The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-10-23
THE TWO PATHS.

In one the flowers seemed each a separate
glory. There was the rapture of bird-songs,
and permeating all, such glow of light and
color that the eyes were daZzled. The other
was darkened by shade, and barren of all
beauty, yet in the remote distance there was
bright line of light, not visible on the flow
er-lined path. In fact its own radiance was
yond.
Evelyn Seaton, who had read the above
paragraph aloud, laid down the book
with Il laugh. "Oh, the old-fashioned
psH-able, mamma! l wonder if those
old writer's really thought they were
mystifying people. OF course any child
can understand that the bright path is
pleasure, and the dark one duty, or vir-
tue. That's the usual meaning of all
these old moral tales, isn't it?''
"And yet it is wrong,'' Mrs. Seaton
answered. - The path of duty may
sometimes be dark, but frequently the
sweetest flowers bloom by its side. How
was it with you, last week? You re-
member the weather was cold and disa-
greeable, and you didn't wish TO 90 to
school. Duty was dark to you then;
but when at the end of the week you re-
ceivcd such tlattering testimonial from
Prof. Adams, you were delighted at hav-
ing conquered your reluctance"
:" Then | presume the old Professor
was the bright line at the end of my
path" laughed Evelyn. q Oh, you art
full mamma! You coaxed me to read
the allegory just to point it like pistol
at my pleasure-loving self. Surely I'm
not such pleasure-seeker, such an ex-
citement-lover, rs you say | am"
% have never seen girl of 16 years
of age more so,' was Mrs. Seaton's
grave answer. q For an hours excite
ment, | sometimes think you would sac
rifice any thing. Laugh as you will at
the allegory, but you have two paths, as
well as every other girl, and | fear it
will only be Il mere chance if YOU get
into the right one.
g Supposs that to please me you try
an experiment. 1t will be something
new,a ,and you like novelty. Take up one
or two duties at once, to-day, and try to
be cheerful, though your young friends
have left you
Several of Evelyn's young relatives
had been spending the last two weeks
with her. They had left that morning,
and she had wandered about the house
gloomy and discontented, until the cpl
sode of " The Two Paths - had reused
her little.
The young people had had what they
called a jolly time Mt Mrs. Seaton's
The weather had been fine, and they
had ridden, walked, and played croquet
to their hearts content. EVELYN had
thrown herself into the enjoyment of
each hour with her usual impetuosity
Now that she was alone, the dullneSs of
the old life was almost unbearable, and
she was actually turning over in her
mind several plans, perhaps objection
able in themselves, but which might
give her little amusement. She was
not girl who ever paused to ask her.
self, - Is this right ?'' but, " VIII this
amuse meP" As if an answer to her
thoughts, Molly, one of the servants,
who was sweeping out the hall, gave her
significant look as she was going up
stairs.
go dear, if | amt had Il time tryin'
to give you this note so no one would
see! Somehow your mar seemed to he
suspicioning something, and kept you
close all the morning. Here it is. He
says TO me, SAYS he, Molly, you put it
in her own hands, mind, and tell her
I'll be at the gate, ut the end Of the
Acacia Walk. I'm bound to see her
this very evening Them was his very
wordsn
Evelyn, with the note in her hand,
fled to her room with crimson cheeks.
She hardly knew whether to be shocked
or pleased, for though she had often re-
ceived notes from Captain Campbell,
through the housemaid, she had never
met him in the manner now proposed.
He was a handsome, worthless young
man, who had been visiting relative
in the neighborhood, and she and her
cousins had met him first at an i'm
promptu party, given by this very rela-
tive.
Il don't like to have you visit at Mrs.
Foster's,n - her mother had said. - She
is a careless, frivolous woman, who re-
ceives all kinds of Objectionable people
at her house. Captain Campbell, who
is staying there, is the last man with
whom your father and would wish you
to have even passing acquaintance. .
s'But needn't be introduced TO him, >
EVELYN said. Z" 1t would be too bad tC
have Belle and Lima disappointed, when
they've so set their hearts on this party
Besides, you'll be with us, mamma"
But unfortunately Mrs. Seaton was
sick the evening of the party, anC
against her better judgment she allowed
the young people to 90 to it withou
her.
There was something very pleasant
and exciting to Evelyn in seeing the oh
jectionable Captains eyes, which Ger
tainly were handsome, following her ev
erywhere. We must acknowledge tha
she had very few personal attractions
but large fortune inherited from az