The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-05-18

Fifth Avenue home, where she would
have been so welcome.
At last the debt was paid, the last
farthing had been dispatched. the old
home was ransomed. and would be the
happy humble shelter of her parents
closing days.
One night in spring, when the apple
trees were beginning to blossom in the
orchards and sweeten the airs of Hill
side, and the weather. classes of New
York were beginning to plan and pre-
pare for the usual summer exodus, an
old woman who had become familiar to
the passers on a certain beat as the
bearer of a tray of excellent and al
was fresh candies, which sold as fast as
she could replenish her store, took her
stand, with her last trayful for that
evening, near the stage-entrance of a
theater. She had found that she could
generally clear a tray to the players as
they came out in tired yet generous
and testing mood.
The occasion had been especially
brilliant, for it was both the first and
last appearance in months of the great
popular favOrite Nile Bland. The act
Ors began to come out. Several of them
spoke to the old woman, and purchased
from her tray, which was attractive
with a scattering of fresh-cut flowers.
At last Mile. Bland appeared. A tall
and remarkably handsome young man
pressed forward, with an air of privi-
lege, to hand her to her carriage.
In the same instant Mile Bland saw
the old woman. Breaking from her
companion with an excited exclamation,
Mile. Bland grasped the old woman by
the wrists. The latter stood transfixed;
her tray fell to the pavement, and the
scene being misunderstood, she was
somewhat rudely handled before Mile.
Bland could prevent, and her hood and
wig falling back, the disguise was evil
dent to all. The wonder was rebuffed
and the gathering crowd kept off by the
quick itted action of Mile. Bland
Forgive me, my dear" she said to the
candy woman, so that all could hear it,
and to the crowd, " It's all right, and
helped her into the carriage, the young
man following, which rolled away while
the by-standers were still gaping. The
next morning Mrs. Bird received an
early call from Arthur Lynd, the young
man in whom she was most interested
of all her large circle of acquaintance.
She admired his character, believed in
his future, and had of late begun to
think in the secrecy of her soul that she
could not do a better thing than to bring
about an acquaintance between him and
her lovely niece But how to accom-
plish this with the intractable Sophronia.
Well, what is it?'' said Mrs. Bird, as
she received the young man,
"She's found!" he exclaimed in an
excited tone, as he tossed his cap aside.
"Who is found?''
"The old wOman-the young woman,
mean, that Mile. Bland told us about
last fall. Don't you remember? And
she is the most beautiful young girl
ever saw in my life. For all she was in
an old dOwdy brown dress, and her face
stained, she had the air of a princess,
and such noble features, and the most
proud and modest eyesr'
Why, my dear Arthur, you have
lost your head! Where is she, and who
is she?''
"That's Just it! Nobody knows where
she is, nor who she is. It's just as Mile.
Bland told us last fall; it isn't possible
to ask this young lady anything she
doesn't voluntarily tell. Mile. Bland
bounced on her as she came out of the
theater, and her hood and wig fell off,
and it wasn't an old candy woman at
ALL but the loveliest-"
Where is she? What did you do
with herP''
Mile. Bland whisked her out of the
crowd and into her carriage so quickly
that we were at her apartments in no
time. Then we asked her if we might
bring her to you, for Mile. Bland was
wild to have you see her and help us to
prevail with her to give us little of her
confidence. But she just thanked us so
quietly, and asked that we would place
her in the care of a policeman"
- You don't mean to say you did it?''
eve couldn't help it. 1 tell you it
wasn't possible to question or detain
her.
'And that's all you knowP" cried
Mrs. Bird. "Well. would never have
let her off in that idiotic manner-nev-
err'
That's just why we wanted your
help said Arthur, looking at her de-
spairingly. You would have known
how to find out all about it, and you
would have been a friend to her."
A few days later SOphronia called on
her aunt to say good-by; her class was
disbanded, at least for the present, and
she was going home. In vain did Mrs.
Bird urge her to take little rest, and
consent to be her guest for at least
q week or two before returning.
Sophronia was firm, and at last con
fessed with a sudden burst of tears that
she had been very homesick.
s. Go home, then, darling" said Mrs.
Bird, tenderly. ''But really, Sophronia,
you are so very uniinching and Obstin-
ate 1 dom understand why I can not
be angry with you. [ never knew any
thing like your obstinacy, except Mile.
BANDS mysterious old lady"
" Who is Mile. BANDS mysterious
old ladyP' asked SOphronia, with some
interest.
Then her aunt gave a spirited account
of the affair. And the worst of it is
she added, g Mr.. Arthur Lynd has COM
pletely lost his heart to this provoking
incognita, and l wanted him to lose it
to you"
One day, about a month later, Arthur
Lynd received letter, which he read
with apparent annoyance. just like
y" AS he particularly wishes it | suppose
L ought to 60 to him; but I sha'n't stay
long unless he has some reason
The - Grabbed old uncle did have
some reason, which he made known
very bluntly on the morning after his
nephew's arrival
1--we found wife for We Artv," said
he, crossing his knife and fork on his
plate, and showing himself away from
the breakfast table.
I'm in no hurry" said the young
man; exerting some self-control.
s. But l be- exclaimed his uncle.
90 IF We don't step lively, ye won't stan
no chance at all. She's bright as a star,
as poorly as a posy, an good as the
aniils.'
The old mans emotion was inexpli-
cable to his nephew, but itprevented his
making a light rejoinder, and piqued
Ii nl,r..nsitr Ill., LID ct tcc.nth