Yet romance did not entirely pass her by, for when she was nineteen
she loved and was loved in return by John Brierly. They were an ideal
couple, the neighbors said. He, young, handsome, although a little
too much of a dreamer to be a success; she, the prettiest girl in all
the country side. John was restless, and with youth's ambition
rebelled against the narrow restrictions of the little town. Hearing
the call of the West, he decided to go to the country of his dreams
and find the fortune that he knew was waiting him in that new land of
mystery. He tried to persuade Drusilla to marry him and go with him;
but her mother, with a sick woman's persistency, demanded that her
daughter stay with her. They offered to take her with them, and
painted in glowing colors the new life in that "far beyond"; but she
wept in terror at the thought of leaving all she knew, and clung the
more closely to Drusilla, begging her to stay with her until the end.
"When I am gone, Drusilla, you may go; but let me die here among the
things I know and love"; and Drusilla and John put off the journey
from year to year, until at last John in desperation said, "Drusilla,
I can wait no longer. I must go. I will wait for you, and some day
you will come to me."

The years rolled on. Drusilla heard from John from time to time, but
after many years the letters stopped. Her mother lived long enough to
see Drusilla becoming old and tired and worn, and then she, too, left
her for the Great Unknown. Drusilla worked on, making the clothes for
each rising generation, helping tired mothers, caring for the sick.
But at last she had to give up the fight; she was too old. Quicker
feet were wanted, younger hands, and Drusilla learned the bitter
lesson that comes often to the old. They are stumbling-blocks in the
pathway of the young. This knowledge broke her courage and her
health, and her hard saved dollars were spent in doctor's bills. When