The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-03
DRUSILLA'S
PATIENCE

By cLARlSSA MAcKE

SVopvr'she 1878. By Associated Literary Press|
Patience is bitter. but its fruit is
sweet" Drusilla Ford repeated the
lines OF her motto with quivering lips
Its the bitterest thing there is In
iife. she added. picking up her sew.
Ing once more.
Drusilla pulled her needle so sharp.
~ that the thread snapped. Her life
was rather lonely. for her aunt was
old and deaf. and as she made dresses
Tor her friends and neighbors there
was plenty of time for reflection. and
Drusiila meditated SO much that she
grew quite morbid and litter
Five years before Emmett Blake had
departed from Laurel Cove with Dru.
sil!a's shy maiden kiss upon his lips
and great resolve swelling his soul.
Was not Drusilla Ford the prettiest
Girl In Laurel Cove and had she not
promised to wait for him and be mar
fied when ne came back from his UNI
cle's sheen ranch in Montana II
Emmet liked ranch life he intended
to purchase half interest in his un.
cle's PLACE and after the wedding he
would take sweet Drusila to the west.
l'ut the years had passed until five
had marked the round Of Emmett
/ ii,akc'S absence He wrote regularly
twice month as the Girl in the
rostnfcc testified to curious inquircrs
and as poor Drusilla orcrcd each
envelope her hopes arose only to fail
at his ready excuses for delaying the
return
4 Some people said he had married in
the west and was afraid to tel! Dru-
/ si'!a the truth: others said he had
tired Of the girl he left behind ana
was only waiting for her to break off
the engagement
i,rusila had not received her usual
letter aud its nol-arrival cnhttcrod
her usually sweet disposition She
knew that the Girl in tho rosto,'icc
watched her sensitive face Ms nrusilla
approached the window each day. and
she tried to school her features to
calm repose at each disappointment,
Two weeks had passed over the Il, nal
| letter day and so Drusilla stayed
away from the Office rather than suf.
fer humiliation 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 nicce's cor.
respondence and by reference to her
own almanac could tell n Emmet's
letters were day ahead of time or
two days late In arrival Now she was
a-tilt with excitement and vague spec.
ulation
"Druslla." she said In the loud tone
she always used how long since you
been TO the postoflce?"
Three days" returned Drusilla.
when are You going again."
II don't know" Drusilla's voice was
markedly careless Here are some
pretty pink pieces for your bed quilt,
Aunt Betsy"
PUT 'em In my basket" shouted
Aunt Betsy. obstinately 81 guess III
go over to Mrs Buell's a little Willie"
She jerked on her sunbonnct and went
out. leaving the screen door 10 slam
noislly.
Il hone she won't go to the post
Office" Drusila unused. as she thread
ed her needle Then her thoughts few
to her negligent lover and she wonder
ed If he might not be sick
An hour later Aunt Betsy camd hop
ping back again trimming with sup
pressed irritahilify She sank into a
rocking chair and famed herself with
her calico sunbonnet.
Drusilla Ford-there amt a letter
today What do you think is the mat
ter with Emmett Blake?"
Drusilla paled. Aunt Betsy. you
haven't been to the postofTlce?" she
asked sternly.
Aunt Betsy tossed her head defiant
ly. II have been over to Mrs. Buell's
and Lulu came home to dinner while
] was there. and SO I asked her II
there was any mail In our box-I
thought mebbe Emeline might have
you had a letter from Emeline
three days ago and you havn't answer
ed It yet" Interrupted Drusilla coldly.
Her aunt blushed 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
y, but Drusilla did not respond 10 the