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

think, but l know it.
"Oh, happiness Toni" and
the widow encircled his neck with
her plump arms, and hid her blush
ing face on his shoulder. Then could
you-would you-marry me?" It's
leap year, you know"
''Bless my soul Mrs. Moulson,
madame, you're madI' exclaimed
Tom, staggering beneath the weight
of his stout and helpless burden.
Oh, o!" she said, leaning still
more heavily; ''only happy, too hap
py, Tom
'"But-this is too much. Sit down
there, will you?" and he bundled the
tender creature unceremoniously in
to the chair. l say you are mad"
''I say not, " said the lady posi-
lively. You see Tom"
Don't call me Tom" I won't
stand it."
Dear me! it's you that's mad, I
know. Come now, be reasonable.
You can't refuse me, you know, for
it's leap year"
The deuce can't!" said Tom de-
d04iantly, 'I say, you had better
get out Of this; for its carrying joke
little too far"
Its no joke at all, said the Wild
ow, beginning to sob. "You unkind,
cruel man! OIL ohl''
On, for the Lords sake, do stop"
Do you want to have all the neigh
bors in here? Do come to reason,
said Tom imploringly.
81 love you'll" said the beseeching
widow.
"Oh, goodness said Tom.
"You treat mo with rudeness and
contemplate you, sir. With rude
ness and contempt! Oh, very we'll,
and the lady made summary y move
ment toward the door. every well,
sir!"
"What shall I do?" Mrs. Moul-
son, do stop moment. Oh mercy
on me! Don't you know ma'am that
am already engaged?'
sHa," calculated his fair persecu-
tor.
'WAy yes" said Tom catching at
a spar of hope. "To sweet Mary
Field"
cob, bah! You'll never marry
her! after dallying with her so many
years I'll have you yeti" and a
wicked CLEAN shOne in her dazzling
black eyes.
''But the day is all fixed; and it's
its next month! and you see
"Why couldn't you tell me that
at once? Fixed-is it? You declare
to that?"
"WeIl-yes-"
''Then see that you stand to it,
and she bounced off. 'Next month,
remember! oh, won't tell about you
thought
And down the street went Mrs.
Mercy, shaking behind her veil wi h
laugh; er, to betake herself to Miss
Betsy and Miss Minerva, and imp art
to them the grand success of the
opening scene in their little STRAIT
egem.
There was a moderate intermis-
sion, during which our hero tried to
compose his shattered nerves, and
then a single drop was given by the
kn"ckor.
Tom, still discomposed, and with
a vague presentiment that the day
was not yet over with him, went to
to the door, and beheld Mis-. Betsy
Parkins, dressed in her very best,
and smiling with her bIandest ex-
preston.
She edged herself in, for Tom
seemed inclined to shut the door un-
tremendously in her face; and,
taking a seat in her brightest man
ner, said:
you've cheerfulplace here Mr..
Tom"
Half beguiled by her harmless ap-
pearance, Tom answered that he,
himself, thought so.
Pretty tidy, considering"
Yes; Tom liked things tidy.
"But Tn thinking now, Mr.. Tom,
how much more tidy and cheerful it
might be. You've never thogghs of
marrying yet-eb, now?"
"Oh, yes! In tact-"
81 thought so. Now, Mr.. Tom,
now, you see, 1 en- a lone kind of a
body, and she screwed up one eye,
and beamed beneyolently upon him
with the other, "and always had a
fancy for young folks. How would
it do for you and me to set up to-
gether? Come, now, you had better
consider it. Anyway, you wouldn't
like to refuse me as it's leap year
"Ehl'' said Tom rather stupefed
"Why, it's being leap year, a man
isn't in law permitted to refuse a
woman who comes trustfully and
confdentially offering herself, and
she giggled with mingled modesty and
glee.
Il declare, I don't know what you
all meal! It's a plot, vile, wicked
plot! Now, istenI' and he thunder
ed in a voice loud enough to awaken
an Egyptian mummy, "I am en-
| gagged! engaged he roared again,
shaking her by the arm. $50 go
and tell it to everybody; and l mean
to be married next week, toe! Now
take yourself off from here!" and he
hoisted her from the chair, and gave
her a push toward the door.
"Well, declare, you need not be
so mighty violent. I haven't insult
ed you, Mr.. Tom, anyway. Oh, d ar
so the widows done the business for
you, has she?"
Don't talk to me of your Internal
widowsl 81 am going to marry Ma
ry Field. Now, DO you understand"
Go and tell it, tell every one the day
is fixed-next week. Go, - and be
waived his arm majestically toward
| the door