The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-09-11

she went on. sff 1 tell you that I
thought more of this than anything else
when i went into the river. l knew
there was no real danger if l kept
steady head. But l hope the little boy
won't take cold; and as that is my own
danger just now" And before hlr.
Hale could recover himself to lind
speech, she had swept him knocking
courtesy. and was lying toward the
Alexander House much as he had seen
her speed six weeks before.
Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander
said. a few DAYS later, coming into the
library after the children had gone. Il
have a commission to discharge. It's
rather peculiar one, but hope you
won't mind such a thing coming
through third person. OF course the
situation is peculiar, and rather.delieate
for Mr. Hale. He thought he would
rather put ii into my hands; that is,
rather let me find out first yoUr-your
feeling about it."
Miss Bennett looked up bewildered-
Il don't understand, Mrs. Alexander.
Is it about the little boy? Does Mr..
Hale want to reward me''-a deep flush
suffused her fairness - for what | did?
/ couldn't take his money, of course.
Il don t know that he would lock at
itaute in that light" Mrs. Alexander
answered. 1t probably Helped to
bring matters to climax with him.
Indeed, he intimated rs much. And
perhaps it is a reward of virtue. Ger
tainly it is quite alter the stOry-book
style; but you are pretty enough and
bright enough, as l told him, for al
most any pos ton. He is a self-made
man himself: it isn't such a wonder vi
condescension when one remembers
that. lie couldn't expect to marry in
to the AagaOt0er, for all his wealth..
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses
were playing her false. ''You don t
mean-you can meaE,'' she cried,
that h. wants to marry me?
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
sOothiHgly. Il suppose it is rather
overwhelming, my dear. 1t was to me
at first. But, after all, why should he
not? There arc the three children, of
course, and he's twenty years older.
and he hasn't much besides his money
to recommend him; but it would be a
splendid hOme-foT you, dear. 1t seems
he has watched you ever since that time
you trespassed. And he has made in
quiries OF me. He began making them
some time ago, but l didn't notice.
thought perhaps he wanted a COVER
ness. OF course | gave you the highest
recommendations. sho added, laugh
ing, Thought L didn't know the posi-
ton he wanted you to fill. He seems
quite sure of his own feeling. and it IS
certainly great triumph for you, my
dear.
Miss Bennett sank BACK into the chair
from which she had half risen. Her
mind plainly could not take in the new
situation; but she came TO herself when
Mrs. Alexander went on: ''Of course
YOU may want time to think it over, but
he would like to see you this evening,
and he hopes for an answer then.
''Oh! oh.n Miss Bennett cried, SPRING
! ing to her feet. There's no use.
couldn't if my life depended on it, for
L m engaged to some one else And
never knew-indeed, never knew, Mrs.
Alexander. until few days ago, that
Philip was his nephew. You see, ;" she
went on, breathlessly, ''his sister was
with me at school, and that was the way
l learned to know him. And Mr.. Hale
was very angry at his engaging himself
TO a 'down-East school-ma am, as he
called me. He had promised to help
him before, but-but they quarreled
over me, and Phil went West, and
came here. And it was only fortnight
AGO that | wrote him because hadn't
much else TO write-all about my tres
passing, and what had como of it. And
/ he answered. had his letter last week:
That's my old dragon of an uncle, and
/ if you've won one concession from him
perhaps you could do more. If he
learned to know YOU he might think
differently about our engagement, and
| though / don't need any of his help
now, still he's my nearest relative, ant
/ should like to be on good terms with
him.. And l had been hoping-bu
now-nOw you see how impossible it is
And if Phil has his own way to make
and we may have to wait long time,
and perhaps always be poor, love hin
too much to mind"
The soul of young love and trust was
in her eyes rs she looked up at Mrs
Alexander, and the woman's heart il
her was touched. 1t was the philosO
phy of the Babes in the Wood, indeed
She could have overturned il with 1
touch of worldly commOn-sense; bu
she only bent nearer her, and then sud
" Ruth felt a kiss on her forehead,
kiss of a mothers compromising love
But when she had cooled little from
this unexpected touch of enthusiasm
Mrs. Alexander had her plans. Sh
met Mr.. Hale herself that evening; sh'
COMPOUNDED him with the news that tn
school-ma-am despised Tor his nephew
was his own elect; and she followed VI
her advantage till he consented to eX
press his gratitude to Miss Bennett b,
the Gift of q home-of which he shoul'
not be master. And since young Phil
!. ip was doing well at the West, ant
needed no more of his uncle's help, tn
new home was hardly ready before b
could claim its mistress. Only on
touch of romance Mr.. Hale allowe
himself-the wedding gown which re
placed Ruth's unlucky dress.-En1tty I
Wheeler, IN Harpe1'S Bazar.