to himself. "Clara and Bess, and little Kate, the golden haired beauty, the soft eyed poetess. the wild little sprite who was a mixture of Un- dine and Queen Nab. Then, surely Father Time has not stood still ]"
 The light was shining out, as of old, from the red curtained easement, the great fire of logs was blazing on the hearth, and the three cousins greeted the returned wanderer with unaffected warmth.
 They were changed, of course. What else could they have expected? The Beauty had grown sharp and freckled and her lovely hair had lost its burnish and she was not quite SO tidy as she used to be in the old days about her rib bons and frills. Soft eyed Bessie, sweet voice had degenerated into { whine; she had grown round shoulderet and lost one of her front teeth an6 little Kate was stout middle aged wo man, who reminded one of Undine n' more.
 But they were his cousins still-th girls who had played and romped an' fiirted with him in due arithmetical pro gression. And there still existed bon of steadfast friendship, and he told ther the story of the Southern wife who ha been buried for five years under tn magnolias, and they all sympathizee and Beauty even cried little.
 ssI have brought my three childre to the North" he said. "I left them New York, and if can get some gel nine, whole-souled woman to take chare of my home, I'm thinking of settlir here in Elm Mountain. Clara, dea YOU used to be found of me in the O. times What do you say to undertakir this charger"
 The Beauty seemed to grow smalle sharper, more business like, all in second. If Cousin Jerome had con home a millionaire, she would ha' jumped into his arms.
 But Clara Neely was not romanticall inclined. To her, love in a cottage DO sessed no charms.
 ''I couldn't, Jerome" she answere quickly. "Pm not very strong, and couldn't assume any responsibility
 this arduous nature. Besides, I'm n fond of children. I'm greatly obliged you, I'm sure, but I'd rather not"
 Jerome Clay bit his lip.
 "Of course" said he, ''it is for you decide. But if Bessie"
 The poetess shrugged her shoulde and laughed a light, shrill-soundi cachinnation.
 saCousin Jerome" said she, 'it's jl as well to be frank about these matte I wouldn't marry poor man-not i loved him like Romeo and Juliet.
 bad enough to scrape along as we
 here, with only half what one requi
 to live on decently. But to plunge il
 poverty, with two or three children
 longing to another woman-no, I tha
 you!''
 For time, as may easily be perceiv
 had eliminated great deal of the DO,
 cal element from Bessie Neely's soul.
 The quondam Undine did not wait
 the question, as far as she was concern .z g