The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-02-10

sIIalghJ anead as any sensible cord would
have done that had been stout enough
not to get becOiled on the road. 1t looked
contented, though, as if it didn't care a
whit for the predicament it was in, or
whether 1t ever went straight again. as it
could have that charming route to travel
round and round, and began to wonder.
He's splendid, Lot, isn't he ?"
Miss Danes voice broke my wonder
ings. was modest in those DAYS and
blushed easily. My wife told me yes
terday, referring TO that morning, that the
tip of my ear, just visible at the edge Of
my desk lid, grew led as a coal, and that
her friend threw a lozenge at it and
missed it by the sixteenth of an inch.
WASH, aware OF the circumstance before.
say, Lot, don't you think he's spIen-
did !" came that loud whisper again.
II do, don't intend to tell him of
1T, she retOrted.
Evidently, however much averse she
would have been to informing me on such
point, she was nothing 10th for me to
Judge OF her musical powers, for she burst
forth into merry song and warbIed like
ablrd-ln fact, like twenty birds. Whether
my ear looked like a coal or not, it drank
in that gay melody, and, when it ceased,
lOnged for more.
+" What eyes he has 4"
g Rather too deep-set for beauty"
" DEEPEST, indeed They are protru-
ing as cows, and as big"
" Mere difference of opinion, my love.
Don't let us quarrel"
" No. Then, how much character there
is in his nose"
Decidedly"
1 had large nose, reader.
| started her there by dropping a book.
l was actually getting angry. But she
recovered from her fright almost imme-
diately, and went on, in a still louder
tone:
How do you think he will answer %
" Answer "
Miss Arden spoke inquiringly, in a
puzzled voice:
+" You speak as if you thought l in
tended to propose to him.
: And 50, dare say, you will, it being
leap-year, and you 50 smitten."
A merry laugh followed this sally.
. In that case | think he would answer
in the affirmative"
90! you conceited creature, Lot Ar
den!"
overhear u.s.?
AS if | hadn't overheard them.
" Who cares if he does? It's nothing
to him"
Nothing to me! to sit there and hear
myself discussed in that way. Oh, nothing
at al
" But, seriously, what do you meau?''
Why, have you forgotten that |
prophesied a Irritation? / mean how do
you think he would do for that ?"
All! Irritation! Maybe didn't hold
my breath for fear of losing the answer,
and then maybe
cob, Passably, if he understands his
place and stays in it. hate presuming
men,"
"Men! Boysl"
Well, boys, then. Men in assurance,
boys in intelligence, are what we have
nowadays"
She spoke as if she had lived in the
age of her grandmother. clenched nv
hands, and declined Jupiter under my
breath in Latin
"Do you think you'll bring him
around %
&. For shame. I'm sure have no such
design on his peace"
CHOW, really, am aching to know
what you intend to do. Shall you firt
with him ?"
My intentions were not consulted, but
made them, nevertheless, biting my
tinger-nails viciously all the time.
oh, no matter"
"YOu're too bad. l got you from the
other girls on purpose to have a conf
dental chat, and here the time is almost
up, and you haven't told me thing
" Well, 1 will now-two things. Your
hair is twisted out of your net, and your
collar is shockingly tUmbled."
Bother my collar! Shall YOU flint
with him? wouldn't mind, only that
hateful Sue Liscomb vows she'll get
ahead of you, and l don't want to see
her win. Now, do tell mel"
l thrust my head up again and looked
at them. They were not minding me in
the least, though they had stopped
directly in front of me. Lizzie looked
flushed and anxious, Miss Arden cool
and selfpossessed.
l laid my hand upon the bell and gave
1t violent ringing. The two girls stared
like culprits, and glanced hurriedlv up at
me. What they saw in my face ! can't
say, but they both coloEed. Just then
they separated for their seats, but not
before l heard Lizzie whisper desper-
ately, "Shall your"
g shalt" foated back the reply, low
and firm, as if determined not to be
mistaken.
Should she? We'd see.
That afternoon, while | was engaged
with the French grammar class, / was
startled by a sharp little scream, and by
Lizzie Dane springing up and crying
out:
so! hornet has bitten Charlotte
Arden, Mr.. Eldridge"
The whole school Uttered. | scowled |
very pedagoguely (tO coin a word) and
commanded her to resume her seat.
Lizzie flounced into her seat very red |
in the face, and | saw Miss Arden put |
book to her face to conceal a smile.
After school | went to her and in |
quired politely for her arm. She showed |
me her round. dainty wrist, with a large, |
discoiored swelling marring its whiteness. |
Good heavens - ] exclaimed, forget |
ting myself Chow it must have panied |
would have excused you"
She smiled and looked amused. That
smile recalled me to myself.
ooh, it's nothing. 1t was slightly
painful at first, but was not child enough |
to run home for a slight hurt"
In spite of my anger at her | envied |
the very words that slipped through her
red, naughty lips. "Had she already
begun her arts?'' 1 asked myself if
that simplicity of look and frankness of
voice were art, why, confound nature.
Well, walked home with her, carving
her sachel of books. My excuse was
her arm. As it she hadn't but one aud |
couldn't by any possibility have carried
her books on the other. Oh, the dav
that followed Oh, the day that followed
and the weeks and the months! Miss
Arden wanted to fiirt and we fiirted |
Miss Arden wanted me to make love to