The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-04-25

be sure to be exacted. The arrange
I ments were superintended by Kate her
self, she being practically housekeeper
her mother having been for years Very
much of an invalid. She even denied
herself to callers. But Livia, as q guest
was of course free from all these cares
and sat in the drawing resplenden1
in beauty, receiving visitors till late II
the afternoon.
Just before dusk, Cousin Charley
came. Kate happened to be passing
through the back part of the hall, anC
heard him ask the foetman il Miss Ran
ph was in. She noticed particularly
that he did not inquire for her. He
knew ] was to be busy" she said, and
has chosen this day on purpose; l have
no doubt he is going to propose for her
! Well, | wish with all my heart they may
be happy" But alas poor girl, hel
| sight and her woe-begone face belied hel
words
About fifteen minutes later, Kate, re-
turning from the kitchen, glanced into
the back drawing-room, the door ol
which was just opposite the foot of the
hall staircase. Livia and Cousin Charley
were standing by the mantel- piece, in
J full sight. Cousin Charley was handing
Livia a miniature, which she began
| Immediately to kiss passionateIy. They
were so absorbed that they did not hear
Kate's footsteps, which indeed were
hardly audible on The thick Administer
carpet, and in a moment she had darted
up the staircase and was out of sight.
ooh oh ohl'' she cried, when she
had gained her own room, and locked
| the door behind her, and she pressed
| both hands on her heart, which she
thought would break. Then she flung
herself on the bed, face downwards, and
burst into an agony of tears.
She had thought she was prepared for
the blow; but she found she was not.
a little hope, after all, had fingered in
her heart, fed by looks that Cousin
Charley gave her now and then, or that
she tancied he gave. But now even this
slight pit of comfort was gone. She had
seen, with her own eyes, the engagement.
Cousin Charley had given Livia his
miniature, and the passionate way in
which she kissed it showed how she
loved him.
Poor Kate We draw a veil over the
next half hour. By-and-by she washed
her eyes, readjusted her hair, and went
back to her household duties. Then she
met the family at dinner, and talked as
cheerfully as if nothing had happened,
and was particularly amiable to Livia,
who, it was plain to see, was in the most
extravagant spirits. The conversation
evening, which everybody predicted was
going to be great success.
You must look your prettiest, to-
night, Sister Kate" said the talkative
Freddy, d" for everybody says that you
and Livia are the two handsOmest girls
in town and it wouldn't do, you know,
to be pretty, and not do justice to it; and
stunning dress goes great way" And
the precocious young critic nodded his
head IS sagaciously as Lord Burleigh,
while every body laughed.
Kate had no heart for fine clothes /;
but she knew it was expected of her
that she should look particularly elegant; /;
so she chose a stiff white silk, which,
with its appropriate trimmings, every
body declared made her look bewitching.
She finished her toilet early, in order
that she might make the tour of the
rooms, to be sure that nothing was neg
lected. She first visited the drswingN
room, and then passed on to the dining
room. Here she saw that the tables were
set for the guests, and nothing remained
but to serve the supper at the proper
hour.
Suddenly she heard step behind her,
and turning quickly, found herself in
Cousin Charley's arms, and directly
struggled to get free. But Cousin Char
lev was too strong for her. Half laugh
ingIy, but radiant with triumph, he
clasped her by the waist, held her tight
and kissed her.
Kate's first feeling, on finding herself
in those dear arms-shall we confess it?
was one of exquisite bliss. And if
she could have lain there forever sure
of Cousin Charley's love, she would
have been perfectly content. For just
one moment she gave herself up to this
delicious dream. For Just one moment
she let Cousin Charley's heart beat
against her own. Only she looked up st
him, half-shyly, hslf-beseeching, blush
ing furiously, and whispered, in maid
enly protest:
'FOh Cousin Charley" !"
Then all at once, she remembered
Livia, and the scene she had witnessed
that afternoon. The whole current of
her feelings was changed in an instant.
With an angry gesture, she freed herself
from Cousin Charley, crimsoning redder
than ever, but this time with shame for
herself and indignation at him.
Chow dare you? How dare you ?"
she cried passionately and then break
ing down she covered he face with her
hands, and burst into tears.
Cousin Charley drew back frightened,
and began to stroke his mustache, leOk-
ing at her with wide-epe eyes, the very
picture of dismay and bewiderment.
cit was mean. cowardly, to take ad-
vantage of a girl, because she was weaker
than yourself" she sobbed.
"But--but," stammered Cousin Char-
ley rallying at last, &c l thought it was
understood that when girl was caught
under the mistletoe one had right to
kiss her. Pom my word, l did. I'm
awiully sorry that Tve offended you,
Kate. l didn't mean it, Pm sure. I've
been on the lookout for days for a
chance TO speak to you alone" Kate, in
spite of her tears, opened her eyes wide.
" l came early tonight, hoping to catch
you before others arrived. thought I
was the happiest fellow alive, when
found you here. But / see how it Is.
You've hardly spoken kind word to me
since came home. The old days are
forgotten
"Stopp' interrupted Kate, angrier
than ever, for she did not believe word
of this. She believed, on the contrary,
that he was trifing with her. He had
learned in Paris, she said to herself, to
do these things. "Don't think you can
talk to everybody" she went on, We
hemently, "as you talk to Livia. Go to
her, if you want t-"sobbing-" if you
want-kisses' %
Now if Kate lad been herself she
would never have said this. No we'll
conducted young lady would. But Kate
was termented out of all selfcontro1 by
jealousy and eutrag ged maidenliness.
olivia What has Livia to do with