The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-15
for it, 50 we drew lots to see who should

The lot fell to me.
There was another reason why l didn' t
want to 60, besides the uncomfortable
life, but I would not tell Rob; for /
could not drive him of to the mines, and
I knew his generous hesrt SO well, that 1
was sure he would insist on going, if he
were aware of all.
But-well the truth is, in word, l was
in love, and couldn't bear to leave my
dainty Susy to fight the world alone
she was music teacher, poor thing =
nor for the other fellows to fall in love
with.
However, 1 submitted, of course, to the
lot, and made my preparations to GO. 1t
was sad heart that I bore around to
Susy's rooms that night. and l couldn't
bear to tell her; but, bless you she no
sooner saw my face than she knew some
thing was coming, and she bTaced her
self up to meet it before she asked me a
question. After we had spoken of the
weather, and the book I had brought her
the day before, at last she said, quietly:
''Well, Ralph, what is it? 1 know you
have bad news for me"
"It's bad for me, Susy, and Pm afraid
it will be bad for you; though you
know"
1 couldn't go on, and she spoke again,
brave as she always was.
"Ralph, you know I'm used TO mis-
fortunes. Tell me at once"
So I told her, and she bore it nobly-
as l knew she Would-though [ was the
only friend she had in San Francisco,
except her pupils.
But I had thought of another plan to
make my going a little easier. That was
to make her my wife before lett, SO as
to leave her in the care of Rob, and
relieve her from the hard lie she was
living.
After some persuasion she consented to
it.
So, day or two afterward, we three,
Il had told B0b-went into 8 quiet
little church, and Susy was given to me
to cherish and protect.
Brave little womanl how trustingly
she gave me her heart, and how basely
failed herl How ready wss to be-
| lieve--
But let me go back. I took her to ouI
cozy boarding place, which was indeed q
home to us, installed her as its mistress,
made every provision that love could
suggest for her comfort, enjoyed the
bliss of few hours honeymoon, and then
left her.
I needn't speak of that. 1t was hard
1 tell you.
| All, well Pm an old man now-OldeI
by sorrow than by years but l never
shall forget the fresh, dainty lock of my
darling, as left her on the steps that
| bitter day-a bride in the morning, s
widow at night, Aud I never did forget
/ it through all the black years, though il
seemed as if the very memory oft would
| drive me mad.
Well, I went TO the mines, and I trieC
faithfully, eagerly, for my heart wa
longing to go back to her. But 1 cOulC
not succeed.
Mails were not then established, so
did not hear from my two dear ones; bu
all the harder I toiled, for never
thought of doubt entered my mind.
was only too glad to have my deaI
brother to care for her, and save hel
from all rough contact with the world
Finding no luck in the mines, / de-
termined to push on into the IndiaI
country, and try a little hunting anC
trapping for that was good business
then. 7 succeeded a little better a.
that, but wandered on, ard finally came
out at Frazer river, where the gold ex
citement had broken out ferceiy.
I don't know now whether it WA
months or years-days and weeks were
alike to me for long time-but at last
was successful, and got together five
thousand dollars in yellow dust. o
course, my only thought was of my wife
and seized the first opportunity to senC
off my treasure.
A miner, going home, willingly tool
charge of my little pile, and I soon began
to lock for letters.
ROb's 1 could easily imagine-nOble
manly, like himself. Susy's though
of, and tried to lancy, hundreds of times
for I'd never had a letter from her.
knew it would be delicate and dainty
and like my pretty snOwdrOp.
Well, we'll, fancies may do very well
bat they won't feed a hungry heart
Day after day passed by and no let
ters. My soul grew sick, made a
sorts of excuses for them. l imagine
all sorts of delays. But the long, drear
days went by with leaden feet, and not
word came to the wanderer.
I grew morbid and bitter, and at las
wrote to an acquaintance in San Frar
cisco asking for tidings OF my brothe
and wife.
The friend was not so neglectful as tn
wife and brother
Soen-too seon-I got reply. I ca
see it now, in letters of fire. "My de-
fellow" it ran, ''I have made inquire
as you requested, about your wife an
brother, and I can only find that the
disappeared from here few months ag
. telling no one whence they were goin
i but evidently having plenty o. money
e What more the letter contained
never knew; that much Of it was burnt
into my brain, and at that point l 10
/, myself. They do say was ravi1
maniac. Perhaps so; don't know.
u l only know I found myself an o
=. man, blasted before my time, like tr
struck by lightning.
Yet, I could not feel angry. He
q could I blame him? ? Wss | not mad
leave him, with his tender heart, to ca
! ior a tender beauty like my Susy7 HC
could he help loving her? Wasn't 8
It all that wss lovely? He was not
blame, poor fellow.
And she? Did she not love me, a
was he not my twin brother? What
strange that, seeing his love, she shou
grow to return 1T
What should I do? Should I scar
! them out, and blast their lives foreve
- Should come with my ignOble Teven!
- and tear her from his arms? Would &
love me for it? Should get back 1
- wife and brother?
le Oh, no! 1 had been gone long enou
70 to give her q divorce-ske had undOu
sr ed!y got it, and even nov was his Wi
His wife! Oh, God and [ could liy
ID Weeks, months, years dragged on.
h. scarcely knew they passed. Mechanic
" Iy ] worked on. Fortune, no loni
sought, showered geld on me. 1 cal
D. naught Tor 1t. but instinct prevented
e, from throwing it away. Gambling )
e. utterly repugnant to me. No form
le dissipation lured me. was an old,
ne man at thirty. I only worked 8
K, thought, and lived over the old day
o, my one brief day Of perfect JOY.
adj l never cursed them. The hurt :
too deep and to sharp for curses. Fr