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

Louise, from under her long Iashes,
shot whitening glance at the man who
loved her, but did not deign an answer.
She could not make out this man. She
believed that sometimes she half despised
him.
"I believe shall take the stage for
Ashdale," announced Redmond the next
afternoon, looking at his watch. "Hsve
little busint - there to which wish to
attend"
Louise flashed a quick glance = "A her
large dark eyes.
What going to leave us to take care
of ourselves % said Blanche. We want
you to help buoy us up when the water
rises"
"OI shall return tonight. Ihave no
idea of being absent from such an inter
esting adventure" he replied. 4" That is,
If l can positively see the gentleman I
am seeking just five minutes. Good
afternoon, ladies'" and he bowed himself
out of the room gracefully.
-" There l am not surprised st this
action on the part of Redmond Clarke"
said Louise. % He will not come back
here tonight. I say, as I have said
before, he is a coward"
Why, Louise, this move of his has
| nothing to do with the superstitious tale
we have just heard"
believe it has" The secret desire
te think and believe high and lofty
things OF his name, drove her to sudden
anger at any suspicion of the opposite
Whoever knew one of these bIue-eyed,
blonde-mustached men who had a spark
of true courage" and she looked any
thing but a feeble character herself as
she paced the floor rapidly, her eyes
flashing Indignantly with the intensity
of passion to which she had wrought
herself
Take care" said Blanche, warningIy,
in low voice. You remember Hamil-
ton Belmont saved my life at the risk Of
his own. He was none of your heroic
looking men"
"You will find that Redmond Clarke
is not second Hamilton Belmont. III
could know for a certainty that he ran
away from any danger, threatened or
real, should never again allow him to
touch even my finger tips. [ should
feel so humiliated that such a man had
ever dared to ask for my love"
Don't judge too harshly-too hasti-
ly," said her friend, gently. You know
that Redmond Clarke and Louise Rand
were fitted to make each other happy
could the latter have the mists of doubt
cleared from her wilful eyes.
Clarke had really intended to return
to the COcassett House as he promised,
but the gentleman whom he sought was
absent, and the last stSge left before his
return.
Ashdale was primitive, unambitious
town. It's only connection with the
great world was the regular stage. Its
hills and valleys had never yet echoed
with the shIiil whistle OF the locomotive.
He paced backward and forward on
the piszza Of the quiet little hotel where
he was to pass the night, under the
poetic skies of fine evening, thinking
of Louise Rand. Her naughty imperi-
business had q charm for him. He smiled
to himself as he thought, "She will
thoroughly believe now what she sus~
Pected when ] left her, that I should
not return tonight" He was prouder
than she. There WIS r depth beneath
that indOlent exterior she had not
sounded and because she had doubted
him-she whom he lOved-he would not
deign to inconvenience himself to gain
her approval. a man with less inherent
haughtiness would have acted diff
ferently.
He retired early and was soon in a
deep slumber. 1t did not prove refresh
ing. 4 feverish, restless dream wreathed
in and out of his brain. He saw Louise
suspended over waste of water cling
ing to something that threatened every
moment to snap with her weight, and
she eDgulfed forever. Then the scene
shifted, and he saw as plainly ss if it
| were reality the building where he had
LETT her enveloped in Aame, and amid the
cries of frantic men and women, LOuise
in her white night rObe at a window
where the flames were rapidly closing
round her, reaching out to him with wild
shrieks for help. He woke with the
| agony of the scence. Perpiration was
starting from every pore. He sprang
| out of the bed and threw up q window.
| The night was sweet and fair as when he
retired, with the added glory of the full
moon, in the fuller light of which the
stars were paling their modest brightN
ness. Over the ianscape were flung
| lengthening sleeping shadows of tall trees,
! shrubbery, and home-like cottages in
! their inCiOsure.
The scene calmed, sObered him, but
| did not dissolve the hurried impression
of danger. Was his dream a warning ?
| He tried TO smile and put it away as the
]
| the vivid horror of the scene stood before
his vision with too much OF reality, and
| he turned to dress with quick, nervous
haste. The moon sh0ne directly into his
room and its light was all sufficient. He
| was only four miles from WOOdyille He
| could walk that distance. He could not
rest with this horrible impression upon
| bim-something might be even now
happening. He let himself out noiseIesslv
| at the front door, and commenced a
rapid walk. The church clock tOlIed
| the hOur-twelve. He would reach
| there in less than an hour. What if he
| should find his dream realized? He was
good walker, and the distance between
him and WOOdville rapidly lessened. As
he drew near he began to feel a reaction
indeed, almost inclined to turn back.
He came suddenly upon the village,
| lying serene and lovely under the moon
| light. The COcassett house, to which
his gaze was directed, loomed up large
aud tall among the quiet cottages
around, and some stately elms threw
| their protecting shadows over its white
walls,
All what is that2 The horror of the
dream is repeated broad, angry sheet
or fame suddenly bursts from the win
dows of the east side OF the building
1t is not far from the room occupied by
the two girls.
F' Merci ul heaven - burst from his
lips. "The fire must have made terrible
hesdwav inside" He rushed up the
steps and rang the bell violently, while
his voice sounded on the stiffness with
the most horrible omipous words one can
hear in the dead of night:
g Fire Fire
The house was reused in a moment.
Partly dressed versions of both sexes
rushed wildly along through the halls,