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


by Flora going with him alone, Bell ha1
ing found some urgent duty to detain
her at home at the last minute; and Flora
developed quite talent for cheering the
sick-rOom and dispensing luxuries to the
needy; it was role of which she Telished
the novelty amazingly.
You were plainly intended for cler-
gyman's wife," blundered Mr.. Gascsigne,
in moment of grateful enthusiasm; and
then he colored, and added, hastily:
THE lame, halt and blind are all sing
ing your praises"
What discord it must be " returned
Flora. " I think should prefer a solo,"
The claims of the parish, however,
were not 50 exacting but he could devote
some leisure to the poets, sitting in the
e-covered afbof, while Bell and Flora
worked and listened except when Bell
remembered She had omitted to leave or
ders for the grocer, or had neglected some
important household affair, and excused
herself fora long halfhOur, begging them
to 60 on with the reading. And when
she returned. she was always pleased to
find that the book had been closed for the
nOnce. IF be had not been reading, then
of course ne had been doing what he liked
better And he would say We have
been waiting for you, Miss Bell he
had fallen into the habit of calling her
Miss Bell" during these familiar
seances.
II Fha'n't dare to run away if i am
going to spoil your pleasure sc" she re-
piled.
You certainly do spell it when you
leave u.s." he would gallanfly ret0rt.
If they went Tor an afternoons picnic
to the top of Chrome cliff, with their
supper packed in hamper, Bell fell to
sketching a bend of the river, with the
willows dipping above it and swallows
skimming low, and Flora and Mr.. Gas
coigne were naturally left to their own
devices. If they went out for an even
ing's entertainment which even Hap
hazard afforded at times when suihmer
gUests were plenty V Bell remembered
the latch-key as soon as they were be-
yond the gate, or she had left window
open where burglars and showers might
enter, or she never failed of some valid
excuse for falling behind, for refusing
Mr.. Gascoigne's arm-either both hands
were necessary to keep her skirts from
the mud, or the CUuntTy sidewalk was
too narrow for three abreast. And yet
there was nothing obvious or awkward
in Miss RaymOnd's scheming. It all
came about as naturally as if fOreOr-
| dained; and if Mr.. GascOigue was some
times little vexed that he could not be
trusted to find the latch-key, close the
window or fetch the umbrella, Flora
| would saw; 4" It's Bells way; she was
| just so at Nine. BuhPs-always would
wait upon herself"
It had never been Bells way, however,
! to linger in the vestibule after church
| but now she found it convenient to ask
| old Mrs. KOss about her rheUmatism, and
Mfs. Martha Meeks about her grandson
! fishing at the Labrador. And by that
time the Reverend Clarence had put off
the gown aud made his way to the church
door, where Flora welcomed him; and
Bell nodded and begged they would walk
on and let her overtake them; she must
speak to the sexton about his sick child,
or see the treasurer of the Mite So
ciety-Only she never did overtake them.
The treasurer bad proved garrulous. and
the sexton had set his heart upon show
| ing her the head stone he had got up to
| his first wife. If she found them sitting
alone in the embrasure of the open win
| dow, studying the constellation, she
moved softly away. Who could tell?-
| it might be the decisive moment.
1t so happened that just at this time
| Mrs. Raymond fell ILL., Flora proposed
going home, but Bell stoutly vetoed the
| proposition {" It will be so lonesome fer
| Mr. GascOigne," she said. "And Aunt
| Milly viii be up again soon. Ne; do
you stop and pour tea at table, and play
at housekeeping, and make it a little like
| home for the poor fellow"
Seems to me you are very anxious
about his welfare, said Flora, but stayed
as she was hidden, and poured his tea,
whiled away his leisure hours, beat him
at chess, visited his sick, listened to his
views, filed the place of the absent So
! prano in his choir, and borrowed his old
sermons for private reading, while Bell
spent her time administering hourly
| doses, concocting gruels and dainties to
! tempt the appetite, and waiting in a
| darkened room by day, after broken
| nights. Perhaps it was the effect of over
taxed nerves and depressed spirits, or
| perhaps Miss Raymond had misunder-
| stood her interest in Mr.. GascJigne, but
as sae left her patient doing one night,
and paused a moment, leaning out the
! hall window to commune with the even
! ing star and the last tender effulgence
of sunset, the sight of Flora and Mr.. Gas
| goigne pelUing each other with roses in the
! garden below smote her with a sense
| of something alien and cruel. Her alb
sence did not affect their enjoyment they
| had forgotten her in the delight of being
! together; and for the first time a selfish
sorrow stirred in her heart and filled her
ewes with sudden tears did she grudge
| them their happiness ?' she asked her
self s'Was not success enough for herr"
When Flora had gone to her room that
night, Bell knocked at the door and
went in.
" Haven't you anything to tell me ?''
she asked. Has nothing happened ?"
What should happen, you dear old
sleepy owl, you o yes; broke ye1l
India china bowl. A sin confessed IS hall
redressed. We meet, but we miss YOU
we linger to caress yOu---at least I do
| By the way, I'm afraid the Reverend
Clarence is getting horribly bored with
me !"
= What impossible nonsense. Floral
Was love teaching Flora to prevaricate
The following night, as Bell was cnin,
softly down to the kitchen for mustard
the door of Mr.. Gasgoigne's study opened
and the draught blew out her candle al
he closed it and came forward.
You keep late vigils, Mr. GascOipne. ,
she exclaimed. 1t has Just strucl
twelve"
And of what do you suppose FIori
IS fraid That you are getting boreC
with her ~
Bored with Flora 2' he repeated
smiling broadly. Can't YOU imagin
who never bores me2"
f 'Is it riddle p laughed Bell, with
sob in her throat. 90 I suppose I NIGH
guess with great effort ofimagination =
, Why did he torture her with his cont
! dences?
; should think you might, " he pul
sued, still smiling, but not so confidently
/ During your absence at Mrs. RAYMOND
bedside have become confrmedi in a ser