The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-09-06

Dear up under lies burden while she |
has the strong prop of a mans love to
lean upon. Bat if the prop breaks it is
well for her if the burdens do not crush
her altogether Fanny, however, was not
without certain quiet fortitude. She
nerved herself to do without It.
Fanny" said Mrs. Kennawav. one
evening, as the young dressmaker sat
sewing in her window seat, "vou are not
looking well, my child I wish William
would come and take you out. He hasn't
neen here very often lately, has hep
No, mother, not very often"
think you are working too hard"
continued the poor woman, signing. 81
get we'll very slowly, Fanny, and the
beef tea and port wine cost a great deal.
I've made up my mind child, to write to
my brother at last"
But, mother, you'll be dreadfuliy
distressed IT he dOen't answer. And you
have often said that he would never for
give you for marrying poor father"
I've been q widow for nearly five
years, Fanny. Surely Steven can bury
the old grievances in my husband 8
graveW
You know best, mother. But father
always spoke of him as hard man."
Well, at any rate, shall make an
attempt to soften him. Don't try to
talk me out of it, Fanny. I believe it is
The right thing to do"
Fanny held her peace, but she had
little hope that her uncle FenWick
would reply to his siste's letter. She
knew that he,was a rich city merchant,
several years older than her mother, but
she had never seen him, and had founded
her opinion of his character solely on her
fathers dislike to him. The late Mr..
Kennaway had been one of those men
who have natural turn for borrowing
money, and are generally severe on the
friends who refuse to lend. Perhaps
Mrs. KGnnaway had taken some pains to
hide the fathers faults from the child's
ewes, for Fanny had never discovered
them.
Now, Fanny" said honest Mrs.
Marks, bouncing into the little room,
g to-morrOw's Saturday, and you are GO
ing to have a whole holiday. Every
things planned, SO you may leave. off
shaking your head. Mary Baker has
promised TO come and sit with your mo-
ther. My man and | have arranged to
take you right otto Durant Farm, where
my sister lives"
Mrs. Marks and her husband were the
Kennaways' next door neigbbors. They
were childless couple, and instead of
wasting their affections on dogs and
parrots they looked out for young people
who needed love and sympathy. Fanny
had no idea they knew all about her
sorrow. She did not realize how easy it
IS for shrewd eyes to read the signs of a
sick heart
Early the next morning a hired chaise
ratified out of George steet, containing
Fanny and her two friends. Of course
1T could not be quite a perfect holiday
without William; but the girl enjoyed
fresh air and rest, and was grateful for
kindness. Is was a long drive, and when
they reached the farm house Mrs. Marks
declared that Fanny had picked up
wonderfully. A day or two in the
country, she said, would put a little
color into those pale cheeks, and brighten
the eyes that were dull with watching
and working. All, poor Fanny!
Durant farm stands upon the out
skirts of a wood, which has always been
a tavOrite haunt with picnic parties.
The tates had decreed that the Derrys
should give picnic that day; it was
early in september, and townfolk wanted
to make the most of the waning summer.
Miss Julia Derry wore an entirely new
costume, bought for the occasion, and
charming rustic hat adorned with poppies
and wheat ears. 1t was very agreeable
to be admired, even by mere merchants
clerk, and she lavished her sweetest
smiles on William Parr.
Arm in arm the pair str9lled away
from the rest of the party. He talked
nonsense and she laughed and listened
and led him on, without a thought be-
yond the hours amusement, She was
wiser in this worlds ways than foolish
William, whose vanity had been tickled
until he really believed that he had
made conquest. He was bending down
to his companion, with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes, when d turn in the
path suddenly brought them face to face
with Mrs. Marks and Fanny Kennaway.
Even then things might have turned
out well, if William had only been true
to himself. But there was Fanny in her
shabby everyday gown, and the bonnet
had gone completely out OF fashion;
and there was the superb Julia hanging
on Parr arm, and qUiZzing his betrothed
with naughty eyes. The worst part of
the young mans nature came uppermost
at that moment. He gave one quick
| glance at Fanny, and then swept on,
without bestowing even a bow of recog-
milton on the little dressmaker
Well :" said Mrs. Marks, drawing a
long breath; l only wonder that the
earGh don't open and swallow him up!'
II.
Fanny took her lovers desertion in a
very quite way. She knew that the end
had come, and did not try to get any
comfort out of dead hope. When the
fire had gone out she is a wise woman
who sets herself to take away the ashes
and clean out the CRATE, even when she
knows her hearthstOne will be cold for
many a year afteaward. Our little
dressmaker went on sewing and shipping
as usual, saying never a word about her
trouble.
Meanwhile the household burdens
were Gghtened. Mr.. Fenwick wrote a
kind reply to his sisters letter, and in
closed a sum large enough to supply her
with all she required.
"You can get yourself a new gown
now, Fanny" said her mother, cheerfully.
1t has made my heart ache to see you
wearing that old gray thing. I like my
little girl to be well dressed"
Brave Fanny! If sick heart wills.
pered that it didn't matter what she
wore nowadays, she never needed the
voice; she chose the material with as
much care as If it had been the stuff for
her wedding dress, and set about making
it up in her best style. When it was
! finished Mrs. Marks came in and res.
olutely cleared away the signs of work.
and then sent Fanny upstairs to put on
the new gown and go out walking
in it.
1t was getting late in the afternoon
when Fanny returned from her stroll.
1t seemed to her, as she entered the little
Parlor, that it was full of people; her
mother sat by the window, locking nerv-