The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-07-25
THE PROPHECY.

IUL HUI HUI.
Give me- a man who has courage
In my eyes 1t hides multitude of sins"
You are so enthusiastic on that
subject, L0uisa," said Blanch Underwood,
as she stood before the mirror in their
private parlor and adjusted her ruff1es,
lin looking for that quality, you'll over
look the want of some other, and find you
have made a grievous blundeF."
Can't help it if do. It's my nature
to worship that quality-in q man especi
alIy-tbough I admire it in any one.
He may be plain looking, but he is glori-
fed forever in my eyes if he displays true
courage" and Louisa Rand passed her
white fingers lightly over her wavy black
hair, and resumed her reclining position
on the lounge.
CLARK has courage ?" Blanch s8id III
terrogstively, turning to look at the fair,
flushed face of her companion.
NO, of course I don't" said the other
| with renewed animation. II never saw
any of these blonde men show coursge-
don't believe it's consistent with their
natures. If Redmond ClarFe ever gains
my love he will have to prove himself a
man by some unQuestiOnable daring.
There is a moral as well as a physic-
al heroism," quietly suggested Blanch.
I don't think my cousin Is deficient in
the former.
al want to see ther1 combined" said
the imperiOus beauty. Physical dar-
ing is the outgrowth and seal of moral
| courage. But we shall have to drop our
discussion. Here comes the gentleman
himself"
They heard tread on the stairs, then
the door swung open and Redmond
| Clarke entered.
\ careless, free and easy exterior, a
gentlemanly bearing. Uudeoiably hand
some, il one admired the stvla Louise
professed to despise-blonde mustache,
indolent-looking eyes, and very brown
hair.
'' Have you heard the news. ladies %
he inquired, as he threw himself, with
easy grace, into the depths of & comfort
| able chair, and pushed back his heavy
hair from broad white forehead.
81 No. I didn't guess they dealt in such
a commodity in this quiet place" said
/ Blanche.
perhaps it isn't local news" sug-
gested Louise, idly winding some bri mt
worsteds, while Redmond Clarke noticed
the contrast between the glowing coloEs
and her snowy fingers.
! Yes, it is local news with a ven
| geance. A prophecy uttered by a seer
sixty years ago regarding this town is on
the eve of fuIfllment"
please explain" said both, with
! growing interest.
Tomorrow night this hotel, known
as the Cocassett House, and a space OF
| two miles from it, in ali directions in
/ cluded, is to sink, and instead of the in
| habited village, the morning sun is to
rise over broad eXpanse of water, which
has covered the doomed inhabitants"
! 'Psdaw u said Louise, impatiently.
We were unfortunate in our selec-
tion of a place to rusticate," pursued
Redmond, watching Louise closely, with
out seeming to do so. eve came here
to escape being bored by fashionable go
ciety. If we are swallowed ND by the
miniature flood aforesaid, society will
be rid OF US, which would be a loss on
both sides"
Perhaps we had better pack our
trunks and leave on the strength of this
threatened danger" said Louise, with
a quiet sarcasm.
Suppose we make a short visit to
Ashdale and return-if the place vet
st8nds-when the dangerous period has
passed." said Blanche.
There is the dinner bell" and the
conversation ended somewhat abruptly.
The trio descended to the quiet, cool
dining room, and took their seats at the
table
'-It is said that the first part of the
prophecy has been literally fulfilled" q
gentleman was saying as they entered.
I'VE may reasonably expect the rest to
be true"
"What are the circumstances, said q
middle aged lady. 81 have heard only
the last part OF the story"
'I will tell you. Sixty years ago q
traveller stopped here at hotel, where
this one now stands, and engaged board
and lodging for q fortnight. But the
first morning he made his appearance
with a face white with horror, and in
formed the landlord that he could
not stay as he first intended. He mar
rated that duEing the night it had been
unfolded TO him a hsrrid murder bad
been perpetrated within the walls OF the
building q short time past, and that, as
a curse, all the children afterwards born
here should die in infancy. Further,
that a new hotel should be erected on
the fte of the one then standing, in fifty
years, and in sixty years the hotel and
part of the gulf should be engulfed, as q
further lenthening out of the curse"
"The middle~aged lady looked much
Impressed.
"All this happened where we row
are"
ayes, the Cocsssett House new stands
on the spot where the dire prophecy was
uttered, and we now wait anxiousiy for
the final contamination"
''Have they made allowance in their
reckoning for leap year, fippant in
ouired youth who sat opposite the
serious gentleman.
You should not Jest under the
shadow of great calamity" said the
} fr-t impressively, regarding the youth
ful unbeliever severely through his glasses;
then to the lady" the traveller was
observed to have jet black hair the night
before, in the morning it was snowy
white"
Part of the people at the table looked
serious, part were amused. Among the
latter was Redmond. His eyes twinkled
with suppressed amusement, bat he con
cealed it. Blanche and Louise had been
interested listeners to the narrative.
growing somewhst dignifed by the dis.
cussi0n at the dinner table.
{" You see how much foundation lies
beneath ..this apparently idle gossip. 1
believe discretion is the better part OF
valOr on our mart -