The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-07-02
THE COLONIES FRIENDS.
THEIR SUCCESSFUL DESCENT UPON
THE TOWN OF FLINTVILLE.
w. r. ROSE, in Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The girl took the letter from the
postmistresS. A faint smile fiuttered
across the latters wrinkled face.
Its the right postmark,' she said.
81 was beginnin' to think that mebby
he'd quit writin'. But l 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 off 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" it began, Il
have delayed writing for 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 five years. I am
settling up things here and coming
homecoming home to 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 to 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
distance, and perhaps have a little
over to invest in something safe and
reasonably remunerative. Perhaps
you may know of an opening in Clint
Vile Get an option on it if you can.
But mind, I'm not going into partner
ship with Bijah Grimes, or Eb Still
man. And l draw the line on taking
an interest in the Higgins House. But
there, | mustn't get away from the
main point. I'm coming home-for
where you are is homeland I've begun
| to count the hours that intervene.
1t will seem long journey this time,
but it's to be the last one. But there
must be no delay when | get to Clint
vile. I've waited too long as 1t is.
| Be ready, dearest. | mean to be with
you just ten days from the date of
this letter. A caller has come into my
office | can see him in the outer
room. He comes by appointment.
When l am through with him, the last
tie that holds me here will be cut.
Goodby for the short time that seems
so long.
ELMER"
There were tears in the girls eyes
as she looked around. Then she
pressed the letter to her lips.
She glanced at the postmark on
the envelope The letter had been on
it's journey six days. In four days
more Elmer Morse would come.
She quickened her steps. There
was so much to do in those four short
days. No, she would not keep him
waiting.
A glow of triumph filled her heart.
She had not waited in vain. How
many times she had been told that
she was wasting her years by her
constancy. Even her aunt, with whom
she lived, had expressed doubts of
Elmer's faithfulness. At least, she
had told Elinor that she would do
we'll to think twice before she let any
good chance to marry slip away from
her. And there had been chances
more especially that thrifty farmer,
John Torrington. 1t was this mid
die aged wooer, sturdy and respected,
whom her aunt especially favored.
Don't forget that you are twentw-
seven, Elinor," said aunt Martha, by
way of we'll meant warning.
shaken in it's constancy to her first
lover, the lover who declared himself
when she was still a schoolgirl and
who had gone into the far western
wildness to win the fortune that was
to bring them together. A chance
had been offered him by a distant
relative. He had eagerly accepted it.
He hoped to return in a year at the
| latest. But fortune was elusive and
| five years had passed.
And is Elmer going to stay here p
her aunt asked after she had heard
the momentous tidings.
why, yes" Elinor replied.
Here in Clintville?"
"Of course"
"It isn't much of settling down
| place for man who has seen the
world" her aunt suggested in her
exasperatingly slow way.
| Elinor flushed.
"That is all understood" she said.
| ELMER knows that 1 would never
consent to leave my old home and
my friends and go away among those
wild strangers"
Such things have been done,' said
her aunt sententiously as she turned
away.
Elinor laughed a little scornfully
but her heart was troubled.
So the days wore away, and the
tenth day from the mailing of the
momentous letter came.
A telegram from Chicago had
| reached Elinor the morning of the
| ninth day. Elmer was on his way ac-
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.
1t was a little early for the train,
but every detail in the simple pro-
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 five of demonstrating
by the roadside as if 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-