The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-10-09
A TENNESSEE ARIST0ORAT.
His Scheme to Preserve Economy With
out LoOsing His Reputation
for Hospitality.
BY OPIE T. READ.

BY OPLE T. READ.
Some time ago, during a horse
back ride through hilIy section ot
Tennessee, I stopped at an old stone
house that stood Lear the road. The
place wa, in a state of interesting
ruin, The stone walls around the
gronhd we're covered with vines,
which, seeking security. thrust their
tendrils into the crevil@5 wrought by
destruction. 8n o.a gentleman,
dressed in a SUIT o. g: ost thread
bare black, met nle a. tna gate and
cordially invited me to enter the
house. [ was not slow in accepting
the Invitation. especially as a black
cloud, with rumbling accompani~
ment, YVES drifting over from the
west, but more especially because I
was hungry. The house was not
we'll furnished. Everything was
faded. butI felt that was breathing
| the air OF extreme refinement.
Take this seat" said the old geu-
tleman, offering me an arm chair.
"Hettie," ," he added. addressing a
girl whom L saw standing in the hall
way, "tell your mother that gen
tleman will take dinner with us."
Hettie immediately departed to
execute the commission, and the
host, turning to me, said: Excuse
me, sir, for not sooner introducing
myself. My name is Lockford-I
Col. George Lockford."
l should have first introduced
myself" [ rejoined, not without con
:usion. I then told hlm my name.
"Glad to see you, sir" he said,
advancing and cordially shaking
my hand. "Did you belong to the
aristocracy before the WARP"
mo, sir" l replied.
That WAS unfortunate" he re-
joined. "Gold, sir, could not tempt
me to lay aside :4y pride. I am
glad Of it,
just then heard a terrible crash
The old gentleman, with great ag;-
tation, sprang to his feet. The next
moment Hottie ran in the room and |
exclaimed:
ooh, papa, the safe has fallen
over, and all our pretty dishes are
smashed" "
"Groat goodness, girl, you don't
tell me SOP
"Yes, sir. everything is broken"
The old gentleman struggled
hard to control his emotion, MY |
dear sir, said he, Il fear that we
shall be compelled to do without
dinner"
[ vent'sred to tell him that could
take piece of bread and meat i'll
my hand and eat it as | travelled,
out be turned upon ME and in
seyere tone said:
''No man ever LEI. nv house in
that manner. / aill -end u boy to
ho village foo z<-e dishes. The
distance is sbart, only IN miles, and
he will soon be bach. You must
wait until be returns
/ could not wait; so, after many
prnteetations ON the part Of my kind
host, l resumed my journey.
About SIX months later [ again
travelled TIE same road, aud, jatt
before DINNER time, | reached the
old house. l did not care to make
myself known to the old colonel
aud as l now wore quite heavy !
gro Hth of beaci, ] decided, in orler !
to avoid long conversation, prom
ted by previous acquaintance, to en-
ter under an assu med name. may
be pardoned for mentioning a strange |
coincidence. | was again hungry. |
Glad to meet you, Mr. Single
ton, said the old gentleman, when
[ had given him my assumed name.
Did you belong to the aristocracy !
before the war;"
eyes, sir"
"a. then L am doubly glad to
see you. Previous to tho great Ca
Iamity you had no business, OF
course
No, sir"
'"Ah, those were glorious days.
Hsttie," he continued. turning to
sirl VINO had Just aPpeare:i at the !
door, "telI your mother that dis-
tlnguis ed gentleman viii take din
ner with US.
Now" 1 muse.l. II ,.ill get
good .iiluer," just then there came
TIE startling crash. The ..id eate
,nen spran ng to lis feet.
''Oh. papa" exclaimed l1cttiv..
as he -ushe iItO he 10 n, ''the