The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-01-29
ira, and Her Love Letters.

By Claude Askew.

lssa laid out her tea on that occasion.
GENERALLY the meals were sparing for
her income was a very small one. but
this time her tea was lavish. There
was excellent cup cake for one thing
wafer slices of bread aud butter. two
glass dishes filled with preserves and
a plate of red currants from the gar
den. Clarissa put out her mothers
wedding china, pale. apple green tea
cups and plates, and then, to crown
all, she picked a great bunch of flow
ers and placed them in q vase in the
center of the table.
Elivra looked on with large. wide
open eyes. Her lips framed a ques-
ton.
I'm not a-going TO have a poor
setout when strangers coming to
tea said Clarissa defantly. I'D Just
as lief as not have the fellow coming,
though"
So Gilman came, and from the mo
ment the white robed. blushing Elvira
huttered into the room he forgot New
York, journalism and fame, lost his
ready wit, and realized that he who
knew so much was quite unlearned.
He walked up and down the warm
sunlit garden with Elvira, bending his
dark head caressingly over her. won
dering dimly how so fair and sweet a
creature CHANGED to live Elvira lost
her first awe OF him, and laughed and
talked slowly, pointing out the Gala
lilies, picking a great nosegay of pink
and white sweet peas.
Time passed quickly in the garden.
1t was dusk before Gilman left
Elyira smiled in her sleep that night,
flushing rosily; but Old Clarissas pill
low was wet with salt tears, for she
saw what was coming-uno 1T was what
she desired, SO it was really foolish
of her to weep.
Blvira and Gilman got engaged. 1t
was a brief, pretty courtship.
Clarissa and the neighbors looked
on, watching the delicate drama that
was being played, marvelling a little
how smooth was loves course
Elvira neither wondered nor unused.
To her 1t was only natural and right
that Gilman Holmes should have come
into her life; she knew now that she
and keeping her pure heart like fra
grant shrine. AS for Gilman, the myS-
terry OF 1t all was upon him still, the
great marvel how this delicate dreamy
Elvira. this fowerlike maiden could
care for a sharp, harsh voiced young
man, from New York. This journa-
list, once over-cOnfident, and full OF
fierce assurance, was now afraid of
himself and ashamed to look into the
dusty corners of his soul. He longed
for spotlessly clean haEds-because OF
Elyira's whiteness.
A day in early autumn was fixed
for the wedding. but first Gilman must
return to New York and gain further
leave OF absence.
The lovers parted, and 1t was q bad
hour for both.
Elvlra lost all her umid maidenly
difhdence. She chung TO Gilman, with
tender self-surrender, putting up her
face for his kisses. praying him pathe-
tically to return soon. AS If Gilman
needed such prayers! He who was
longing-and half beside himself with
the longing-to marry this pretty Puri-
tan and take her to make homo brigh-
ter In New York.
Clarissa came TO the gate finally and
unlatched It for the lover. She looked
gaunt and gray; her hair was all
blown out by the wind, her thin cotton
dress showed the meagre lines OF her
old body She was not prepossessing.
Gilman looked at her q little resent
fully. He hated to surrender his weep
ing Elvira to this harsh looking old
woman.
"Take care OF her-be good to her."
he said, breaking from the girls soft
clutch. and pressing her gently back
against Clarissa ooh, Mis- Lane, be
careful Of ElvirS for me"
Clarissa laughed low and grimly to
herself. "Be careful Of Elvira!" To the
woman TO whom the girl was all in all
the words we're almost cruel and GER
tainly n mockery.
That night Elvira had red eyes and
ate no more at supper than would have
tempted a little bird She sat on the
step "a the back Of the house when the
moon came out. and Clarlssa watched
saw her shoulders shaking she was
crying 7hc Had UGH crying an tue AZ
ternoon-but very softly and quietly
The old woman sat down I'm the
rocking chair and hung her head. She
longed-GOd knows how bitterlyi-to
strain the delicate form to her and
rest the fair head on her breast and
kiss away the tears Some sensitive
Unborn delicacy constrained her not
TO approach Elvira This was the
girls own trouble. and not TO be
shared with or understood by another
Clarissa realized that she knew moth
ing Of love and Us joys and sorrows;
the faint prudery Of the unmarried
woman made her fearful OF approach
ing too closely into what Fate had
yelled from her