The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-16

IL were certain
Did he doubt that Flora loved him
Bless your he said, fervently. " 7 am
willing to wait it is SO much better than
despair dealt at one blow" Then he
lighted her a candle from his own, and
left her with blank dismay pictured upon
her face. There was no question but her
matchmaking had succeeded, and she
herself was in love with Clarence Gas
coigne Another woman might have
played false at this unexpected crisis, and
deemed that all was fair in love, but Bell
Raymond was of finer clay.
You dearold GO between" cried Flora
when Bell made her revelations, "the
Bishop Valentine himself couldn't hold a
candle to you. It's too good to be true
Do love him? Don't [? Confirmed in
a sehtim6tt whose e1isteiee he had Chly
suspected before Mrs. Rsymond's illness,
is he ?' Well, / must confess l hardly ex
pected such good fortune. He's so re
served, I suppose, ,and-and- Why he has
never so much as kissed my hand,
or pressed it, though he has had plen-
ty OF opportunity. Well, you can 60 tell
him that the adage Faint heart never won
fair lady is disproved. I'll wait here"
Somebody knocked family at Mr.. Gas
coigne's study door. Come in" he said
miSJaklQg II FOr GI16 ma1O.
"F lora is waiting for you in the par
lor," began Bell.
, " Waiting for me Flora - repeated
Mr.. Gascoigh6.
Yes. have told her :; she is waiting
to confirm your hope, Mr.. Gascoigne.
She bids me say that the .adage Faint
heart never won fair lady is disproved.
When you intimated to me the other
night that you loved her 1 suspected that
it was not in vain, bnt l could not be GER
tain. you know. Now l know she loves
you with all her heart. ] am sure of it.
Don't let me keep you an instant; it
must seem like eternity to Flora. She
is waiting for you in the parlor. Co.
Why do you hesitate Don't you be-
lieve me ?"
Mr. Gascoigne had risen, deathly pale
with a solemn, wounded look in his shin
ming eyes, and great circles growing be-
meath them his, lips moved without
forming words. His whole attitude was
that of one overcome with unexpected
happiness, it seemed to Bell, as he stead
jed himself by grasping with trembling
hands the chair beside him.
You told Flora that I loved her he
gasped. "You told her that loved her ?"
"Why, yes l told her you had been
confirmed in a sentiment whose existence
you had only suspected before you were
thrown together SO much by Aunt Milly's
illness" repeated Bell.
"Aud you say that Flora loves me ?
You are sure of it %
q am sure. Go and ask her ;" and
Bell went slowly out; but it was some
time before Mr.. Gascoigne Obeyed her.
He is the oldest lover in the world, j"
confessed Flora, later Nothing spOUney
or gushing about him. l suppose 1t
wouldn't be dignifed for a clergyman.
Why, he only kissed me twice, if you'll
believe it, Bell, and looked as solemn as
an owl, and said he hoped he would
make me happy. Goodness! Pm happy
already, and told him so. DoyOu know,
Bell, never had an OUt-and-Out offer
before, though I'm twenty-seven."
Miss Raymond offered thanks when
Mr.. GascOigne took his vacation to the
White Hills and Flora went home to &C
quaint her friends with her new prospects,
and to join her lover, with her mother,
at the mountain house later. Bell 5
summer work was ended there was moth
ing more for her to do but to sit and
count the cost of matchmaking. In the
meantime Flora wrote her friend long con-
fdentia1 letters from the mountains
"Such larks We do nothing but en-
10y ourselves. Who do you think we
found here but his-high-and mightiness,
the heir of Pine Hill, Mr.. Chester Callen-
! der, af Haphzard. And such a swell :
| He danced with me five times at the hop
last highland didn't the other. women
! look daggers One dared to say it was
because I'm engaged, and it's so safe
| flirting with engaged girls--all the fun
and none of the danger Let them rave
| IF [ weren't engaged-whO knows RI
might fancy living at Pine Hill, with a
retInue ofservants, driving In my carriage,
and cracking in my silks didn't tell
| you, did ], that the stocks in which my
money was invested have declined most
! shamelully So Mr.. Discount, my busi
| ness man, writes me. But there's dear old
| Clarence---do you know he isn't a parti-
| Gle Jealous ?'' While a later date ran
| ''Mr. Calender and are Just in from a
climb up the mountain with small par
| ty. Clarence went with some gentleman
| last week camping out, and didn't care to
repeat history. We got separated from
! the others, Mr.. Calender and 1, and lost
our way; and we should have b9en there
now. for all l know, if Clarence and q
man hadn't come to our rescue with Ian
tern and torches. Mr.. Calender is tax
ing nv picture, Ia crayon--I sometimes
| really believe he is sweet on me, in spite
of Clarence. Mr.. CGllender's eyes are
blue and small, and his mustache is~--wel
| Iemon-colored, maybe but his figure
| and manners are perfectly stunning. He
always makes you feel as if you were the
one person of all the world whom he de
lighted 10 honor"
And, after that, Bell heard no more
and fortnight later Mr.. GascOigne wa
al home again, and settling to his parisl
duties. He found Bell at twilight th'
day after his return, with her sleepy-hol
low chair wheeled before the window
watching the stars come out in the even
ing sky, and listening to the crickets
sing song.
'EStar gazing " he asked, resting an el
bow on the cushioned back Of her seat
L" penny for your thoughts"
81 didn't hear you come in, Mr.. Gas
coigne," she said Il am thinking abOu
about Floral How did you leav
her %
"Flora? Haven you heard ?'
"Iy last letter is a month old.
And nobody told you about her ?"
"WhO could tell me about her so wei
as YOURSELF"
Mr.. Gascoigne laughed. "WelP Nh
Calender, perhaps"
''AIr. Calender What are you talkin
about, Mr.. Gascoigne ?"
Flora and Mr.. Calender"
''What of them ?'
''Tney are married-that is al"
: Married Flora married to Mr.. Ca
; lender Is it true? Oh, Mr.. Gascoigne
How could she be so wicked! Oh oh
oh - and she staggered to her feet an
held out both arms, not knowing whs
she did.
S :. Wicked ?" echoed the young reeto
i taking the proffered hands, and hOldin