The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-02-19

I wandered disconsolately about the
streets, given over to vendors of old
hats and strawberries, putting off the
hour when I should take the train for /
B,
realized that there must be a change
in my relation with Julia-tbat the |
purely intellectual companionship pos !
sible in correspondence kept up at a |
distance, must, in the shock Of meet /
ing, be either quite overthrow or turn |
to aa emotional affection, The first I |
could not face the last seemed posi- !
bic. The image of Julia, too-plump,
with white dress fastened at the back, !
her chestnut hair, wild and curly, fail
ing on her neck and about her blushing
round facs. laughing, shielding her
blashes with her plump hands con
siantly rose to my mind. Tt was pretty
enough. It was not all my ideal. 1
returned to my hotel and read half
dozen of her last letters. Yes, this was
the woman who could be my companion
and helpmRte, who would expect of me
my highest self, and give me a tender
and comprehensive love-if she gave
me any paused. She was not
woman to be lightly won-this woman
of the letters. Suppose she cast me off,
and l went all my life missing what I
| had almost known. She might not like
me when she saw me. I might have a
| dozen unknown rivals. She had never
mentioned any one to me in this con-
nection Yet we had written on love
abstractively, of friendship, Of marriage.
| Her ideal was high one.
1 would not go; would write. It
was easier to write than begin a new re-
lation viva voce. I passed three more
| disconsolate days awaiting her answer,
aud the little note in my pocket was all
that came.
The delays of the train I was in caused
me much anxiety, as it was to connect
with the last one, that evening, to B..
| The Conductor repeatedly assured me
that it was sail right" but I found it
all wrong by the space of three minutes
when I alighted at the station, and
there was nothing to do but to put up
at the hotel for the night. IL was
hotel much frequented by summer visit
ors on account of its vicinity TO many
attractive places, easily reached by par
ties of pleasure, to which en- / the roads
were sown with mile stones and sign
posts, which were an aggravation to be-
hold, especially the one setting forth
that it was 40 miles TO B. Perhaps I
could get horse to take me there. I
insiuuated as much to the keeper of the
hotel, but he informed me that there
wasn't q horse left in the village, as a
large party had taken advantage OF the
full moon TO visit and keep within sound
of remarkable waterfall.
The piazza and g cigar proved no
consolation in my restless frame of
mind. 1 took my newspaper into the
psrlor to read it by the usual kerosene
lamp, which stood on the usual wOrsted
mat and handicapped table. The
identical cheap engravings common to
all country inns of my native land stared
Familiarity at me from the white walls,
the hOrse-hair sofa stood unc0mfOrt-
z ably in the corner, and certain ferro-
types and photographs of people with
D an undue proportion of hands adorned
! the mantel-piece.
{ The paper had nothing in it. I took
. out the note. The words had ceased to
have any meaning to me. I went to
7 the window that looked out upon the
piazza, attracted by heavy footsteps.
= They were those OF an old lady who
. tramped in the moonlight YEARLY, drag,
= giDg her shadow behind her with g
= comic expression of futile hurry. Now
q she turned and retraced her steps, seem
4 ing to chase the unfortunate shadow
= with a conscientious, ponderous haste
:. as if she was anxious lest IN her un
q wieldiness it should get there before
! her. With that puerile interest that
8 small things have for us in moments OF
. excitement, I stood watching her till
4 she turned the corner of the piazza and
left my exterior world unpeopled.
, was bordering on the effect little
= things have upon us, how undoubtedly
7 that old lady had set some seed in her
> mind 80 bear fruit of some kind, some
day, whsn we both had forgotten this
I I. al l.
! came into my world-a lady and gentle
I man.
They.had seated themselves before ]
' noticed them. The lady, whose bach
? was turned to me-, threw off the BLACK
lace shawl that she had worn over hel
charming head, and famed herself with
a quaint fan made of black Ostrich
feathers. Her dEess was Of quay black
}. with many well-adiusted rnffle5.
r thought she seemed weary. Her com
= paniOn wore restless, excited air. Ht
had O boyish, slender figure, mouth
f at once coarse and sensitive, not con
cealed by his full, light mustache. He
= might have been any age from 20 to 40
q for his boyishness scanned rather mat
! ter of constitution than years and hil
n faiF, silky hair, tossed aud blown, NIGH
have belonged to a young child, anJ
h the marks about his heavy-lidded blue
n eyes one could as easily attribute tt
If dissipation as 10 maturity. He kneelet
10 with one knee in the seat of a chair
/. laying bis exquisite delicate hands owe
70 the back of 1t, and, always seeming
E, about to speak, said nething, but drew
a his breath quickly through his parted
a lips.
is - You promised me never to say any
he thing more to me on the subject, an,
D. you have broken your promise, " sale
the lady. Her voice, which was strange
g. ~ sweet, seemed to GU tlify the severIt,
= of her words. The man seemed to an
swer the voice
as You couldn't expect me to keep it
ey I didn't expect TO meet you"
"No, 1 couldn't expect you to keeI
70 it, and didn't mean to meet you.
is shouldn't have come here had known.
M "What made you Gomez"
is With little, low, half sad laugh tn