The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-30


in spite of all, loved her deVOtedly, was
driven almost wild with jealousy, and
openly 8ccrsed his friend with having
ptrposely deceived him with regard 70
her fortune-hunting propensities and OF
making up the story to further his own
ends.
Meanwhile Mrs. Carlyon regarded
with dismay the evident failure of her
darling project; and moreover, feeling
very sore at Maud's victim being her
fayorite cousin, determined to take the
girl to task; so one night, on Teturuitg
to their several rooms, she followed
Maud into hers, and shutting the door,
placed her hand on the girls shoulder
aud looked earnestly into her face.
Maud, what is the reason of your
behavior to Percy? Why are you so
changed toward him? I did hope that
you were learning to love each other,
but since Harry ListOn came you have
scarcely noticed him."
Perhaps I prefer Mr.. Liston to your
cousin I suppose there's no harm in my
doing so % said Maud, in q half defiant
tone, and longing to escape from the
searching eyes bent on her.
Harm No, certainly no harm in
your doing so but must confess don't
understand yottr choice for althOtigh
Percy Is my own cousin, must say he
is infinitely superior in every respect to
MIR. ListOn, Besides, Percy has hand
some fortune, while the other has not a
penny to bless himself with"
And SO you, with all the rest of the
world, think / am incapable of disinter-
ested affection I thank you for your
good opinion of me, Mary; ;" and with
flashing eyes and burning cheeks she
turned away.
don't understand you, Maud" !" said
her friend, with a sigh "but it is very
evident that my interference only angers
you, so I will say goodnight; but I
sincerely wish Harry Liston was at the
bottom of the sea-
When quite certain she was alone,
Maud's overweight feelings gave way:
Very bravely had she acted her part,
but if she had succeeded in making
Percy miserable, ten thousand times
more wretched was she herself. Oaly
one little bit of consolation was there
for her throughout it all, and that was
that al her flirting with Harry Liston
was doing him no harm, for, though
meeting her more than half way, she
saw that beyond the Irritation there was
no deeper feeling in the matter. Still,
how was it all to end ? Her visit was
fast drawing to a close, and the farewell
ball Mrs. Carlyon WAS giving in her honor
was to come of that night.
Maud and her hostess were lingering
over their five o'clock tea, after superiu-
tending the last finishing touches to the
bsll room, when Percy Herbert entered
the room, locking very pale, and with
an open letter in his hand.
Good gracious, Percy! what is the
matter?" exclaimed his cousin. You
are white as a sheet"
For answer he threw the letter on to
her knee.
Eagerly she took it up, but before she
had read more than few lines she let it
drop from her hands, and turning TO her
cousin with face almost as white as his
own she said in an agitated voice;
ooh Percy, it cannot surely be true
the s. bank gone Why, that is
the one nearly all your money is in"
g It is" he replied; $50, according to
that letter, am ruined man !"
"Oh no, no; it can not be as bad as
that; there may be something saved.
Oh Percy, if not, it would be too dread
full" and the good-hearted little wOman's
eyes u1iEu Will GCdASs DOI yOO VIII LOS
leave US tonight; ; it is too late for you
to do anything this evening ?"
"NO; as you say, it is too late to do
anything now; but [ must leave by the
first train tomorrow morning. But,
Mary dear, keep all this quiet for to-
night, you know" he said with a poor
attempt to laugh. "I might not get any
partners if it became known l was pen
niIess - and turning from his cousin he
looked toward Maud, but her chair was
empty-she had flown.
Maud had escaped TO her room, feeling
utterly beWildered at the news she had
just heard aud, though deeply grieved
at Percy's misfortune, still she iudivid-
ually felt happier than she had felt for
weeks.
Harry Liston, your reign is over "
cried the girl, jOyously; "and all now
want is an opportunity of proving posi-
lively to Percy that Maud Hesketh is
not the little fortune-hunter his friend
described her to be-"
As she stood in her ball dress a few
hours later pleasant smile passed over
her face as she loo6ed at herself in the
glass. Her dress was pretty--a present
from Mrs. tyOn--and very lovely did
Maud look in it.
"I wonder if he will like it" she murr
INJURED and if she only could have seen
the expression on his face as she entered
the room she would not have had many
doubts on the subject. Maud had no
lack of partners, for she was quite the
belle OF the ball; but the only one she
cared for had not even spoken to her,
and she was beginning to feel utterly
weary and sick OF the whole thing when
a familiar voice at her elbow asked heI
for the next dance.
&" You shall have it with pleasure
Mr.. Herbert, she said, turning TO him
with a bright smile; but before she had
time for another word her partner
whirIed her away. The first few bars oi
the next dance had hardly begun before
Percy Herbert claimed her.
d" I thought you did not intend asking
me to dance to night, she said, as they
| walked through the bali room into the
| conservatory,
''I did uot think you cared to dance
with NE; you certainly have not shown
any preference for my society for some
| time past.
"Perbaps I have had a reason for not
! doing so; but. " she added quickly, "l
must tell you how very sorry 1 am fOl
what have heard this afternoon. 1t ii
| indeed a sad loss. "
q Yes, it's not pleasant, must con
fess but thank heaven am strong, and
not very old, and have always longed sol
g life Of adventure; so, if the worst i
realized. shall try my fortune in a new
country. I suppose we shall soon havt
to congratulate you, Miss Hesketh ,
he said, after a slight pause.
Congratulate me; what do you
mean I am not engaged, nor am
likely to be. >"
% You astonish me. I thought Listor
was to be the happy man
q" Mr.. Listen is nothing to me, nor ever
will be-" she said huIriedly.