The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-06-14
A LEAP YEAR PLOT.

A handsome young fellow was
Tom, and clever one too, and
enough OF q catch to keep III contin-
ual palpi; alton the hearts of some
wrnty or thirty susceptible young
ladies, a.d the heads of their N anou-
vering mamas, to say nothing of
brothers, who liked influence, and
male parents with an eye to the main
chance; and Tom bore his hOno1s
meek ~. did his duty by all, and
would have acted Lothsrio to Eerf, G.
tion were it not that, however he at
tempted to conceal it, everyone was
pretty sure that his heart had been
given away some two or three years
previous, and one person knew it,
and that was lovely Mary Field, who
held the gift in fee.
All, but poor Mary! it was doubt
full if, after all, the gift was worth
the having, for it was of that trou-
blesome nature, from the moment it
came into her possession, her peace
OF mind went a" ay, and at the time
of which we speak her patieuce was
nearly gone too.
A long engagement is weary
thing particularly a long engage
ment kept secret, AMI more particu-
larly still when no earthly easOn ex-
lists why that engagement should not
find a speedy end in matrimony.
But Tom hadn't quite settled
yet, and so wanted better to be
able to keep Mary like q lovely lady
as she was, " and so forth and so on, ad
infnitunl. La fact, though Tom was
awfuIly in love, he liked dallying,
and had an instructive horror of
housekeeping and babies. And
matters went on, and poor Mary WAS
talked about and wondered at and
speculated upon, and kept denying
soft impeachments, until the accumu-
lated Pelion of fbs she had piled up
on the Osea of her conscience bid
fair to "to o'ertop the skyish head OF
blue Olympus" and that before long,
too.
So affairs stood on the day which
we write, when Tom sat in his office,
studying out his difficult case ard
Mary sat home, perhaps-who
knows?-trying to study out Tom.
But other business, equally urgent,
was being carried on, if we might
Judge from the excited and equally
determined countenances, of a tri-
umvirate, which was holding a sol
emn and important conclaye in the
little back parlor of Miss Minerva
Williams, dear, though, somewhat
vehement soul Of forty summers
Miss Betsy Parllins, her cotempora-
ry In years, held the chair. and Mrs.
Mercy Mouison-widow Moulson,
as she was called-comple;ed the
trio.
The proceedings were carried on
with much mystery and cOnsidera-
bic emphatic talking, and alter some
two hours debate, terminated by
sundry tea-cups full of warm conso-
lation, the meeting adjourned, and
the parties separated, mischief spark
ling in the brilliant eyes Of the fair
widow, tranquil complacency hold
ing her throne III Miss Betsy's face,
and high and stern resolve distin-
gushing the uDcompromising feat
ures of the warlke and dignified
Minerva.
Not d very ng time bad passed
whom there came a knock at Tom S
Office door, and the prompt answer
was
Come in
In walked Mrs. Mercy Moulton,
smiling serenely.
Our hero S Politeness was exec s.
sive. aud amid much bowling, speech
flying, and so forth, the far visitant
was comfortably installed in a chair,
and Ton waited, all attention, for
the dis, Iosure of her business.
"You are, perhaps surprised at
seeing me, Mr. Rathburn?"
"Oh, dear no, replied the gallant
Tom. Lawyers are never surprised
only too happy" &C.
"Hem," said the widow, Il real
ly-'
''Reassure yourself, my dear ma
dame; take time said Tom consider
ately, perfectly sure that the lady had
called to entrust him with law bust
ness of Il delicate and lucrative ma
ture. If you say SO l viii continue
for awhile"
"Oh, no; it is best to have it over.
A-a-excuse me; but-This is very
embarrassing"
ooh, no, said Tom soothingly,
''not at al. am the recipient ol
so many condolences, you need not
mind it at all Is there anything ]
can do for your
eyes. l have come-or rather,
no-aud yet.-Oh, how dreadful ii
is to be a lonely, unprotected, help
less woman.
"Ah, 1t is indeed. "a condolatory
sigh from Tom.
For one who has been-been 9th
erwise," and the widow buried hel
face in a cambl handkeI chief, 'The
the daily sadness of-Of-I may
say retrospect, musing in tears
and solitude over. Mr.. RatbbuTI
never having been widow yourself
you don't know what q doleful CT.
ture Il widow IS
cab, 1 know said Tom, quite
/ prepared in the exuberance of hi:
sympathy to declare himself q widow
or anything else that might be salts
factory. of 1 can serve you here
he pressed her Land-"comm mant
me-
You remember my deceased hu
handI' inquired the widow tremu
lously.
81 do, madame"
Now we are coming to it-som,
question of will, said Tom to him
Golf