The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-08-13
TWO BRIGHT COUSINS.
Each Thought the Other Might Be
Afflicted, Mentally.

Bach thought the Other Might Be
Afflicted, Mentally.
had been practicing law. in the city
three years when / received a letter
from my uncle, asking me to visit him.
I use the word practicing, but in reali-
ty my cases had been so few 1 could
readily count them on my fingers. Ma
ture had been kind in my physical de-
velopment, and placed white tuft of
hair conspicuously to the front of my
head, leaving thick growth of black
hirsute in remarkable contrast. This
distinguishing mark attracted the eye
of the lightning artists and enlisted
the didacUic descriptions of the report
ers on the great dailies. My name APP
peared, as frequently did my picture,
in the list of prominent lawyers pres
ent. There was but one drawback to
the unsolicited, but not unwelcome
publicity l achieved, and that was the
Inevitable reference to the fact that ]
had delivered a series of lectures on
evolution before literary club, which
Prof. Huxley declared, after read
ing them, were in the main correct and
followed his ideas closely. My uncle,
who resided in a small town in the in
terror of the State, had evidently been
reading the city papers. In his letter
he said that he was proud to see my
name mentioned in connection with
such big cases and noted lawyers, but
regretted that I had ever consented to
lecture about neW-fangled notions. In
a postscript he added that his step
daughter, Reba, was afflicted men
tally, and cautioned me not to speak
about the doctrine of evolution in her
presence. l could form no other con-
clusion but that his daughter was in
sane, a mOnomaniac, perhaps, on some
subjects.
1t was the beginning of summer, so I
concluded to sacrifice any chance
clients that might call, and go and de-
fend my uncle's case. left a card on
my office door to the effect that was
taking my usual vacation. AS the train
sped along towards the town where
pictured myself as being cordially re-
ceived by the legal fraternity as noted
luminary from the city, certainly pit
led my less fortunate brethren whose
names never got outside the directory.
My thoughts finally reverted to my un-
Gle and his steP-daughter. l recalled
what l knew of his history.
Samuel WhitlOw and my father were
the only children of my stern, Puritani-
cal grandfather. Samuel Whitlow pros.
pered, married, and in a few years was
left a widOwer without any children
An English lady, Nine. Stanley, s
widow with one child, came quietly
and resided in the town. She attended
the church regularly where my uncle
OBLIGATED as deacon, contributed liber
ally to the maintenance of the pastor
ate and promptly accepted an offer o
marriage from the stern, high churcl
member. Two years of great happi
ness passed when she died, leaving hei
daughter Reba, then four years old, Al
precious charge to her husband
There was no brass band to welcome
the cosmopolitan lawyer, but a servant
was on hand to take charge of my lug
gage and show me the way to Deacon
Whitlow's. / felt somewhat piqued a
the absence of the worthy deacon anC
Intercepted the servant:
THE boss, sir, wanted to come, bu
Miss Reba put him out by saying sh,
would enjoy meeting you, too"
II would have been delighted t.
meet her, too" said, wondering VIII!
her wish to accompany her father haC
caused him to stay at home.
In a few moments / reached tn,
house, a two-story frame dwelling
covered in front with trailing wistarii
vines, from which hung large bunche
of purple and white blossoms. Severa
shade trees with thick foliage grew il
the yard. and a fountain, rusty anC
long since run dry, completed M
hasty observations. A tall, steTn-loOk
ing man, with gray hair, met me anC
invited me in. He did not even apollo
gize for sending a servant to meet me
"You resemble your father some
what" he said, when we reached tn,
parlor. The gloom and silence tina
brooded in the house struck me as sooI
as I entered. 1t grew upon me as m,
kinsman client gave me the brief out
lines of the suit / was to defend.
was a relief to 60 to my room up stair
TO prepare for dinner. ] threw opel
the windows and endeavored to breal
the mOnotOny of the oppressive silence
''Why did / not meet Rebap How di,
she lookP Was she afflicted to tn
point Of unsociabilityP These thought
occupied my mind until dinner.
My uncle escorted me to the dining
hall "Reba viii be in presently, AM
trust you viii be judicious in you
conversation with her, he said in
slow, solemn tone. We sat down ant
were waited upon by two slow an,
somewhat aged servants. / was relat
ing case that I had won, the only on
j had been successful in out of the few
had been entrusted with, similar L
his, when looked up and saw beau
tituI woman approaching. wa
startled almost by the sudden vision
and kept my eyes fixed in undisguise,
admiration upon her. She had larg
black eyes, fair complexion and an ex
precision that was lovely aud attractive
beyond description. Her movement
was poetry itself as she came up an
extended her hand.
This is my city cousin, the lswyer
We shall make your stsy pleasant
shall we not, papap"
yes, Reba, wiz do my best, bu
city folks always entertain themselves
somehow" he answered without look
Ing up.
She took a seat opposite.
"Could il Se possible" I asked nv
self in pain, '.that such lovely crea
lure afflicted mentallyP If SC