The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-04-27

mess no dTIlsI pencil ever painted, and |
lie took it with him to Farmingdale.
There it vanished.
Before he had been in the place three
lays he had seen Matte, now Mrs. Fay.
md talked with her. She was pretty
till, but years had brought her charac-
er into her face, and she was decidedly
coarse. He saw now that she was igno-
rant and vulgar, and that only his own
youthful ignorance had caused him to
overlook the fact in those old times
when he had fancied her perfection, and
the dream of so many years was over.
Now that Evan Ware had returned rich
and prosperous, he might have consoIed
himself with the affections of any mar
female i'll Farmingdale. He
was the lion of the place-courted fat
tered, and smiled upon by budding
misses, spinsters and widows Every one
but Lizzie Gale smiled upon him. She,
mindful through all these long years of
the cold parting on the bridge, vouch-
safed him only the chilliest recognition;
and the fact annoyed him. She had
grown to be a fine looking woman; and
he remembered what a kind, pleasant
girl she used TO be, and longed to know
more of her. He longed in vain. She
repulsed his attentions, and kept him at
a distance. Yet all the while she Sc
cretly admired him, and her greatest
motive for the manner she adopted was
her fear lest Evan should think she had
been pining for him.
The widow Fay felt no such scruples.
Old Mr.. Burt, before he died, had specu-
lated in some bubble and ruined himself:
and instead of being the great heiress ali
her little world had expect her to be,
Matte found it hard work to live and
dress herself in the fnery she loved, OF
her small income. A rich husband was
her object, and Evan Ware had been sc
desperately in love with her that it was
| hardly likely that he could be quite in
| different now.
"Pm sure Pm handsome enough yet, ,
thought Matte, as she looked in thu
glass and if he is resentfuI about TIA,
way [ answered him, I'll manage tina
somehow. It's too good a chance t,
lose"
Therefore, from that moment, Eval
became the victim of sundrv machina
tons, which were supposed to be of fata
effect, and was dressed at and smiled a
in e manner which made the fact tina
"Mattie Fay was trying to catch Eval
Ware patent to all Farmingdale
By this time, however, the said Eva
Ware was absolutely in love with Lizzi
Gale. She, at least, did not court hi
money, and that was something to S
rich man.
He forced himself upon her little b
little, till he made his way.
1t was spring; a lovely May, fresh an
beautiful as May could be, and, accord
ing to custom, grand picnic was on tn
tapis. At that picnic Evan Ware ha
resolved to try his fate for the secon
and last time; for should Lizzie Gal
refuse him, he would never offer his han
to another woman. And, ignorant
this, at that same picnic, Matte Fa
had resolved to bring her old admirer t
the point.
1" It's only pique, I know, that keeF
him from speaking" she said, as sh
,, looked at herself in the glass; "and L
go all lengths to cure that"
The day appointed arrived. Eva
Ware maneuveTed with SUCCESS, an
found himself at the outset Just whel
he wished to be-in a little vehicle onI
, capable of holding two, with Lizzie Ga
, by his side. The ride was a long on
and there were plenty of chances f
/ tender speeches and soft chances. Liz
was yielding slowly, and when in tt
quietest part of the road, after all tt
+ other vehicles had passed them, Eva
f paused entirely, and, looking down int
her eyes, said Lizzie, it remains wit
you to decide my fate-you can send II
p back to China or keep me here" h
I eyes dropped, and she made no preten
of misunderstanding him.
Tho l. e
| you be my wife, Lizzie ?' and had take
her hand and pressed it to his lips an
q then, finding no denial, had kissed h.
out and out.
1t was a quiet sort of thing, but the
, were quiet people, both of them. s
+ quiet that by the time they alightt
: Lizzie had begged Evan "not to g
e people talking" by devoting himself t.
\ entirely to her Just yet; and Evan ha
) promised. Consequently Mistress Ma
5 tie, arrayed in pink for the occasion, al
: looking certainly very young and prett
found the rich merchant at her mere
and took possession of him.
She walked him around a romant
pond and down into a charming gree
~ meadow, and talked of " the DAYS tn
were past in a very sentiment
4 manner.
We are SO foolish when we are youn
Y Mr.. Ware"
> "Indeed we are"
y And So repent our folly-I do
n know. Pm sure l don't know how
Il approach the subject; but you remel
q Der how rude I was on the bridge-hC
y ridiculous. You never can have f
: given"
4 Indeed have, Mrs. Fay"
= Entirely?"
- &c Entirely" he replied.
y &" You know it WASH from the hea
Girls are so singular. The moment Y
Il had gone I wanted to call after you.
you had asked me the question a seco
r. time, I should have answered diff
! emily"
+ Men are generally too proud to
!. peat such questions" said Evan.
am"
4 But the lady was not to be baffled
= In matters of the heart pride shou
" have no place." she whispered. "F
+ my part, Pm ready to throw mine asi
and say -
4 But Evan Ware was thoroughly frigI
n ened.
A. Don't say anything either of
? might regret he said, " because !, Il
very morning, put that question to 6
other lady, and was answered favorably
w Matte stared at him; she could 1
II believe her senses. But a sense of shal
and anger gradually broke upon her, a
=. putting her kerchief to her eyes
sobbed out: " You're heartless fiji
sir :" and founced away.
Evan Ware sat down upon a bank a
70 mpsed.
Life is a queer thing" he said
as himself. What should I have said
n any enc who had told me ten years a
that / should come back to Farmingd
~ to refuse Matte BuIt?"
al 1t was a good hour before he reioir
or the company, and then Matte Fay /
10 taken herself home on a plea of ilInC
al Before many weeks were over, not OIL