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

was very sleepy and retired early.
When babe father and daughter good
night in the parlor, I was surprised to
see her come forward and offer her
hand. Instantly felt note and my
fingers quickly closed upon it. Its con-
tents were a. strange as the writer and
as mysterious:
MY NEW FRIEND AND COUsIN-If the case IS
nnlshed tomorrow meet me 4t midnight near
the old fountain. desire TO inapart MY plans
like you. REBA.
Her plans 1 imagined, were the
rambling fancies of a diseased mind. l
resolved to humor her. because felt
sure that she would do herself harm if
disturbed in any of her ideas. My in
tentiOn had been to remain a month,
but now my great desire was to finish
the case and leave. My sleep was full
of sweet dreams about this beautiful
girl, and arose refreshed. The dea-
con and had early breakfast alone,
and hurried to the courthouse. There
were few witnesses to examine, nd by
noon the plaintiffs lawyer addressed
the jury for three WeariSOme hours. j
knew the jurors were farmers and
wanted to get home by shutdown, so
spoke five minutes, saying that did
not desire to keep them away from
their families, and that I had such
clear case that to argue for hours self
evident fact to them would be an in
suit to their intelligence. In a few
minutes the jury decided against the
plaintiff and mulcted him for costs and
damages. Ny uncle was disappointed
because I made such n short speech,
but when the decision was rendered his
satisfaction knew no bounds. On the
way to his house he slapped me on the
back and said that he had something to
impart to me the next day. He declared
that it would be a surprise. My
anxiety was to get away, for I knew
that if remained much longer would
be slave to the caprice of a crazy
woman. Hence I paid little attention
to what my uncle was saying. After
dinner took a long walk andreturned
to my room. read until nearly mid
night and then quietly slipped down
the stairs and reached the rusty old
fountain. A slight breeze was stirring
and waiting the fragrant OdOr of flow
ers upon its current. The moon was
| far down and the Pleiades were hold.
| ing a carnival of brightness overhead.
had heard that the moon affected the
| insane, so / stood within the deep shad.
oW OF a tree.
Chow noble in my uncle to watch
over this girl and keep her from
| going to an asylum, - said in thought.
l turned and at my side, dressed in
black travelling habit, with valise
in her left hand, stood Reba. Her face
was pale and her eyes looked as if she
had been weeping. She spoke first:
my plan is simply this. l wish to
fly to the city with you"
It took my breath away. 1t was
some minutes before I could answer.
''She is as crazy as a March hare"
mentally uttered; $50 I'll humor her. "
yes, we will fly to the city, but not
tonight. Tomorrow III get uncle
permission for you to accompany me. -
''Oh, no; he'll never consent for you
to 90 any where with me. He thinks
you are"
She stopped and looked down. J
urged her to finish the sentence.
''That you are afflicted; that you are
a monomaniac."
"And pray what do you think?" l
asked.
Il think you are just as sane as
am. At first / thought you might be
afflicted, but have no such idea now. -
Well, this was a revelation. The girl
thought / was insane. The deacon had
evidently told her so because l lectured
on evolution. The next thing l ex-
pected her to say was that she wished
to fly to the city and marry me, so re-
solved to rush on fate and discover her
plan.
what do you intend to do in the
city," I asked.
AZ am studying to be an actress, but
my father will never consent. He took
me away from school because he heard
was inclined to such a profession.
Then you are not crazy?' I almost
shouted.
saw it all, the suicide scene was
acting.
''You are not crazy, are you?' she
asked naively as a response.
81 am mad with love- 1 answered.
BY that old rusty fountain two crazy
people vowed eternal fidelity, and the
same old, old story was repeated. My
uncle, the next day, gave us his bless
ing, and said after / had won that case
he resolved to make me his heir. for
gave his peculiar way of expressing
Reba's desire to become an actress,
and frequently write to him that some
''af1ichons" are blessings in Disguise
Toledo Blade.