The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-01-29
OUR PARLOR BOARDER.

sYoung ladies'" said Miss Scrimper,
solemnly, addressing the inmates of
Remington Female Seminary, at the
close of their midday meal, ''you will
now retire to your rooms for an hours
study, after which you may enjoy the
half-holiday, usual upon Wednesdays. -"
Then Miss Scrimper bowed to the file
of maidens ranged upon her right and
on her left, and withdrew her majestic
presence from the scene.
81 say, Bess,'' said Helen Ransom,
the parlor boartler, mysteriously, to me,
rs we encountered her on our way
across the hall, ''you and Annie come
to my room after study hour, will youP"
Now, our parlor boarder was a whole
romance insherself, and the distinction
of an invitation to her private apart
ment was about as exciting an event to
us other members of the seminary as a
command to visit the Queen would be
TO the ordinary Englishman.
The reports that were current among
the girls about Helen Ransom We're as
numerous and contradictory as those
usually circulated about distinguished
individuals. One said that she was the
ward of IN ill-tempered uncle, who was
determined to keep her at school until
his own ugly daughters were married
and out of the way; another, that she
was placed under Miss Scrimper's care
To keep her out of the way of design
ing young relative who was try
ing TO get possession of her for
tune and herself; another, that she
had once tried to elope with this same
young gentleman, but the attempt was
frustrated by stern papa, who had
caught her in the act of descending from
a third-story window by means of a rope
ladder, after which he placed her under
the charge of Miss Scrimper, with
orders that the strictest surveillance was
to be exercised.
All agreed, however, that there was q
lover, and this fact at once made Oul
parlor boarder an object of adRliratioE
and reverence to every member of Rem
ington Female Seminary,
80 Now, girls, remarked this heroine
of mystery and romance, as Annie an6
l made our appearance, according K
appointment, cit is too hot to go out
Let's~have some lemonade. ~
+" GlOrious!"
"Hip-hip- -hurrah!" ehorused Annie
while Helen produced a supply o
lemons, Il sugar-bowl and a bottle o
champagne from the depths Of tn
closet.
"Suppose we get caughtP"
awe won't"
"What about iceP''
"If we could only get hold of Bird
get!"
At this moment there s = knock a
the door. -
"Who's thereP" = - y--,s
"Me, num-" 1t is Bridget's dulce
voice that answers.
Snow, girls said Helen, ''.isn
n
there is a possibility of magnetic con
munication between distant souls
Bridget knew l wanted her, and sh
came"
"What have you got, Bridget"
"a nosegay, num-"
"Where did you get the flower
BridgetP"
Picked thin in the tin-acre lot, b
the ould three"
"Oh, wicked, deceitful, mendaciou
intriguing Bridget! Moss-roses in tt
middle of ten-acre lotpn
." think there's more ov thin there,
suggests the innocent Irish maiden, WI
attends to the chores ut Remington f
male Seminary.
The heiress starts, and repeat
dreamily:
"And the lily whispers, 4 wait
Girls, we won't have any lemonade
The corners of Annie's mouth drop,
do mine. Gwen go TO the ten-ac
lot"
It's out of bounds"
''Never mind. We can get off wit
out being seen"
The heiress's command is law "
are SO flattered by her desire for our S
ciety that we are equal to any thing
the way of breaking rules Miss ScriI
per is taking her midday nap. Inn
cent, uususpicious Miss Scrimpcr, whi
the wickedest of plots is being la
against her peace and her reputation
a worthy and responsible guardian
tender youth on the point of destru
ton, she is placidly sleeping. Und
the old oak-tree, where moss-ros
either do or do not grow, according
rs you place your trust in Bridget or t
botanies, are two young men. Ann
and l are amazed, but Helen is rs ca
and self POSSESSED as it becomes you
lady TO be who is Il parlor boarder a
has been in society.
% Is it the lover, do you suppose
whispers Annie. But when we are
troduced 10 MIR. George Dacre, Helel
distant cousin, and his friend, you
gentleman in white cravat, then
know that we are in the presence of
hero of the romance, and our ecstacy
beyond description.
won't you sit down, young ladies
suggests the latter gentleman, street
ing himself nj ful length on the era
and offering me bunch of field daisi
SOOn Annie and / are engaged in