The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-04-14

"Oh, don't mind me" said Lucy.
coloring. ''Pm going over to Mrs.
Hsven's few minutes to see about q
fern she promised to get me from the
Hartford woods"
For it had occurred to Miss Lucy
that this was an excellent opportunity
to test the washing and wearing
qualities Of the second OF her lovers.
Folliett had been weighed in the bal
ance and found wanting Now let
George Haven take his chance. The
Haven cottage stood about an eighth
of mile further down the road-a
pretty little honeysuckle garland af-
fair-and Lucy Darl, feeling rather
like spy, crept up the stairs (nobody
chanced to be in the halD, and took
refuge in Mrs. Haven's own little bou-
doir.
Mrs. Haven had three or four un-
ruly, ill-disciplined children staying
with her that summer-the children
of an invalid si8ter-and Mrs. Haven
was not rich III this worlds goods, like
the Follietts.
As Lucy sat there, wondering
whether lucky chance was about to
befriend her, as it had befriended her
before, a CHEEKY voice sounded below
George had just come in, dripping but
cheerful, from the postofice.
"Hello, mother! what's the matter!
Crying and discouraged! Why, this
will never do in the world! Come,
little ones, run TO the barn, every one
of you, to play. The fire smokes, does
itH Well, never mind; I'll have things
straight in minute with few kind
lings. The fact is, mother, YOU sit at
home too much. You get nervous.
l must contrive some way of taking
you out to drive every day"
A sly, dimpled smile came into Lucy
Darls face as she heard the strange, ca
ressIng voice of her lover, bring hope
and courage with it, and rehecting
that he was certainly of a different
stamp from Eugene Folliett, whose
dashing manners and city airs and
graces had SO nCarly captivated her.
1t was quite evident that he would
"wash and wear" according to Aunt
Judith's theory.
Il suppose 1 am little nervous at
times, George, Mrs. Haven answered,
"but I never feel it when you are here.
l don't know what l should do without
a son, ike you. But if you ever get
married."
But Lucy Darl could not stand this
she felt like little, innocent caves
dropper, as she was, and hurried down
stairs.
You here, Lucy!" cried Mrs. Ha-
ven, who was busy at her gtockings.
"You here, Miss Darl?" exclaimed
George, who had just brought in an
armful of fresh kindlings.
Il couldn't find anyone upstairs, .
said Lucy, blushingIy, and looking
painfully conscious. Il looked all
over. I've just come to ask you if you
got the root of Hartford fern you
promised me, Mrs. Haven't"
"It's set out in a fower-pot under
the back kitchen window" said Mrs.
Haven. "But you'll stay all day,
Lucy, dear, now that you are here?''
Miss Lucy did not refuse.
Mr.. Eugene Folliett lay in bed until
eleven, and read novels. At noon he
came down stairs.
"ConGounded dull here, without a
soul to speak to" said he.
Of course his mother and sister were
outside the pale of civilized humanity
And at sunset, when the crimson
beams of the declining sun broke ra
dainty out through parting clouds, he
tied on his necktie, and pinned a pink
carpation In his button-hole.
"I think I'll go over to Mrs. Darl'l
for little while" Sid he.
"You needn't" said astute Nell.
"Why not?"
Lucy was here this morning, and
heard you Hcolding at poor mamma
and because I saw her go by just nov
with George Haven, and they are Ell
gagged
How do you know?"
"By instinct"
Mr.. Folliett made a grimace, un
pinned the carnation aud stayed a
home.
The engagement became a public
affair the next day, and Lucy Dar
wrote back to her Aunt Judith tina
she had accepted lover whom she
could warrant as an article that wOuls
"wash and wear.
Scale of Titles.