The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-09-15

Z over IaOy, ana ne stopped to max
an apology. It was the companion O
; Miss Alexander. She was a pIaiI
: little girl enough, but she had goo,
eyes, and very expressive mouth
too expressive, Penn broke though
just then, for she seemed as if sh,
} were laughing at him. "She has seer
my discontinue" he thought, "anC
it amuses her."
1 Pembroke's apology led to an inter
} change Of words. The young woman
spoke in a clear ringing voice, which
! had at least some character in it, anC
, attracted our somewhat discouraged
youth. He uttered commonplace o.
, two, bat to his amazement the girl cut
him short by calmly saying:
} "Thank you. But suppose we meet
each other on the deck or the stairs 8
few times more, and look at each
other without speaking, until we gel
better acquainted?"
"Why so?n asked puzzled Penn.
broke.
Wouldn't that be a better way OF
opening an acquaintance than a pre-
lude of unmeaning commonplaces
that no one cares about?i'
''Weu suppose people must begin
with commOnplaces. It's like moving
the pawns in the beginning of a game
of chess"
DIS ~ 1 thought there was some
purpose generally in every movement,
even of the pawns. But, indeed, the
beginning Of game of chess is very
dull to me, and I am always longing
to get it over"
"Some people can only talk COM
mOnplaces," observed Phil, thinking
Of his recent interview.
"Then why not keep all ones
! stock for dealing with such people ?u
Somebody else came up, and this
saucy little lady got out of the odd
! discussion.
"She goes in for being eccentric,n -
Phil said to himself. 'She has no
money and no beauty, and she thinks
! it best to be odd. IsuppOse she enVies
| the good looks and the fortune of her
| Oung mistress, or friend, or whatever
she is. Poor thing! A woman with
out money or beauty must do some
thing"
Captain Decides walked the deck
that day for nearly an hour with the
heiress, and reported her to be nice
| quiet girl, with no nonsense in her.
He said he hated your talking women
| strong minded, and blue-stOckings,
and all that.
Alexander did undoubtedly seem to
be Ieveled at Phil Pembroke. Phil
felt little flattered, and tried to think
her delightful. But he really couldn't
succeed. She was insupportably
placid, sweet and dull.
Pembroke talked q good deal to Mr..
Alexander, and was much pleased
with the quiet intelligence and varied
knowledge of the old gentleman. But
he was greatly puzzled by the obvious
uneasiness and awkWardness which
sometimes took possession of the lat
when the two young women were
near.
None of the other ladies on board
liked the heiress. At first they were
nearly unanimous in praising Miss
Roberts, the companion, who had
neither face nor fortune to boast of.
But they soon found her odd and sa-
tirical, and pronounced her bold, and
didn't like her at all. Some thought
her manner highly unbecOming for
person in her class.
The day after their first exchange Of
words Pembroke came on deck and
found Captain Decides and Colonel
Sharpe, one at each side of Miss Alex
ander, doing their best as rivals to in
terest and please the heiress. Miss
Roberts sat at little distance reading
a book. Phil was rude enough and
inquisitive enough to draw near her
from behind, in order to see what the
book was. Itwas Moliere, and she was
reading " lie MisanthrOpe," apEar-
emily with deep interest.
Come" he thought, ga woman
who can read MOIiere is worth some
thing. Why hasn't she the money, or
even the beauty?' ?''
Presently she glanced at the heiress
and her admirers, and an idea seemed
to strike her. She took up a scrap ofpa-
per and began to draw something Oh it.
Pembroke presented himself boldly,
and plunged into conversation at once
by asking her whether she was sketch
ing any of the scenery of the river.
She seemed q little embarrassed and
said:
"Oh no; L don't ever care to spoil
my impression of a river or a tree by
carieature. 1 hate silly women who
waste their time over amateur sketch
es of scenery"
"But you have been drawing some
thing; may / see it ?'
Indeed you may not. 1t isn't
worth looking at, and therefore 1t
wouldn't be worth cOncealiDg, but
that-well, but that 1 don't want to
show it."
She tore it in two, crumpled the
pieces, and tried to throw them over
the side. But the wind blew them
back almost to PembrOke's feet, and
he was malign enough to catch them,
f1atten them out, and put them to-
! gether. He saw two wonderful little
sketches, each one in few touches
one of Captain Decides, whose head was
/ -, TDn OF r.f
a sheep; the other OF Colonel Sharpe,
made suggestive of jackal.
"YOu have a wonderful gift with
| the pencil,'' said Pembroke, graYely
and earnestly; "and you can see far
| enough into people. But don't abuse
| your gifts; don't be iiI-natuTed. We
| are ali afraid OF satirical women.D
! "Well, I am sorry carFicatured
! these, since anybody saw them not
because it is il-natured, but only be-
| cause they are not worth satirizing or
! caricaturing."
81 Captain Decides seems a very geiI-
/ tlemanly man, L think"
! "Yes a gentleman ia keen search
! of fortune owned by any woman
! foolish enough to give it to him And
Colonel Sharpe Does he seem to you
a gentlemanly person alsoP
| q Well, perhaps not. wonder what
your friend, Miss Alexander, thinks OF
/ him 90
"I don't believe she is thinking
about him at all, even now. But if y0ts
were to try" ~
'' Should have a better chance ?j
Much better. q Go test Eitsfor your
selfn
80 Not I Like Sir, Lucius in The
/ Rivals, am too poor man TO do
any thing shabby. / couldn't afford
to run after heiresses."
Miss Roberts's eyes flashed Oh him
full of keen inquiry. She arose, made
a quiet bow, and left him.
- eFrauOo GIRL ft,U ,,f fol. ~ y i,o