The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-09
The COLONIES FRIENDS
THEIR SUCCESSFUL DESCENT UPON
THE TOWN OF FLINTVILLE.
v. 3. ROSE. IN clsvs..as pl.In Ds.lsr.

that reason we republish it this week
in its entirety.l
The girl took the letter from the
postmistress. A faint smile fluttered
across the latter's wrinkled face.
IT'S the right postmark," she said.
Il was beginnin' to think that mebby
he'd quit writin'. But guess he's
one of tn faithful kind"
Elinor turned away. She had no
desire to make any comment on this
favorable estimate of her correspond
ent She placed the letter carefully
in her shopping bag and went up the
main street until she came to the road
that branched of and ran 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" 1t began, II
have delayed writing for a very good
reason. Business has kept me ON the
jump for the last two weeks Not
the business to which | have been
looking forward for iive years am
settling up things here and coming
homecoming home 10 you. Don't
think, dearest. that there Is anything
OF great moment that holds me back.
But every little detail must be looked
after. and ! can't afford 10 throw
away anything that would add TO our
happiness. I've made a little money
out here--not much, you understand
but enough To keep the wolf at a
distance, and perhaps have a little
over 10 invest In something safe and
reasonably remuneratiye. Perhaps
you may know Of an opening in Clint
Vile. Get an option on Il n you can.
But mind, I'm not going into partner
ship with Bijah Grimes, or Eb still
man. And | draw the line on takfng
an interest In the Higgins House. But
there, l mustn't get away from the
main point I'm coming home-for
where you are is home--and I've begun
10 count the hours that intervene.
IL will seem long journey this time.
but It's TO be the last one. but there
must be no delay when | get % Clint
Vile I've waited too long az Il IL.
BE ready. dearest ] mean 10 be- with
you just ten days from the date OF
this letter. A caller has come into my
ofiicc. ! can see him In the outer
room. lie comes by appointment.
When ] am through with him. the last
tie that holds me here will be cut.
Goodhy for the short time that seems
so long.
Elmer. :"
There were tears In the girl'a eyes
as she looked around. Then she
pressed the letter 10 her lips.
She glanced at the poatmark on
the envelope The letter had been on
, Its journey aiK days In four DAYS
( more Elmer Morse would come.
She qulckened her steps There
/ was so much 10 do In those four short
days. No, she would not keep him
waiting
I A glow Of triumph Allied her heart
+ She had not waited In vain. How
many times she had bscn told that
she was wasting her years by her
consistency Even her aunt, with whom
she lived. had expressed doubts Of
Elmcr'A faithfulness Al least she
had told Eiinor that she would do
+ well to think twice oelore she let any
good chance 10 marry slip away from
/ her. And there had been ehaucaa
more especially that thrifty farmer.
John Torrington II was this mid
die aged wooeF. sturdy and respected.
whom her aunt especially favored
] Don't forget that you are twentW-
seven, Eliuor. said aunt Martha. by
way OF well meant warning.
but EiliDor's heart was not 10 be
shaken In its congtancy 90 haf frat
lover, the lover who declared himself
I when she was still a schoolgirl and
who had gone into the far western
wiidness TO win the fortune that waa
20 bring them together chance
had been offered him by distant
relative. He had eagerly accepted Il.
lie hoped 10 return In a year az the
latest But fortune was elusive and
iiye years had passed
And Is Elmer going TO stay here p
her aunt aHked after she had heard
the momentous tidings
Why, yes" Elinor replied.
Here Ia Clintville9"
"Of course"
II isn't much Of settling down
place for man who has seen tho
world" her aunt suggested IN her
exasperatingly slow way.
Eiinor flushed
That IN all understood" ahe said.
Elmer knows that I would never
consent 10 leave my old home and
my friends and go away among those
Wild strangers
Such things have been done" said
her aunt sententiousiy as she turned
/ away.
Elinor laughed little scornfuIly
but her heart was troubled.
/ So the days wore away, aud the
tenth day from the mailing of the
momentouH letter came,
| A telegram from Chicago had
reached Elinor the morning of the
ninth day. Elmer was on his way ac-
4 cording TO schedule.
And now she was dressed In her
daintiest summer gown and waiting
/ on the porch. She had considered the
idea Of meeting him at the railway
/ station, but the thought Of greeting
/ him In the presence OF the village
/ idlers was not pleasant one. He
/ would understand
II was a little early for the train.
but every detail In the simple pro-
1 gram OF welcome had been arranged
/ The pretty cottage was swept and
/ garnished; the appetizing luncheon
was prepared, and now the gentle
Elinor, her heart beating with antici-
patton, sat on the shaded porch with
her expectant gaze on the road along
the willows
And then she saw a group of men
there were fiye OF them---standlng
by the roadside as II not quite sure
OF their bearings Presently they
came forward and disappeared be-
hind the high hedge.
A moment later Elinor saw them
at the gate. One OF them pointed to-
ward the house, Then the gate was
opened and they came up the path
way in single file.
IL was quite evident they were
strangers Elinor had time to inanect