Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-07-01
The COlOnel's Friends.
Their Su-ressfu Descent Upon the Town Of Clintville
Wv. r. ROSE, in Cleveland Plain Dealer,

The girl took the letter from the
rostmistress. A faint smile~f1uttered
across the latter's wrinkled face.
TITS the right postmark." she said.
S'I was heginnin' to think that mebby
he'd quit writin'. But I guess he's
one OF tn faithful kind"
Elinor turned away. She had no
desire to make any comment on this
estimate III her correspond
emit. She placed the letter carefully
in her shopping bag and went up the
main street until she came to the road
that branched off and al beside the
creek and out among the green fields.
When she was in the shadow Of the
willows she took out the letter and
read it as she slowly paced along.
my dearest girl" it began, II
have delayed writing for a very good
reason. Business has kept me on the
jump for the last two weeks. Not
ordinary business, understand. It's
the business to which I have been
looking forward for five years. I am
settling up things here and coming
homecoming home to you. Don't
think, dearest, that there is any,
thing OF great moment that holds me
back. But every little detail must be
looked after, and I can't afford to
throw away anything that would add
to our happiness. I've made a little
money out here-not much, you un-
derstand-but enough to keep the
wolf at a distance, and perhaps have
a little over to invest in something
safe and reasonably remunerative.
Perhaps you may know of an opening
in Cllntville. Get an option on it If
you can. But mind, I'm not going
into partnership with Bijah Grimes,
or Eb Stillman. And I draw the line
on taking an interest in the Higgins
House. But there, I mustn't get away
from the main point. I'm coming
home-for where you are is home
and I've begun to count the hours
that intervene. 1t will seem a long
journey this time, but it's to be the
last one. But there must be no delay
when I get to Clintville. I've waited
too long as it is. Be ready, dearest
I mean to be with you Just ten day:
from the date OF this letter. A caller
has come into my Office. I can see
him in the outer room. He come.
by appointment. When l am through
with him. the last tie that holds me-
here will be cut. Coodby for thu
short time that seems SO long.
rwsrA~-v..s~-.~ Elmer"
There were tears in the girls eye
-as she looked around. Then sh'
pressed the letter to her lips.
She glanced at the postmark OF
the envelope. The letter had been Of
its journey six days. In four day
more Elmer Morse would come.
She quickened her steps. Their
was so much to do in those four shor
days. No, she would not keep hin
waiting.
A glow of triumph filled her heart
She had not waited in vain. HOY
many times she had been told tina
she was wasting her years by he
consistency. Even her aunt, wit
whom she lived, had expressed doubt
of Elmer's faithfulness. At least, sh
had told Elinor that she would d
well to think twice before she let an
good chance to marry slip away frol
her. And there has been chance
more especially that thrifty farme
John ~Torrington. 1t was this mil
die aged wooer, sturdy and respecte
whom her aunt especially favored.
Don't forget that you are twent
seven, Elinor," said Aunt Martha, |
way of we'll meant warning.
But Elinor's heart was not to
shaken in it's constancy to her fir
lover, the lover who declared himse
when she was still a schoolgirl al
who had gone into the far weste
wildness to win the fortune that W
to bring them. together. A chan
had been offered him by a dista
relative. He had eagerly accepted
He hoped to return in a year at t
latest. But fortune was elusive a
five years had passed.
And is Elmer going tc stay here
her aunt asked after she had hea
b nlomentous tidingS.
"Why, yes" Elinor replied.
"Here in Clintvilie?"
"Of course"
1T isn't much Of a settling do
place for a man who has seen
world" her aunt suggested in
exasperatingly slow way.
Elinor flushed.
THAT is all understood" she Sc
Elmer knows that 1 would ne
consent to leave my old home (:
my friends and go away among tn
wild strangers"
Such things have been done" $
her aunt sententiously as she tur,
away.
Elinor laughed a little scornfu
Dut her heart was troubled.
So the days wore away, and
tenth day from the mailing of
momentous letter came.
A telegram from Chicago
reached Elinor the morning of
4 1~-~