The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-08-08

anu ODeyeu Inc uOcEOr perScTlpUlOn
carefully. He ate bread and drank
milk, and robbed the orchards like a
school boy, and declaimed over the
strawberry shOrt-cake after a fashion
that would have made his reputation at
the bar. Then, too, Mrs. MuntIe did
not smile at his aches and pains, and
insist that he must be perpetuaIIy well
because he had fresh complexion and
dimples in his cheeks. She had savory
herb teas and potions, which she pro-
duced when he complained of feeling
miserable, and she had that blessing to
hypochondrias, homeopathic box and
book in the house.
There were remedies in that box for
everything and it was pleasant to find
that when there was a crawling sensation
in your flesh or a kind of uneasy feel
ing in your legs, there were dear little
globuIes to be had just suited for the
symptoms that to find yourself very
angry about nothing indicated pulsatiI-
Ia, and that even for unrequited love
there was a medicine.
For two months and more Mr.. Patter-
son boarded with Mrs. MuntIe, and
happier months he had never lived
through Then he went back to the
city for a few weeks, returned in urgent
need of more pellets from the medicine
chest and stayed until the last pink
chrysanthemum was blooming on its
withered branches. He had grown so
fond of his little room, with its white
curtains and fresh grass bleached linen,
of the country good things, and of the,
cosy nursing of Mrs. MuntIe, that he
could scarcely bear the thought of part
ing with them altogether.
After all, why could he not buy
house, and try to get Mrs Muntle to
keep it for him? Perhaps she would.
He would offer her high salary, and
she would have plenty of servants.
Then, indeed, he might have friends to
dine with him, and be as happy as pos
sible.
If only he could approach his hostess;
showing her as he did so that he con-
sidered her his equal and a lady, and
all that, as she certainly was, little
countryfed, of course, but aclergyman,s
daughter and the widow OF a country
doctor.
Aftea much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
walked into the front parlOr, sent the
small servant to ask Mrs. Muntle to step
there for a moment if she pleased.
Gracious r' thought Mrs. Muntle.
''What can he want %
Then she blushed brightly, settled
her necktie, took off her apron and
walked demurely in.
BE seated, ma'ma,' said Mr.. Patter-
son. ''PIease to sit here. Allow me
to sit near you. [ have something to
say which may require some considera-
ton"
20 dear, its coming !" said Mrs.
Muntle.
"I suppose you know I'm man of
considerable means, ma'am," said the
old bachelor, cable to buy nice house,
furnish it well, and live in it comforta-
bly,
said the widow.
" And of course its pleasanter to live
that way than in bachelor lodgings, or at
hotel, " said Mr.. Patterson.
Ct should Judge it might be, said
Mrs. Muntle, cautiously.
g Yon Judge rightly" said Mr.. Pat
terson, "But you know a bachelor
must be in the hands of servants if he
keeps house. A gentleman don't want
that he wants lady to superintend
things for him; some one of taste and
refinement and all that Common peo-
pie don't understand his feelings and
mercenary servants are very poor de-
pendence."
81 know that, said Mrs. Muntle.
You are almost as much alone as L
amt you, Mrs. Muntle ?" said Mr.. Pat
tersOn, cOaxingly.
"The doctor knew him. He's going
to do it, just as he said he would if he
ever did" said the lady to herself
Aloud she answered: ...
Well, sir. I am pretty free, it is
true. All my children are married.
81 know money would be no OBJ
ject to you" said Mr.. Patterson. 'You
have enough. But if I were to tell you
that I hated boarding-houses, and
wanted a home l think you would have
pity on me. I'll buy beautiful house,
and you shall have complete. control of
everything only to make my straw
berry shOrt-cake for me all my life.
He paused and looked at the lady.
That is delicately put, he thought.
Nor viii you hire out for house
keeper IN that, I fancy"
I amt romantic, though" said Mrs.
Muntle "but, still, we amt young
neither of US, and it gets to be Just that
with the most sentimental after a while.
Don't refuse me, - pleaded Mr.. Pat
terson.
" Well, Mr.. Patterson, I won't" said
Mrs MuntIe. "I'm my own mistress,
and though I've never thought of a Sc
cond marriage, why, think Tn war
rented in making one. And, no doubt,
I shall never repent, for I think you've
fine disposition, and [ understand
your ways and tastes.
Mr.. Patterson listened. He saw
what he had done proposed and been
accepted without having any idea what
he was about
He looked at Mrs. Muntle; she was
very nice and fresh and comIey, and ten