The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-09-04
Adaptability, that's the

disadvantages. Adaptability, that's the
main matter
In her present mood, adaptability
struck Belle as being a cardinal virtue.
She was seized with a frantic desire to
practice it all the rest of her life. Only,
she wanted to practice it in Wisconsin
rather than in Virginia
Judge Drake and Belle rode on until
they came to the country town 81
have an errand at the Courthouse, -
Judge Drake said; sI should have
thought of that. What viii you do with
YOURSELF"
Let me see. I'Il-I'll-oh, I'll buy
some blue flannel, and take it to Ara
minta to make me a sacque. VIII YOU
come for me there?''
Agreed. Araminta was known to fame
as the favOrite dress-maker of the neigh
borhood. Judge Drake knew her cor
ner well. Belle made her purchase, and
turned her horses head in the direction
of Araminta's. A decent-lOoking color
ed man came forward and helped her to
ahght when she stopped. Araminta
awaited her in the doorway with cor
dial welcome. My brother, miss, >
she explained, by way of introduction.
Ben scraped a profound salutation.
Il thought you were a barber in
Richmond" Belle said, who knew all
the family histories of all the people far
and wide.
81 Yes, miss, was in business dar. l
looked on it as a permeal business, too.
l gin particular attention to ladies' and
chillen's ha'r-cuttin' and shampoOin'. |
had right smart OBJ custom too, miss.
But he'd to quit
wonder at that, Benz
81 he'd sight oh trubble, miss. NV
wife she deserted me, an I tux dat so
hard l made up my min ter quit bust
ness fur bit, an stop wild Araminta
ontll l was less Uneasy in my min.
g Yes, his wife she run off wild a mar
ried man. Oar dey are both on 'em a
libbin jest like they was highly descent
an proper, at Ole Pint Comfort
Old Point Comfort" repeated Belle,
struck with the coincidence.
"I1l tell you who she ran off wild, y
pursued Araminta, unfolding the fan
mel. % You know dat ar black Milly
what lives on your place? Her ole man.
He's black nigger as ever you see, and
she's a rale likely bright girl, miss
bright as Ben
Bright refers to complexion, and de-
notes a pale shade. Ben disappeared
at this juncture, taking the horse to tie
to post across the street.
Were the girl and Ben married?''
asked Belle, hesitatingly. She respected
Araminta's social position, which was
excellent, although cOlored one. Still
there was no telling where these class
distinctions offended morals, and where
they did not.
% Married? Laws yes, miss. Married
COlOred Baptist Church. Married as
fast as a spring"
And Ben is such nice mani Good
ness there comes Judge Drake. Well,
Araminta, there's the flannel, and you
have my measure, and l want you to
make it a real pretty pattern for me.
Ben, I'm sorry you had so much trouble
with my horse" And in a moment
more Belle was mounted and off. Going
home she told Judge Drake the sequel
of the story she had related last night.
g Ben seems to be chiefly entitled to
pity in the matter" commented Judge
Drake. g i conclude that Milly's hus-
band could be induced to return; but /
can't see any permanent prospect OF
cOnnubial felicity for Benz
81 think III 90 down to Fort Monroe
myself" Belle announced presently
Judge Drake smiled a superior smile.
He may have considered that Belle had
rather lOw-lived tastes Certainly he
thought she must be at a loss for en-
plOyment and interest, to concern her
self so deeply in the haps aid mishaps
of a parcel of darkies. However, the
next time he rode over to Rose Hill he
found Belle had been as good as her
word, and had gone on her errand to
~, i ~
arguments she used, the expostulations
and entreaties with which She assailed
Alilly's husband and Ben's wife, she af-
terward had very little to say. On her
return she went to see Milly.
"'Milly," she told her, ''it is a mar
ried woman your husband is living with.
l have found out all about it. So of
course she has no more claim upon him
than you have-nOt so much. l think
he is tired of her. If he should want to
come back to you, what would you
say?''
''He war allays good husban' ter
me-" said poor Milly, wiping her eyes.
Thus it was no great wonder that,
when he did come back, Nilly forgot the
injuries of the past, and received her
prodigal as though he had never wan
dered very far from her. Belle took
good care, however, that the marriage
service should be read over them with
out delay. 1t appeared that the man
was only too willing to return. - She
led him life of it, Belle was told.
The reconciliation of the other parties
was more difficult of adjustment. But
Ben cared very much for his wife, and
the silly, weak woman herself was taken
i'll about this time, and finding herself
forlorn and friendless, was only too glad
to return to home and support. Sub
sequently she mended her ways. In
point of fact, Milly showed no greater
forbearance and generosity than Ben, in
spite of the popular delusiOn which
would maintain the contrary to be true.
After that, Milly's husband settled down
into staid, domestic character. He
nOticeably avoided long drives; it had
been while driving wagOn-load of mel
Ons to Richmond that he had fallen into
temptation before.
Belle breathed a sigh of relief when
she had untangled the twisted skein of
all these destinies-a sigh of relief fol
lowed by a sigh of another sOrt-follOw-
ed by letter to Miles!
Belle spent that winter in Belleplaine
after all. She fully made up her mind
that the one uncomfortable evil was to be
cold ut the heart, and she was fully per-
suaded that unless she could be with
Miles, this evil must be hers.-HaTper' s
BGzdr.
Cbnov Coo