The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-05-24
AFATAL DREAM.

! tended the grand ball at the opening
Of the Lindell House, at fashionable
watering place. It was near The
close Of the season. I came there to
rejoin party with whom I had trav-
eled all summer, and from whom
had been separated the last three
weeks. OF this party, Miss Hatty
barley was one. She and I had Airt-
ed on all available occasions, for
more than year; we had hirted des-
perately during the past summer,
Tor we had been thrown almost CON
stantly together. Once or twice, I
had seriously wondered to myself if
my heart was not touched by Miss
Hatty's destinations, and had every
time come to the conclusion that it
was not, that we were both heart
whole, and likely to remain go. But
to-night I opened the question again
Hatty seemed so delighted to see me
after my three weeks absence; she
raised her blue eyes to mine SO ten
derly, she sighed 60 softly, shelooked
so ike an angel, in her robe of soft,
white crepe, with ''golden-hearted
lilies IN her floating, golden hair"
that when I placed my arm around
her waist for the first waltz, I deci-
ded that all the time I must have
been mistaken, that 1CGs really In
love with her; and when the last
strains of Straus' delicious music
died away, I led her into one of
these little hower-screened alcoves,
that seem to be expressly for lovers,
and in terms which l cannot now re-
call, but which were doubtless redo
lent Of the music, the whirl and the
intoXication of the hour, I asked her
promise to become mine forever
She received my proposals coolly,
Just as che had received scores of
others. 'She was sorry; she was very
much surprised: she had no thought
of such thing; in short ''NO." l
led my pretty coquette back to the
ball room, and signing a little, turn
ed away from her, feeling someS hat
ashamed, somewhat cory, and some-
what thankful-scrry and ashamed
that L had been SO foolish as to sue
for a hand that I did not want,
thankful that MISS barley had seen
fit to refuse me.
Feeling The need of fresh air, and
quiet cool my excited ferlings and
flushed face, [ stepped through the
French window upon the piazza,
when a sweet voice at my ride said,
Louis, and q little brown hand,
wi b diamonds, the softest,
prettiest little hand 1 ever saw in my
life, was placed in mine. The touch
filed every fibre OF my being. In
pressed it closely in
my own, and turned to meet q pair
of eyes And such-eyesI They were
soft, black, dreamy, with a shoulder
ing fire IN their depths which kin
died, that instant, flame in my soul |
which time, nor absence, nor despair
can ever extinguish. The dark, love
ly face grew rosy, under my earnest |
gaze, and although she exclaimed !
quickly. "I beg your pardon. I am
l did not relinquish her
band, but volunteered to find this |
Louis" whom, provided he |
was not her brother, l envied from |
the bottom of my heart
He proved to be her cousin and |
her escort for the evening. Upon |
seeing him I found that we had al |
ready a casual acquaintance. OF
course, greeted him very cordially |
now, and was formally introduced to |
Miss Francesca Van Buren. I found |
that they were residents Of my own |
city, and were to leave for home ear |
Iy next morning. I, also, had a |
pressing and immediate business at |
home, and we left the place to-
gether.
I had often heard of Van Buren,
Francesca's father, as avery wealthy, |
put bigoted and tyranical old fellow. !
He was a Roman Catholic, and it |
was said that he had lovely daugh- |
Ter, whom he had secluded entirely |
rom society, trying to enduce her to |
enter a convent, and to devote the |
immense wealth which she would in /
merit to the Church. But to this she |
vas said to be firmly opposed. All |
his, it seems, was true. The lovely 4
francesca was the daughter, his only /
child, and her opposition to his /
scheme was so determined that he 1
lad at last relinqUished IT; and now
or the first time, although nearly |
.Wenty years of age, she was allowed |
% mingle in the gayeties of society.
I did not learn ali these facts re-
garding her In this one night, of
which I have been telling you; our
lcqu tintance did not end there. A
leep and passionate love sprung up
Francesca and myself, which
neither of us endeavored to conceal
II to control. I sought her upon
.very occasion, and my presence
ieemed ever welcome to her. Ninth
.fter month of such perfect happi-
hess as few mOrtals ever experience
vas vouchsafed to US. It Is not a
lew saying, however, that the course
# true love never did run smooth to
he end We well knew that our
owes would find no favor with the
ather. Not only that l was not a
which would alone have
,een an insuperable objection, but
.lso from the fact that to a wealthy
nd high-born friend Of his own the
land Of Francesca was contracted, Il
he persisted in cleaving to the
world, instead Of wedding the
Jhurch. We did not at ali under
ate the importance of the OppOsi-
ion which we must encounter, but
.fter more than q year had passed |
inee our first meeting, we had mu-
rrnIlr- InAn-srr-srnI a. nrnrr nr1r Iowa |