The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-02
A PATIENT WAITER.
Poor Aunt Fidelia who Never
"Gave It Up"

"Gave It Up"
"Be sure you sweep it clean. Lily"
"Yes. 'em. amt leaving q single stone
on it,"
.srm most afraid to trust you. l think
likely as not he may come today, an not
wait to write. It's so pleasant, feel just
as il somebody was COMM"
I'm a-sweepin' it real clean, Aunt FL
della"
"well, be pertickler An you'd bettcr
sweep the sidewalk little ways in front
of the yard. see bit Of loose stones on it
yesterday"
"Yes, 'm,"
The broom was taller than the child, but
she was sturdy, and she welded it with
joyful vigor. Down the narrow path be-
tween the rows Of dahiias she went. Her
smooth, yellow head shone Ia the sun. Her
long blue gingham apron whisked about
her legs as she swept. The dahlias we're in
and red balls gently when the child jostled
them. Beyond the dahlias on either side
werc zinnias and candy -tuft and marigolds.
The house was very small. There was only
one window at the side of the front door.
A curved green trellis stood against the
and yellow honeysuckie climbed on 1t.
Fidelia Almy stood in the door with a
cloth in her hand. She had been busting
the outside of the door and the threshold,
rubbing of every speck punctiliously. Fl
della stood there in the morning light with
her head nodding like a flower 10 wind
1t nodded SO all the time. She had dis
ease of the nerves. Her yellOw-gray hair
was crimpcd and put up carefully In q little
coil, with two long curls on either, side:
Ia e. s~L IL t.-I
. downward droop as 1t nodded, had a soft
polish like ivory. When Lily Almy, who
was Fidelia's orphan niece. whom she was
bringing up, had reached the gate with her
broom. she peered down the road; then she
20, Aunt fidelia,- she said, in precise,
slow voice which was copied from her
aunt's, there's man comm. Do you
s'pose it's him!'
What kind of a looain' mani" Fidelia's
head nodded faster: q bright red spot
cleaned out on either cheek.
"a real handsome man. He's tall and
he's got reddish whiskers. And he's got a
That's the way he looks"
80. Aunt Fidelia, do you s'Pose it's
himn'
",Tain,t very likely to b."
Fidelia ran into tho house and knelt
down at the parlor window, just peering
over the sill. Her whole body seemed
wavering like her head; her breath came
and handsome, walked past.
Lily ran in. "'Twa'n't him, was itf'
said she.
II didn't much expect it was. I've
always thought he'd como on a Tuesday.
I've dreamed 'hout his comm Tuesday
more times than can tell Now I'm goin'
to fix the flowers in the vases, an then I'm
goin' down to the post-office. feel just a.
II might git letter to-day. There was
one in the candle last night"
flowers in her front yard. She gathered up
her purple calico apron, and cut the flowers
"You run ont into the garden an git
some sparrow.-grass for green" she told
LILY, an IN pick os some ae St thss striped grass grass
spider-lilies by the fence"
The little white-paiRted mantel-shelf in
Fidelia's parlOr was like an altar, upon
which she daily heaped floral offerings.
And who knows what fair deity in bright
clouds she saw when she made her sacri-
1icss!
Fidelia had only two vases tall gilt and
white china ones with scrolling tops; those
stood finely in the center, holding their
dropping nOsegays. Reside these were
handles, tumblers. wineglasses, saucers,
and one smart china mug with ''Friend-
ships Offering" in gold letters. Slightly
withered flowers wero In all OF them. Fide-
lia threw them out, aud filled all tho vessels
with fresh ones. Tue green asparagus
overtopped the gay flowers:
'srhere !" said Ffdeiia. snow I'm goin'
to the post-ofice."
IF anybody comes, II, ask him in here,
an tell him you'll be right back. sha'n't
I!' said Lily.
.sreil him I'll be back in jes: a few
minutes, an give him tho big rockin'-
chair"
The post-office was a mile away. in the
corner of country store. Twice day.
year out and year in, Fidelia journeyed
thither.
.'lt's only Fidelia Almy," people said,
looking out Of their windows, as the poor
solitary figure with its nodding head went
by through summer suns and winter winds.
Once in a while they hailed her. ''See II
there's there's AM any thing Tor me- Won't you
At last it was an UNDERWOOD thing that
Fidolia should carry tho mail to tho dozen
families between hcr house and the post
Office. She often had her black worked bag
hlicd up with lettors. but there was never
letter.
sThst womsn's been comm here the last
thirty years" the postmaster told q
stranger one day, .'an' she 'sin't never bad
leCter senee I've DS0u mere, eu' Ooh'C DC
lieve she ever did bot0re." z
Fidelia used to come Ia . little before the
mail was distributed, and sit on an old
settee near the door. waiting. Her faoe at
those times had . wild, strained look; but
after the letters were all IN the boxes, II
setSled back into its old expression, and she
Travelled away With her bag Of other pe0
ple's letters, nodding patiently.
On her route was ono Young girl who had
= lovorin neighboring town. Her letter
' came regularly. She used TO watch tor III
Idelia, and run to meet her, her pretty fac,
all bushes, Fideha always had the lettsl
separated from The others, and rcady 70
her. She aivays smiled vhsn she hsld .
6s1, s an' tS.ss nsS Ssi's sss% 70 s 10 % end it I.
Il. Rat II Vas you: Lpniss, IA Try an 81
hin to settle over here, u you ata't mar
gisd before long. yteret sllpA ae'it ala
alwsys safe tIussin, - lptfeFb"
ve s sssass ssas sss I.psy ps ps e;
s.Poor thing,n 80 ssl1. s0he had Z 6eas
yes kpov, We'y - -. = wSss ~ sSsx s thfsss' fss
fsokin6 Tor letter from him, and ~