The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-12
THE EVENING STORY
DrusilIa's Patience.


sweet" Drusilla Ford repeated the
lines of her motto with quivering lips.
Its the bitterest thing there is in
life, . she added, picking UP her sewing
once more.
Drusilla pulled her needle so sharply
that the thread snapped. Her life was
rather lonely, for her aunt was old and
deaf, and as she made dresses for her
friends and neighbors there was plenty
of time for reflection and Drusilla
meditated so much that she grew quite
morbid and bitter.
| Five years before Emmett Blake had
departed from Laurel Cove with Dru-
silla's shy, maiden kiss upons his lips
and a great resolve swelling his soul.
Was not DrusiIla Ford the prettiest
girl in Laurel Cove and had she not
promised to wait for him and be mar
ried when he came back from his I'M
cIe's sheep ranch in Montana? If En-
met liked ranch life he intended to
purchase a half interest in his uncle's
place and after the wedding he would
take sweet Drusilla to the west.
But the years had passed until five
had marked the round of Emmett
Blake's absence. He wrote regularly
twice a month as the girl in the post
office testified to curious inquirers-
and as poor Drusilla opened each en-
velope her hopes arose only to fall at
his ready excuses for delaying the re-
turn.
Some people said he had married in
the west and was afraid to tell Dru-
silla the truth; others said he had tired
of the girl he left behind and was only
waiting for her to break off the en-
gagement.
Drusilla had not received her usual
letter and its non-arrival embittered
her usually sweet disposition. She
knew that the girl in the postoffice
watched her sensitive face as Drusilla
approached the window each day, and
she tried to school her features to calm
repose at each disappointment Two
weeks had passed over the usual letter
day and so Drusilla stayed away from
the Office rather than suffer humilia
ton from encounters with the village
gossips.
The deaf old aunt with whom she
lived came into the room. To Drusil-
las annoyance, her aunt Betsy kept an
accurate record of her nieces cores
pondence and by reference to her own
almanac could tell if Emmet's letters
were a day ahead of time or two days
late in arrival. Now she was a-tilt
with excitement and vague speculation.
"Drusilla," she said in the loud tone
she always used, chow long since you
been to the postofdce?'
Three days" returned Drusilla.
when are you going again?'
81 don't know" Drusilla's voice was
markedly careless. Here are some
Aunt Betsy
put 'em in my basket shouted
Aunt Betsy. obstinately. Il guess I'll
go over to Mrs. Buell's a little while
She jerked on her sunbonnet and went
out, leaving the screen door to slam
noisily.
II hope she won't go to the post
office" Drusilla unused, as she thread
ed her needle. Then her thoughts flew
to her negligent lover and she wonder
ed if he might not be sick.
An hour later Aunt Betsy came hop
ping back again trimming with sup
pressed irritability. She sank into
rocking chair and famed herself with
her calico sunbonnet.
"Drusilly Ford-there amt a letter
today. What do you think is the mat
ter with Emmit Blake ?"
Drusilla paled. Aunt Betsy, you
haven't been to the postoffice? ?" she
asked sternly.
Aunt Betsy tossed her head defiant
~, 81 been over to Mrs. Buells and
Lulu came home to dinner while I was
there and so l asked her if there was
any mail in our box-I thought mebbe
Emeline might have written
''You had a letter from Emeline
three days ago and you haven't an
swered it yet" interrupted Drusilla
Her aunt biushed and hesitated.
then went on rapidly; Lulu said there
wasn't any mail, but she was full of
news
Aunt Betsy watched her niece close
". but Drusil1a did not respond to the
tentative remark.
News about Emmet Blake" insin-
uated Aunt Betsy.
It took Drusilla off her guard. She
grew quite pink and then paled again
'sHe-isn't=sick-or anything" she
stammered eagerly.
Il guess not!'' retorted Aunt Betsy
Hes going to get married-just as
everybody said he would-the worth
less scamp"
Drusilla sat as if turned to stone At
last the blow had fallen and it seemed
as though the shock had torn the heart
from her body for she felt no grief. no
main. at this evidence of her lovers
perfidy. There was merely a feeling of
ICY GOODNESS and a strange lightness in
her head.
s.If that isn't just like you. Drusilla
Ford, Sitting there dumb and quiet.
while most girls would either faint
dead away or tear their hair or some
Aunt Betsy was plainly outraged at
being deprived of the dramatic scene
she had conjureG up in her fertile
brain.
Aunt Betsy did not spare a word
she told how Emmett Blake's uncle had
sent a Montana newspaper to a rela-
tive in the village and in the Windy
River news was a marked paragraph
which stated that 1--WE understand that