The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-10-11
THE COST OF A JEST.


Genevieve Noble was the belle of her
set-a tall, queenly-looking woman, with
of lefty hair, which she wore in a coro-
net of Iustrous braids about her shapeIy
head.
Genevieve Noble was the most arrant
couuette that ever made mans heart
ache.
Everybody was glad, 1 think, when
Miss Genevieve met her match. Desper-
ate fiirt as she was, she had always in
tended in her own mind to marry Frank
Dupont Esometime.
Genevieve had brought him to herr
early in her first season, and ever since,
through three winters and as many sum-
meFs, she bad kept him dangling at her
apron strong as pitiable a captive as could
be imagined. [ should be afraid to say
how many times in the season she gOs1ed
him almost to the last extremity with
her hirtatiOns, and then made up with
him Just in time to save herself from
being Tilted.
Over and again Frank vowed himself
that it should end. She would stop
smiling on other men, or she would stop
smiling on him. He would be all to her
or nothing. And then a touch of the
velvet palm, a glance of the brilliant
black eyes, would bring him TO her feet
again.
Each time that-he sucCumbed she grew
more imperious; each time that she
| triumpked she grew more secure in her
| cong uest, till she thought nothing could
/ break his chains from her neck. But
! one day she amused herself with cruel
| Jest. This was how it was At home
| Miss Genevieye had a little pale, plain
! faced cousin, dependent In the house
a shy, sensitive, delicate, bufeted little
creature - who submitted to all the
| naughty beauty's impOsit;ons UncOm-
! plainingIy and Nc yer replied a word to her
most unreasonable TRADES. Miss Gene
We've had temper with all the rest.
This poor little cousin was named Lena
Montrose, and she was not only exceed
ingiy homely and awkward, but she was
always, bv a most unsccountable whim
! of Miss Genevieve's, dressed in such an
unbecOming and dOwdy garb, that it
wOuldshave been exceedingly difficult to
have discovered it, if she had been as
| lovely as young houri fresh from
Paradise. ....--
1t happened one day that Miss Gene
We've, having been unusually capriciOus
! and tantalizing for a week past had
| found it mere than usually difficult to
recall her lover to his allegiance. She
/ had grown very exaCtiDg, very daring, to
| try Frank in the way she was resolved to.
| There was to be a grand sleigh ride,
and Genevieve Noble was TO ride with
/ Frank Dupont, in spite OF the c0OlDess
between them.
Frank was on hand betimes in his
| handsome turnout, and, somewhat to bis
surprise, his lady love was all ready and
waiting for him. He marveled as she
| came running down the steps to him,
! before he could so much as get the gate
undOne, for Miss Genevieve was proveTb-
| ial for being behindhand, but he only
said " Good evening" as he helped her
| in.
The pair rode some distance quite
silent. The night was cloudy, and Frank
] could not get glimpse OF the face OF bis
companion, she was so muffied up.
! " Another of her whims." he said 10
| himself Grossly, and resigned himseL
with a sigh to the task of conciliating the
/ poutiug fair one. Downright sulks were
! Miss Genevieve's last and most valued
resource when her lover proved especially
| cOntumaciOus.
Frank leaned forward and tried to look
in her face. Then he stole ali arm about
her muffled form.
To his astonisbmeHt she threw. up heT
hands with sharp little cry, and bury
ing her face in them began to sob cOnvUl
.siveiy.
;. He suspected nothing even then,
though it was not like the proud beauty
to waste in tears in that. fashion. He
tOnIv drew her closer TO his side, and
called her his /" darling Genevieve."
She cried out again at that, and push
ing back her hood, showed him her face
It was not too dark for him to see, when
he really looked, that it was not Gene
vieve's face, but Lena MOntrOse's. The
little pinched features were too peculiar
to he mistaken.
She made me promise not 10 let you
know till we got to the hotel; but-but
how could I%
She said it in such pitilul, sad voice
and broken with sObs, that, angry as h'
was, the young man could not help being
more sorry fer her.
Never mind, Lena" he said in hi
frank, kindly voice. There, don't CT
any more"
! 4" I'm CRYING more for you than for my
, self, sir. She is angTy At something yOl
said about the French gentleman sh'
had been with SD much lately, and SIN
had dressed rue IL as ridiculous man
ner as she could, to mortify you"
Frank scowled in the darkness, bu
, he laughed aloud for Lena's ear.
Z" You pOer child - be ssid, " dom
! shell another tear. it that i al you ar
crying about. You and / will see il W
can't enjoy the evening III spite Of Mis-
C4enevieve'ss pretty jast'
e They FUND The company al gathere'
IN the hotel parIOr and waiting tor them
f Frank conducted his frightened com
g psnion 10 the door OF the dresslng-ToOm
left her and returned for he. in due time
y She trembIed violently As she took hi
, arm and as, invOluntarily, he gls' cad a
b her scanty, ifl-ftting dress, bis wrat
rose t"waTd Miss Genevieve who WI
| promeuading on the arm of her Freuc
cavalier, whom Frank had been ras