Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1912-05-08
DRUSILLA'S
PATIENCE
(CepYfiaht. 1914. By Associated Literary PrssO
By CLARlSSA MAcKIE

/ tSerYT2hL 1914. b. Associated Literary Ffss0
! Patience is bitter. but it's fruit is
sweet" Drusilla Ford repeated the
lines Of her motto with qulyering lips.
It's the bitterest thing there is in
life" she added. picking up her sew
ing once more.
Drusilla pulled her needle SO sharp
ly 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
Drusiila 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 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.
ried when he came back from his UNI
cle's sheep ranch I'm Montana? II
Emmett liked ranch life he intended
to purchase a half interest in his IN
cle's place and after the wedding he
B. WIN AahC SNttl III AEAAAeA " INC "tSS
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
postoffice testified to curious inquirers
and as poor Drusilla opened each
envelope her hopes arose only 10 fail
at his ready excuses for delaying the
return
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 of
the engagement
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 suf-
Ger 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 niece's cor
respondence and by reference to her
own almanac could tell II Emmet's
letters were a day ahead OF time or
Z two days late in arrival Now she was
a-tilt with excitement and vague spec.
ulation.
"Drusilla," she said In the loud tone
she always used. how long since you
! been to the postoffice?"
Three days" returned DrusIlla
when are you going again."
( 81 don't know" DIusilla'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 I'll
: go over TO Mrs. Buell's little while"
/ She jerked on her sunbonnet and went,
out. leaving the screen door to slam
noisily
81 hope she won't go to the post
Office" Drusilla unused. as she thread
ed her needle. Then her thoughts few
20 her negligent lover and she wonder
1 ed If ne 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
I 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 postofice?" she
asked sternly.
Aunt Betsy tossed her head defiant
I ly. Il have been over to Mrs Buell's
and Lulu came home to dinner while
J was there, and so / asked her II
there was any mail in our box-I
I thought mebbe Emeline might have
written"
You had letter from Emeline
three days ago and you havn't answer
ed # 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
I ly, but Drusilla did not respond to the
I tentative remark
. News about Emmett Blake" insin-
uated Aunt Betsy.
/ 1t took DrusiIla OF her guard. She
grew quite pink and then paled again.
~He-isn't sick-or anything?" she
stammered eagerly.
Il guess mott" retorted Aunt Betsy.
He's going 10 get married-just as
/ everybody said he vould-the worth
Z less scamp"
Drusilla sat as II turned to stone. At
last the blow had fallen and II seem
ed as though the shock had torn the
heart from her body. for she felt no
grief. no pain. at this evidence Of her
I lovers perfidy. There was merely a
| feeling Of icy coldness and a strange
| lightness in her head.
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
thing" Aunt Betsy was plainly out
ragged at beng deprived of the dra-
Z matte scena she had coniured nm In