The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-03-05

dim premonition of what was to come.
You know" she continued, show
bitterly opposed is your aunt to your af-
lection for me. She has told me herself
that she will never consent to our hap
piness. Gerald, am too fond of you
to wreck your whole life. There was
but one way to end it all"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eye, now wan and haggard,
upon her face. Then she sank pale and
trembling into chair, and covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved
with pity, perhaps, or a vague regret.
AT last she spoke.
81 have Just accepted an offer of
marriage"
From Badger" cried Gerald, and
/ he added, standing upon the threshold,
s. has served you well. You have just
got rid of me in time. My aunt died
this morning, and has left everything
to her nurse and companion"
Then he got into the street, and
walked along with faltering, stagger-
ing step. His eyes were wild his face
lividly pale. People turned to look at
him as he went by, and two or three
wondered what was sending that man to
the devil. E=-
He went home and stood by the body
of his aunt. There was a single fasci-
nation about this something
very wonderful and tempting in that
mysterious and absolute rest. Sudden
ly he became master of himself, of the
bitterness and despair of the moment.
He walked firmly to the door, but step
followed him, and, turning, he saw the
pale, perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence IN
the room, but his madness aud grief
had prevented him from realizing it.
Just one word, Mr. Erism, she
said. "Of course you know that will
not touch one penny Of this money -
g 1t doesn't matter now, he replied.
sit might as well be yours as any
body's !"
But 1t is yours, she said.
ooh, as for me" said Gerald, 81
shall not want it" He walked through
the hall. Miss Williams followed him
stealthily. He entered the room, but
when the door shut him in Luane re-
NAMED, haggard and trembling, her ear
glued to the cold panel between them.
A grim silence reigned about her. She
could hear the clock tick in the dead
woman's room below. Suddenly she
put both her hands about the knob and
opened the door. Gerald turned quick
ly; there was an OminOus click the
pistol fell little as it went off The
blood soaked through his coat and
trickl9d ont upon thu floor. Just as
Luane was about sinking at his feet,
Gerald put out his hand to her.
AN accident, Miss Williams" he
said. Please send Adams for the
doctor, and then help me off with my
coat"
This brought Luane to herself. She
fastened to do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again to Gerald,
stanched the blood with strips of the
pillow-case from a bed. When the
doctor came she held the light for him
while he probed the wound and ex-
tracted the bullet.
g An inch or so higher, said the doc
tor, "and you would have been buried
on the same day with your aunt"
'It was a lucky thing, then, that
Miss Williams had an errand to my
room when she did, said Gerald.
'tAs she opened the door my hand fell
| and the pistol went off. >"
"She has uncOnsciousIy saved youl
| ife," said the doctor. Then as Luane
! left the room he added, "She's the
finest young woman know, and would
make capital nurse in my hospital
| Do you know what she thinks of doing
, now that your aunt is gomez"
"NO," said Gerald, with a grin
: smile; 'but I fancy she'll think Of
something livelier than that.
" She has such an excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor.
" But L must so. Keep as quite as
you can, and have Adams within call. >
! hoE Nj = Z
tOlerable thirst his temples throbbed,
his eyes burned. Looking over al
Adams, he found that he was sound
asleep. This of itself was offensive to
} Gerald. What business had the man
to sleep when he was suffering? How
terribly oppressive the stiffness was,
this semi-darkness and LONELINESS AT
that moment ponderOus snore re
sounded from the throat of the sturdy
Adams, and Gerald almost leaped from
his bed. 1t was like a stab to him it
was uncomfortable. He stretched over
his sound arm, and reaching q pillow,
threw it with all his might at the IN
conscious Adams. But in spite of the
agony the movement cost him, it was a
futile one. The pillow fell far short OF
the object on the floor, and Gerald sunk
back with grOan.
.DuG SuOu6u1y bLG SOlE JOuCu OI
, woman's hand fell tenderly upon his
forehead, the sweet tones of woman s
voice fell soothingly upon his ear.
s. 1t is time for your medicine, " said
Luane, and put the cup to his lips.
Gerald drank as if it was nectar. Then
she arranged his pillows for him, and
was about retreating from the room
when he family called for u drink.
Then he thought his head was too high,
or perhaps a trife low; every move
ment caused him intolerable agony,
and he hated to be alone with Adams
again. She must have really OWNED
his motive, and come to save his life.
/ She was again about to leave him, but
he put bis hand upon hers to detain
her, aud found that it trembled a little
beneath his touch.
"Your hand didn't tremble when you
held the lamp for the doctor, " said Ger
aid. He wants you for a hospital
nurse, but 1 told him you'd prefer
something more cheerful"
"Why, think I'd like it" said Lu-
ane. "You know I must do some
thing"
81 don't see the necessity" said
Gerald "yOu have my aunt's money,