The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-11-27
PERLINA's LAST CHANGE.

PERLINA'S LAST CHANCE.
'sThis," said Mrs. GafFerIy, "this is
| the last time, Perlina Milkin, the very
last time. I've spent enough upon you
since your ma died, and I took charge
of you, to marry six girls who had their
| senses about them. I've dressed you
like a Christmas doll, and I've sent you
to the most fashionable places TO board
in summer, and here you are, four-and-
twenty, and not so much as engaged.
It's perfectly disgusting, Perlina; and
what have to say is, If you don't set
tie your affairs this summer, I'll give
you no more chances. I expect to die
in the poor-house as it is. Why, I was
married at seventeen, and your ma at
eighteen, and your Aunt Delight, about
the plainest little critter I ever saw,
wasn't but just sixteen. What's the
use of advantages you have looks,
Perlina-if You don't make use of 'em p
I'm sure I don't knew what you
expect me to do. I can't very well
propose to any one, said Perlina, ready
to cry. CT do everything I can, and
they make love to me, Tn sure, and
they say ali sorts of things. IF they
don't pop the question, how can I make
them there, now; suppose you
waited until Uncle Gafferly asked you
to have him before you said you would.
Your Uncle Gaferly would have
committed suicide if I had refused
him." said Aunt Gamerly.
You may not believe it now, but I
was a beauty in my youth. As for what
you can do, you ought to know; but
what say is this come home engaged,
or I'll stop all this useless extrava-
gance. I've crammed your trunk to the
tune of five hundred dollars, and you
are going to Saratoga with the Kero-
sene New body's; and if you can't do it
now, I'll give it up for a bad job"
With which speech she inflicted on
her niece's cheek that matter of course
peck which female friends chose to call
a kiss, and bade her goodbye. And
despite her new wardrobe, her big Sara
toga trunk, the prospective summer
gayety, and the cheperonage of Mrs.
Kerosene Newbody, poor Perlina cried
good deal in the hired carriage which
conveyed her TO the boat. "What was
she to do ?" To marry might have been
easy, but to marry money-and that
was what she was expected to do-was a
harder task.
Aunt GafferIy was a good business
HOu1dIs bA1u HOulu uOb D0 1IhOlH 10
spend any more money upon an unsafe
able article and Perlina shivered at
the prospect before her, if this sum-
mer's campaign should prove failure.
On the whole she looked so i'll when
she arrived at Saratoga, that her mirror
told her that her best plan would be to
retire early, and to take as much beauty
sleep IS possible, in view Of any eligible
gentleman that might put in an appear
ance next day.
Fresh as a rose, and dressed in her
becoming morning dress, Perlina took
her seat at the breakfast table next
morning, and nestled close TO Mrs.
Kerosene NewbOdy in the most bewitch-
ing manner.
The lady, an ample matron, with a
loud voice greeted her affectionately,
and at once introduced her to two gen.
tlenen who were her neighbors.
''Mr. Kolt, Miss Milkin, Miss Milkin,
Mr.. Downhill. All old friends of mine.
Charmed TO make you know each other, !"
and then devoted herself TO breakfast,
and left those who preferred it to wa te
time on conversation. And so Miss
MiIkin, having the field to herself, made
eyes at both her new acquaintances, and
shrewedly noted amidst her infantile
gigglings and dimplings that both "
smitten. They were of the age for ar
rows. Edmond Kolt was a youth of
nineteen, and Hiram DownhiII was at
least sixty-five. AS a general thing men
from twenty-five to thirty ditto absorb
the attention of the ladies, and youths
and old gentlemen are in the minority.
Never before had Mr.. Kolt had such
bewitcbing attention offered him. And
as for old Downhill, his memory brought
back some dove-Hke glances such as
those Miss Milkin shOwered upon him,
from the long-vanished years of his
youth, but not many.
To cut long story short, Miss ATilkin
having discovered that Mr.. Kolt was
very rich and an orphan, and that Mr.
Downhill was a very wealthy bachelor,
at once set her cap for both gentlemen,
resolving TO accept the one who pro
posed first. She loved neither. A girl
| with her views, who had made a rush
| into the matrimonial market witlFbut one
| stipulation-that the man she married
| should have mOney-was scarcely likely
| to have heart. A husband meant to
| her easy circumstances, freedom from
her Aunt Gafferly's incessant "nag-
/ ging, liberty to flirt as much as she
chose with ineligibles, who were often
very interesting, and freedom from the
/ dread of being an old maid.
Mrs. NeWbody, who was, on the
I whole, goOd-natured woman. willing
to see her friends well settled, furthered
the affair to the best of her ability.
There were walks, rides, drives, chat
ting in cosy corners, and at last a pro-
posal. 1t came from Mr.. Kolt. Youth
is hasty, age slow. Mr. Downhin was
just making up his mind to do it, when
Mr.. Kolt did it. And Miss Milkin said
eyes, and would have fallen into his
arms but that they were IN full sight of
an old lady who had jast leveled her
opera glass full at them from a window.
YES" Perlin& had answered, aud
young Kolt had blushed rosy-red, and
Z" his SOUL" like that of Gloroina, in
the Wild Irish Girl, presumably went
on q gig to heaven" for the band was
playing delightful dances for their edi
ficatiOn and afterward, when they had
had supper, Perlina locked herself into
her room and wrote to her Aunt Gafierly
Her letter ended thus:
So you see Tn engaged, and you can't twi
me any longer don't suppose poor Kol
viii ever set the river on fire, but he's q good
nGtured fellow, and I can lust taist hin
about ny finger And remsmber yon ar
bound to give me q handsome wsdding-dress
and have always promised me poor mas pearls
the day married.
Your 2fectionate niece, PERLINA.
Mrs. GaRerly signifed her approval