The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-07-17

gates
Come on!'' said Mrs. Pilkington;
and she rushed through, dragging
Phoebe after her. "It's strange though
that the carpet and the sewing mach
inc amt here"
''Did you expect carpet and sew
ing machine, ma'am?" Phoebe asked,
respectfully.
Il ught 'em and paid for 'em,
said Mrs. Pilkington impressivelY.
And don't see why they amt here"
perhaps they win be sent by ex-
press" suggested Phoebe:
II declare to goodness, I never
thought of that, said Mrs. Pilking-
ton.
And she skurrled through the crowd
ed car to find seat
1t was the dusk of chilly evening
when they reached BIackbird's Hol-
low and alighted in the midst of
dense pines and signing tamaracks.
eff Plikington hain't remembered
to come and meet US, I shall be mad, "
said Mrs. Pilkington, stretching her
neck forward, the better to survey the
gllmmering curves of the road. HAnd
Pilkington is always forgettingl My
goodness gracious me! What's that?''
as Phoebe stopped to recover some
thing which she had inadvertently let
fall.
My handkerchief, ma'am.
Mrs. PiIkington made grasp at
it.
"Your handkerchief" she scream
ed. milne, you mean-you mink p!
thief! good -for-nothing my pongee
handkerchief, that You have stolen
right out Of my bagl Well I neyer?'
She shook Phoebe yehemently.
Phoebe began to cry in mingled ter
ror and resentment, and just then up
drove the farm wagon a. galloP.
"Hello, mother!" said Ezra Pix
ingtOn's cheerful voice. Pm afraid
I've kept you waiting bit, but the
linchpln came out of the wheel, and I
had to stop at Tony DeephilIs to get
it fixed. Now, then!"
He drove the stout pony close to
the raised platform which extended
away from the station.
Mrs. Pilkington pushed Phoebe into
the back seat, and followed with light
ming haste.
"Not that way, she cried, grasp
ing at the 1eins, as Ezra would have
headed for the highroad. ''Drive
straight to Squire Pulteney's. This
gals a thief! I'm going to have her
arrested before she's day older"
''Eh?" said Ezra, staring from his
mother 10 Phoebe, and then back
again.
"She'8 stole my spotted pongee
handkerchief-my handkerchief that
I bought bargain on Grand Street,
this morning!" sbrieked Mrs. Pix
ington.
''Ifs-it's my handkerchief" fall
tered poor Phoebe, feeling as if she
were in a terrible nightmare, from
which there was no awakening.
''A likely story" clamored the en-
ragged housewife. ''Pve always heard
Of the wi!es and tricks of these city
minxes, but never realized it until
now. Drive on, Ezra-driye quick
She shall be lodged in the county jail
this very night"
''Are you sure you amt mistaken,
mother?" said kind Ezra, compassion
ating the look of pallid misery in the
girls face.
mistaken, indeed!" shifted the old
lady. "Drive on, l sayl DON'T lose
any more time, or Squire Pulteney
will haye gone home for the night"
She herself took possession Of the
reins, and she spoke and chirruped to
the horses
"But, mother" pleaded Ezra.
Even as he spoke. however, poor
Phoebe, driven wild by vague terror,
and an instructive desire to escape,
had flung herself from the wagon to
the ground.
"Stop for heavens sake, mother,
stopl" shouted Ezra. "Don't you see
that her dIess is caught in the
wheels"
The little horse stopped. lie always
stopped, on general principles, when
a suitable opportunity presented it
self, and the very slightest "Whoa T.
would invariably bring him to a dead
standstill.
Ezra sprang from the wagon to
diseGtangle the helpless figure in the
dust. and Mrs. Pilkington scrambled