The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-07-05
A DULL SPRING DAY.

tiers the 10th of April, but the bOldest
crOcus shivered rs it stood, for a steady
wintry wind penetrated every corner.
In London. the situation was rendered
more inconsolable by a thick fog; and
rs the previous day had been blest with
a gentle shower, and genial glimpse
of sunlight afterwards, the public made
the most of their grievance, and had our
favOrite topic, the weather, continually
uppermost.
1t is all very well for foreigners to
laugh at US for always speaking of the
weather when we meet; but only few
of them can guess what a charmingly
varied subject it is with us. AS we
never rise in the morning without three
anxious thoughts: What is the sky
like2 What does the glass show? and,
What is the last warning from America?
weather may be said to form part
of the earnest business of our lives.
In a comfortable dining-rOom two
girls were earnestly conversing One,
bright and dark, with a clever face and
charming figure, was seated on the
table; and in that position was enabled
to look down upon a small, fair beauty,
who had happened to don becoming
spring costume in the east wind, and
had consequently caught violent
cold.
ut IS too prOvoking!'' she muir
INJURED, in a thick tone; Il shall have n
seal-skin jacket and lace mantle side
by side all the summer, after this, for
fear of accidents.
Nonsense, Gladys! You viii be all
right tomorrow"
VERY likely" said Gladys, resentful-
ly; "but that is Il day too late. tie is
going to call to-day, Olive"
(Which he, dear?' innocently de-
manded the cousin.
Never mind. Some one who said
he would call this morning. And now
| can't see him!
'WhyP You're not i'll; you are only
"A fright! Look at my nose!"
Certainly, it was swollen. There was
a watery, feeble look about the eyes,
too, that denoted the condition we all
know so well; the frame rendered limp
and helpless by unexpected sneezing,
dainty dishes tasteless, and cruel and
mustard the only things to be cult
waited We stupidity listen to the finest
conversation with lips partially open,
Vacantly wondering whether a cough
or a sneeze viii be the next shock.
A loud double knock caused Gladys to
jump from her chair.
There he isl DO run up to the draw
ing-room, Olive! Mother won't be there
for hours; he is so early"
My dear Gladys, can't he wait till
my aunt
please, Miss Olive" interrupted the
footman, ''vill you be so good as to
90 to the drawing-rOom, my mistress
says?'
Away went Olive, laughing to her
self. Was she not the poor, dependent
relative, obliged to be ready for any
emergency? STILL she fingered on the
staircase smelt the flowers, and pulled
off a dead leaf or two. GLADYS lovers
did not interest Olive rs rule-there
were SO many of them-and Olive had a
romantic little secret of her own; a
secret which had been as n talisman to
her for the two years that had elapsed
since she had lost her father and her
PARKWAY home in a country parsonage.
Some fair-haired boy is clinging
ncrvouSly to his hat, l suppose" she
ruminated, scornfully, as she mounted
the last flight what disappointment
il viii be when he sees Her'
So, with a slightly mocking smile on
her pretty mouth, she turned the handle
of the door.
Wondrous changed No boy stood tc
meet her, but fine, bronzed man; and
Olive turned pale and trembled.
You, William! Gladys said
Never mind what the pretty cousin
said, my darling; ! owe her a debt OF
gratitude for telling me where to FIND
you
And such unmistakable love and hap
piness shone in the eyes meeting her
own that all Olives resolution was
needed TO enable her to continue.
'Sir William, did"
What have l done that you should
call me names?
Il mean" stammered Olive-s.dic
YOU get my letters after my father.
death?n
Not until yesterday" gravely re
sponded Sir William, a look of pair
crossing his fine face. There has beer
treachery, my dear. But all that i.
A loud rustic of silk and Jingle O
bangles caused Olive to start aside; anC
she made her escape from the room a.
her voluminoUs aunt entered it.
Gladys, in the morning room, was
looking through n crack of the door al
Olive appeared.
Isn't he handsomeP'' hoarsely wills
pered the beauty.
mo. Yes-not very!" gasped Olive
running past and upstairs, as fast a.
she could go.
'Olive! W
1t was no use to call her, for sh,
locked herself in her chamber until tea
time; when her aunt Mrs. CORVALLIS
informed her that, as Gladys could no
possibly 90 that night to the ball FOL
which they were engaged, she might e
in her place.
Il should not go at all, but Sir VIII
liam MAYNARD had arranged to accom-
many us said Mrs CORVALLIS, gloom
ilv drinking her tea. 1T is really to-
provoking that Gladys should have
caught this cold
Olive said nothing. She felt almOs
guilty; vet she had net planned or plot
ted for her present happiness.
When the carriage was announced
Olive. in her pretty ball-dress, entered
tbs. drawing-room, where her aunt anC
Sir William Maynard were waiting.
How long you have been, Olive"
cried Mrs. CORVALLIS