The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-09


vid's benevolent heart warmed with
compassion as he remembered DoIly's
| lonely condition, and he felt that il
would be exceedingly kind in him to Of
| fer her home, especially as he owned
as good place rs you'd find on the riv-
er, while the Blount cottage was fast
falling to decay. He wouldn't let he1
former refusal of him tell against her,
for, now he looked back, he really didn't
see how she could have married any
body at that period. She ought to be
rewarded for the devotion she had
shown the family, and, for his part, he
| felt magnanimoUs enough to give her
a second chance to accept him. Such
was the worthy widower's state of mind
when he asked James Blount, with
mock humility, whether it would be of
any use for him to try to make bars
gain with Dolly.
"That's more'n I can tell" Mr..
Blount had answered " DolIy's a puz-
zle. You'll have to find out for your
SELF
Mr.. Wiggin smiled, in complacent
anticipation of acceptance. Indeed, it
might not seem like a repIoach to the
memory of his lost Olive, I should say
that the kind-hearted man reioiced in
this opportunity of making Miss Dol
ly's happiness.
Benevolence was in his face, beneyo-
lence was in his spirit, as he sailed
sorth at an early day to acquaint her
with her good fortune. The broken
harrow which he had strapped into the
wagon to give the neighbors q plausi-
bic reason for his trip to the falls was
by no means typical of mental lacsra-
ton in its owner. His feeling as he
approached Miss Dolly's mOss-grown
cottage was purely one of thankfulness
that it was In his power to provide her
better home. Not that he was CRATE
full to his dead wife for leaving a vacan-
cy there. Mr. Wiggin had mourned
faithfully for Olive year and day.
Miss Dolly was out in the garden
gathering eatnip. She never used it
herself, but there were nervous old Ia
dies in the village who looked upon the
herb as the substance pleasant dreams
are made of, and Miss Dolly dried it
every year, and often left little bundles
of it when she made visits OF consOla-
tion. She had built chip fire under
the tea-kettle, and then whisked off to
pick an apronfuI of the pungent leaves
while the water was boiling. There
she was, stopping beneath the caves OF
log-cabin sun-bonnet, and humming a
lively fugue tune, when Mr.. Wiggin
drove up.
"'Come my beloved, haste away
piped Miss Dolly, cheeriiy, swapping
briskIy at the stalks.
"'Cut short the hours of thy delay;
Fly like youthful"
ely like youthful" struck in
awheezy bass.
The sun-bonnet tipped back like a
cart body.
"Sakes alive !" cried Miss Dolly, not
in the words of the hymn, as Mr.. Wig
gin strobe toward her on his slightly
rheumatic legs.
81 didn't mean to put you out, "
laughed he, shaking hands heartily,
" but it seemed kind o material to take
part with you in the invitation"
'Yeu always hada way of falling in at
the most unheard-of time, remem-
Der, retorted Miss Dolly, saucily, re-
covering herself, and going on gather
ing catnip. She was fifty years old
now, and hoped she had her wits about
her.
You used to say kept good time,
only too much of it, " pursued Mr.. Wig
gin, with a sudden inspiration; "but
I tell you what, Dolly, time never
dragged with me then as it does these
days P'
cit is a dull season, said Miss Dol
ly, with exasperating simplicity. CT
suppose the grass-hoppers have, eaten
most of your wheat, havn't they, so it'll
hardly pay for the reaping ?"
Just SC" =" assented Mr.. Wiggin, dis
comftted. He had not travelled five
miles in the heat to discuss the crops.
"Walk in and sit down, won't you ?''
sai2 Miss Dolly; with reluctant hospi-
taIity. Her apron was crammed at last
to it's utmost capacity. She devoutly
wished it had been larger.
"Well, yes, I don't care if I do, " an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocriti0al
show of hesitation. CT had little bu-
siness further on, at the blaeksmith's.
No hurry, though, as know Of" and
he turned to let down the bars for Miss
Dolly, who meanwhile nimbIy slipped
through the fence, catnip and all.
Bless my heart! I don't see but
what you are as spry rs ever you was, ,"
said he, admiringly, as he puffed along
in her wake. Still you must be get
ting into years, Dolly, as well as mo
Offense, I hope-and I was wondering
whether or no it wasn't lonesome for
you living alone here a woman, so ?"
"Oh, I never was one of the lone
some kind, responding Miss Dolly,
briskly, seating her guest in the patch
work cushioned rocking chair; fand,
for that matter, hardly a day passes
without some of James folks running
in"
eyes, know; but if you was to
change your situation, wouIdn't you en-
Joy life better, think %
Miss Dolly fdgeted at the green pa
per curtains. and intimated that her
present hapPines would be complete if
the grasshoppers would stop feeding on
her garden sauce.