The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-08-13

dDsbLhcElOnE
She looked at me now and then in a
sad, significant way, as if were an OBJ
ject of pity. I did not understand it.
Perhaps the white tuft of hair that
adorned my head created comp assion
in her bosom for me. The conversation
was COINED to local topics, the deacon
leading in a dry and uninteresting
style. / did not eat much and felt re-
HeYed when the meal was over. The
law case which had been uppermost in
mind was now relegated to a secondary
place. Reba, this beautiful, afflicted
girl (she was not quite twenty-one
years old) was the sole cynOsure of my
speculatiOns. / felt irresistibly at
tached towards her and resolved to ask
my uncle what affected her mentally.
If he evaded the question perhaps
chance might reveal what l sought to
know. That evening we all three met
in the parlor. When I entered Reba
was engaged in low and earnest con-
versation with her stepfather. She i'm
mediately stopped talking and turned
her face towards me. I saw not the
faintest trace of mental disorder in her
bright eyes and her expressive counte-
nance. Still remembered the injune-
ton to be judiciOus in conversation.
''It is a beautiful night and the moon
shines brightly without" l said with
histrionic stress.
The girls eyes dilated with uncon-
cealed pleasure as she answered:
''Oh, do continue, cousin dear; your
moonlight rhapsody, l am sure, will be
fine"
with a privileged prefix, by one SO
1Owa1vr M m ffov- how mn ha1 anppH
Il will repeat Shelley's Ode to the
Moon for you, ifyou like, 7" responded.
The deacon protested; he didn't de-
sire to hear any thing from Shelley.
He requested Reba to sing as a COM
promise.
She went to the piano and sang in a
sweet voice The Ballard of Trouba-
dour. was moved by the purity and
crystalline melody of her notes. She
asked me if / sang, and before / knew
what answer l made we were singing
MendelssOhn' duet II Would that my
Love-"
1t must have brought tender memo
ries to her. A tear fell from her eyes
as she ceased, and she hurriedly bid me
good night and departed. The deacon
had buried his face in both hands.
When he looked up his eyes were red
and he said in a husky voice:
II heard her mother sing that way a
few days before she died.
intended to ask all about Reba' s
mental arrangement, but / concluded
to wait and not add more anguish to
him that night. l retired, but could
not sleep. The melody of Reba' s
voice rang in my ears and her beauti-
full face haunted my vision. / got up
and dressed. gazed out of my
window at the clear, moonlight night.
1t was tempting, so l descended and
strolled to the rustic old fountain.
Every thing was quiet; and the far off
bark of a dog had a lonesome wall in
its dying echoes. Suddenly a light
beamed from a lower window in the
house. 1t was in Reba's room could
notrefrain from looking, when my heart
sark within me at the sight beheld.
The figure of the girl, clad in white
material, that chung in classic folds to
her superb form, was standing erect,
her long hair falling in wild disorder
over her shoulders. In her right hand
she held pOniard on high, its bright
blade pointed at her bosom. In mag
ination saw the crimson stream stain
the white robe, heard the short gasp
and moan, and pressed the cold form
that lay silent on the floor. / sprang
to my feet and rushed forward, my
only impulse being to reach her before
she fell. / prayed that some thought
would seize her and make her stay her
mad purpose but for a minute.
reached the window just as the flash
ing blade was dashed to the floor, and
the girl stood unframed. With sin
gle bound cleared the low window
sill and caught her in my arms.
"Reba, for Gods sake don't kill
yourselfr' cried.
She turned pale and freed herself
from my arms. thought perhaps she
would faint. She sat down in a chair
and began to laugh heartily. 1t seemed
to amuse her infinitely. My feelings
were wrought up to a pitch, and /
started to speak harshly to her for
such levity, when suddenly it occurred
to me that her crazy fit was upon her.
! Pity for her condition was more in or
der than censure.
"Did you see me with the poniardP''
she asked, smiling.
When 1 explained where ] was at
and how / felt, rushing forward to
save her, she said:
81 believe you have the elements of
a hero in YOU. You wanted to save
[
| give you that chance yet, but only on
one condition. VIII you prOmiseP"
1 promised any thing if she would
not attempt suicide again.
''DO not tell my father any thing OF
what happened tonight. Before you
leave for the city have a plan to dis
close to you. VIII you trust and be-
] lieve in meP"
I How could / resist such a pleading
| lookP So in order to humOr her ]
| agreed. She then walked to the pom
lard, picked it up and presented it to
me.
She asked me to keep it as a souve-
mir. As she bowed me out with the
grace of queen, she repeated these
lines:
Beneath misfortune's stroke
| The lrmest mind will fail and stunned depart
| From its sage plan of action.
Evidently the unfortunate woman
/ knew then that she was insane, or else
she never would have uttered words
that. conveyed that idea, The next
day met Reba and my uncle at the
breakfast table. She was looking
! bright and saluted me with a smile.
She even went so far as to ask me if
! had had a good nights rest and in my
| dreams carried me back to the busy
scenes of the city.
what admirable acting; nothing
but insanity could make such an utter
forgetfulness on her part of the trans
actions of the night" thought.
My uncle declared that looked as
if / had not slept wink, and I felt il
decidedly. The case began that day,
so I was occupied until nearly shutdown
in the task of getting a jury. At din
ner the deacon persisted in talking
about the jurors / had selected, but ]
told him that if 1 did not win the suit
for him and put the plaintiff in fol
costs and damages l would charge nc
fee. This put him in a good mood