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

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"My dear Flora" wrote Miss Raw
mond, it is long time since we have
met. Why can't you pack your trunk
and make up your mind to spend the
summer with me in this green and quiet
corner of the earth? You shall diet upon
locusts and wild honey, if such be your
pleasure; you shall put in appearance at
parish picnics, or sit in the arbor and en-
broider while somebody reads Tennyson
alOud-in short, you shall do as YOU
please, If you will come to your rural
friend BELL
Miss Raymond regarded it as a wise
and far-seeing policy that she had for
borne to mention the name of Rev.
Clarence GascOigne, poor but promising
young clergyman feGently settled over
the parish of Haphazard, whose welfare
she had chiefly in view in issuing this
invitation to I" dear Flora" who was
nothing less than an heiress and beauty.
Miss Raymond herself, being neither,
naturally set greater value upon these
things than they deserved, and deVoutly
believed that Flora would carry all before
her at her own sweet will She re-
mefnbered when they had been at Nine.
Bulbs finishing school together-before
adversity had visited the Raymeuds'
roof-that Flora had been the cynosure
of all the neighb0ring eyes at DIR. Creed's
theological seminary, that she had been
deluged with valentines, surfeited with
bOnbons, and embalmed in sonnet and
song in the poets corner Of the local
daily. But apparently these things had
not atailed. Miss Flora had already sur
vived several seasons, and was yet Miss
Flora, and untrammeled. Whether she
had firted too hard, her heart had re-
mained HntouChed, or she had never
Inspired her lovers with anything stronger
than a passing fancy, nobody but Flora
knew. Miss Raymond S family consisted
merely of herself and a widowed aunt; i;
and as her income was small, she usually
filed the roomy old homestead with
summer boarders. But since the new
rector of the parish had taken up his
abode Under her roottfee, and aunt Milly
was in somewhat failing health, she had
decided not to add to her cares, but to
her pleasures, in begging Flora to spend
the season at Haphazard. And Flora
wasnothing 10th. She stepped from the
numbering old stage late on one summer
afternoon, in the jauntiest of travelling
toilets, with the most killing of hats
perched upon her shapely head-a very
bewitching picture of girl of the period,
the soft, fluffy curls upon her white fore
head, the dark eyes shining with mis-
chief, the wild rose blushing upon cheek
and chin, and a ready smile about the
mobile lips. Bell felt suddenly old and
faded and dewdy beside her, and upbraid-
ed herself smartly for the sensation. She
went up to her guests room with her,
threw open the blinds, pointed out the
views, and helped her to unpack.
F'I do hope you won't find it stupid
here, Flora" she said; "that time will
not hang heavy upon your hands. Soci-
ETY. here is rather chaotic, to beEsure,
but"
81 suppose there,isn't such an article
as gentlemen within ten miles," yawned
Flora.
"Well, they are not as plenty as 1
could wish, for your sake, ! confess. We
all live in hopes that the master of Pine
Hill will return and endanger our mo
notony-you can see the towers of the
mansion from this window, there, behind
that belt of pines; but he prefers the gay
world, And then there's our rector; he
is very good company.
"Oh, spare us! had theology enough,
thank you, at Mime. Bulbs. If there's
anything l detest, it's a--Say, Bell,
who is that spendid apparition coming in
at the gate?"
ThatR laughed Sell" that is the
aforesaid rector"
''Is he coming to give you ghostly
counsel2 shall be getting change Of
heart. depend ont"
He's coming home to tea. He boards
here"
"There is a divinity" quoted Flora.
al thought, to be sure, it was no less
than the master of Pine Hill coming to
his estates Just in the nick of time. How
long has his reverence been here, may I
ask 2''
Only three months"
Well, wonder you haven't fallen in
love-"
"I? Where would be the good ?''
Who ever stops to think of that ?'
At least ons must have little en-
couragement to begin with"
And hasen't he given you particle?
You just hand him over to my tender
meTcies."
% You sha'n't' is in the imperative
mood, l believe, Are you the guardian
of his young affections ?"
And then they descended to the tea
table, and Flora and Clarence Gascoigne
shook hands and chatted Familiarity with
Flora after the first balf minute-absui
| his cousins, the Gascoignes, of Newport
and a dozen people, of whom Miss Ray,
mond lad never heard, and of whom
never to have heard seemed suddenly tC
| prove her q person of the least conse
/ duence. After tea the trio strOlled il
the garden, Flora leading the conversa
! ton, and waking the echoes with hel
| Quick laughter; and they sat awhile OF
! the rustic bench beside the syring,
bushes, and Flora sang snatches from tht
operas and spirital hymns; and Bel
marked that when she dropped out O
catch or chorus nobody seemed to mis-
her, and presently she stole away to lool
after her housekeeping, congratulatin,
herself that everything promised well 70
her scheme. Flora was perhaps a trifl
giddy and girlish for a cleTgyman's wife
but she would outlive all that and wha
an excellent thing it would be for Mrs
Gascogine, whose abilities would nave
have fair play If he married any poo
girl about Haphazard, and lived fror
hand to mouth, SO to speak, with none G
the opportunities which money coul
offer land as for Flora, she might bic.
he stars il he preferred her, if he ha
no inconvenieEt scruples about marvin
! rich wom9n.