The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-01-29


As they walked down the village street
the girl pratued gayly. Now that the
first bitterness OF the parting was
over. she could wait with serenity for
her lovers return and be hAppy in
these preparations for her marriage.
but the whole mornings work was a
sharp. yet exquisite pain to Clarissa
She was going to lose her child, and
yet she was decking her against the
day.
She shopped lavishly. and with a
certain fierce vehemence. Elvira
should come out bride in the richest
OF pearl gray silks and her bonnet
with its costly white feather, should
long be remembered What did the
! price matter? When the child had
gone to New York she could pinch and
save. A lonely old woman needs little
to support life.
Anne Hardy. her mouth full OF pins
draped the silk around the graceful
young figure.
'Sakes. Mis- Lane" she murmured
in frank admiration, 81 just guess
there will never be such a bride or
dress seen here& gain. It's n real
pleasure to make for Elvira-that it
is"
Elvira smiled and blushed at the
warm hattery but old Clarrisa sat I'M
moved. Wero not such words her
child's due?
Time passed and Gilman never
wrote Twice day Elvira made pill
grimages to the postofice. and she
came back after her last visit with
such a white, strained face that Claris-
sa felt sick at heart.
Il guess there'll be letter tomor-
row." she said furtively, not daring
! to loose her own wrath and anxiety.
Yes. tomorrow" answered Elvira,
obediently, but Clarissa heard her
weeping during the night, and her
heart burned hot against Gilman
Days Slipped into weeks and 1t grew
| close to the wedding day, but still no
letter from Gilman.
The wedding dress came home. Lit
tie Anne carried 1t herself, but Elvira
| turned a dead white as the dressmake1
entered, and Clarissa harshly crushed
! the rustling silk into her wardrobe,
and so with the dainty musllns and the
wedding bonnet
! Elvira used to pause now and hest
tate when friends brought her pres
ents. the faintest and most pathetic
| pause, but Clarissa would hustle and
admire in a way unusual to her, and
bring out cake and ginger wine for the
! donor
! Then the wedding day came Elvira
rose up quietly in the morning, her lit
tie face very white and resolute. She
even tried to make some poor show
of eating breakfast-then she went up
to her own room and stayed there.
A neighbor calls, entering cautious
ly. and as If 1t was house OF mourn
ing. You'll not keep Elvira," she
| pronounced in a slow dismal voice.
You'll see, Mis- Lane, she'll go of
in a decline-just as her mother did
If she don't hear news OF Gilman"
Clarissa had a cousin in New York
who now, after the lapse OF many
| years. heard from her relative Clar-
rissa wrote to ask her to do a seem
! ingly simple commissioners one over
| which the woman shook her head and
wondered.
A few days later Clarissa marched
up from the postoffice carrying let
ter addressed to Elvira 1t was writ
ten in a stiff, uneven hand
Seems as If this might be from
! Gilman, Elvira." announced the aunt
as she entered the house. Elvira had
been sitting listlessly on the rocking
chair. but she sprang to her feet and
ran to Clarissa with flaming cheeks.
She read the letter through, hur-
riedly, first OF all. then with knit
brows.
TITS all right, Aunt Clarlssa." she
exclaimed, after a moments pause
Gilman mailed all his letters wrong
and they've just been returned to him.
He wrote postponing our wedding:
business kept him-but he'll be here
soon" her voice was not very elated.
Don't you like your letter? Amt
it all right?" asked Clarissa, after a
moments pause.
The girl fushed-then tears started
into her eyes
"Oh. it's not like Gilman a bit" she
sighed, impatlently; It's a real cold
horrid letter. Aunt Clarissa but
| guess it's all right, though" She
brushed tears away.
Clarissa's Jaw fell hopelessly, and
| look OF pain fickered over her face.
! Then she colored a warm, burning red
Next day brought Elvira another
letter. The girl was looking better.
/ Hope the beautiier, had already done
bis work with her. and she was
mourning bride no longer. She read
her letter with 1.-THE gurgles Of laugh
| ter and smiles coming and going.
ITS just as sweet a letter as ever
could be" she declared. with emphasis.
But. my sakes, It's just like some ono
writing to a little, tiny girl He says
he's coming" she added. with sigh
but he gives no date and no time.
| Aunt Clarissa, when IS he coming?"
/ soon guess soon" answered the
/ other I'm a low nervous voice: then.
as Elyira began reading her letter
\ again, and breaking once more into low
murmurs Of happiness, the old wom-
ans face relaxed somewhat, and her
/ eyes grew less strained
/ Weeks passed Letters never failed
to come. but they gave no definite
promise Of Gllman's return. Still. El-