The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-09-16

| [ don't like to leave her minute. Don't
you mind anything she said"
Contrary to Mrs. Wings expectations,
| Elsie Mills was not disposed to retract
her words. The next day, when she was
peceafully domiciIed in her brothers
| house, and seemed a little calmer, her
sister-in-law opened on the subject,
"What IN creation made you talk SO to
William Havers last night?" said she.
mot one man in hundred would have
made you the offer that he did after he'd
bought place"
Elsie fred up at once. II guess I
know why, said she. "Luciny gave him
the nitten once--that's why. He's dom
it to show out.
why, Elsie Mills, are you in your
right mind?"
"Yes, I am. He acted awful cut up.
He never got over 1t. He always meant
place an invited me to live on him, he'll
feel better"
"Weu. I never!"
Mrs. Wing repeated the conversation
to her husband, and told him that she
was really scared about Elsie: she did
not act with any reason.
Siias Wing laughed. Don't you
worry, Maria, said he. Elsie always
had that notion. never really believed
that Luciny give Havers the mitten my
self, but she did, an she always went on
the notion that he was dreadful upset
over it. Elsie's queer. She's mighty
meek an yieldin' generally; she seems to
be kinder goin' sideways at things fur
the most part; but if she ever does git
p'mted straight at anything, thar amt
no turnin' her"
DO you remember anything about
William Havers waitin' on Luciny?"
yes. He was round some two years
before she died. 1 didn't think much
about it. Luciny was always havin'
beaux. An no wonder; thar want
many girls like her. Lordi kin see
her now, Jest how she used to look. Poor
Elsie want much beside her, but I don't
believe she ever give that a thought She
thought Luciny was beautiful, an thar
want anything too good fur her. She'd
slave herself most to death to save her.
No; don't you worry, Maria. Elsie's al
ways run on that notion"
Silas Wing was Elsie Mills half
brother; the dead Lucina had been her
own sister. The house which had just !
been sold was her inheritance from her |
father.
Silas Wing was an easy, prosperous
man, with shrewd streak in his char |
acter. His sisters property was sadly !
deteriorated, and a poor investment. |
He had no idea of sinking money to |
secure it for her, but he was perfectly /
willing to.provide for her, and gave her |
a most cordial invitation to his home.
He gave her a front chamber in his /
large square white house, and furnished |
it with her own things, to make it seem
like home.
"Thar amt any reason why Elsie
shouldn't be as happy as a queen here
as long as she lives" he told his wife.
"Thar amt many women fare any bet
ter. She amt much over forty She'd
hev to work hard if she was in some
places, an she amt fit to. Now she'll
jest hev to help you round a little, an
live Jest as comfortable as can be-"
Elsie's chamber commanded a good
view of her old home, which was ON the
opposite side Of the street, little further
down. She could see the yard full of
cinnamon roses, and the blue front door,
which stood out bravely. That blu
door was due to her; she had painted it
herself. Silas had some blue paint left
after painting his farm wagon, and she
had begged it. Then she had stood on
chair-a small, lean figure in chnging
caIico-and plastered the brilliant blue
thickly over the front door, welding the
brush stilfly in her little knotty hand,
stretching herself up on her slight, long
limbs.
One svening Elsie, at her open cham
Der window, overheard a conversation
her brother and his wife. They
were sitting on the doorstep.
"Havers came over tonight" said ST.
las. Il see him out at the gate as come
along. He's goin' to let his other house
and live here, he says. L declare I'd
hardly think he'd want to, this is so
much further from town. But the other'n
let better, s'pose. Reckon that's the
reason"
as he goin' to fix this one up?" asked
Mrs. Wing.
Yes; he's goin' to paint it up some,
an hev the roof shingled. He was
kinder laughin' about that blue door, but
he didn't seem to think he'd hev it al
tered afterward. told him how poor
Elsie painted it herself"
Lord! 1 shouldn't think heidi want to
keep that blue door"
He seemed to think it wouldn't look
bad if the house was painted new to go
with it. He's goin' to cut down all them
roses in the front yard to-mor-
row. He's brought over his sickle to-
night"
That was all Elsie heard. She did not
know how long they talked after that.
lie was going to cut down Lucina's Gin
anon roses!
She kept saying it over to herself, as if
it were task she had to learn, and she
could not easily understand. "Lucina's
cinnamon roses. He's goin' to cut down
all Luciny's cinnamon roses tomorrow.
1t was 10 o'clock that night when Elsie !
crept down the stairs and out the front
door. There wasno sound in the house ex-
cept her brothers heavy breathing. He
and his wife had been asleep three hours.
Elsie sided out of the yard, keeping on ]
the grass, then sped across the road and
down it little way to her old home.
There were only these two houses for a
long way; there was not light visible in
either. No one would be passing at this
time of night; there was no danger OF /
not have been very easily. Great elms !,
grew on both sides of the street, and
thew cast broad, Pickering shadows. d
Elsie, keeping close with the shadows, as
f they were friends, and progressing f
With soft starts, after little pauses to t
isten and peer, might have passed for v
hadow herself. v
She stopped for minute at the corner o
f the yard, and stared fearfully over at b
he periled roses. The moon was coming 5
10, and she could see them distinctly. e
he fell to remembering. To tRis inno- r
ent, Supplemented creature, clinGing so d
loosely to old holy loves and layalties n
hat she meditated what to her was
esperate deed in defence of them, that h
air dead Lucina became visible among t
Ter cinnamon roses. t
L. \ 10