The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-07-23

win," he remarked. ''But I do see
some lines on your face"
Il suppose I've vegetated instead OF
lived all the time you have been doing
so much" said Infant.
''Oh, haven't been doing SO much.
1--WE heard you had"
eve means Rilla and you. And you
didn't marryP''
NO said Infant, feeling it sting
ing indignity that he should mention
it, after that cOurtship so long ago
buried. He had married, and raised a
family out West. Rilla was probably
right when she said one woman was
the same as another to q man.
s'And how is Rilla? Is she as hard
on you as she used to beP"
''Oh, Rilla was never hard on me.
She is quite well, thank you. You're
coming up to the house to make us
call and take tea, aren't you?'
Il thought would"
Infant looked anxiously at the Yves.
tering sun. She hoped Rilla would
have the cold soap cut into cakes and
boxed, and herself bathed, clothed and
in her right mind, before Honorable
Truman COndit rode up to their door
Il want to have talk with you first,
though, he added. ''And my way is
to 60 right to the point. Why did you
never marryP"
Come to that" retorted Infant, a
sparkle breaking through her face,
''why did you marry?'
''In the first place, because you
wouldn't have me, and in the second
place, because I found a very good
- I Two hoav1 vuIH-
over now several years, and the boys
are settled. I'm loose from business
for almost the first time in my life, and
back here to look at the old neighbOr-
hood before spending some years
abroad. Your never marrying has re-
vived certain things. May be you've
forgotten"
Among her other thoughts, Infant
was conscious of recollecting how often
she had wished to go abroad if only
some happy friend could go along as a
cushion betwixt Rilla and her. She
unfastened with furtive hand the rose
rope wound about her, but, unwilling
to let so many precious roses go, gath
cred it into loops on her arm.
Ibid YOU ever know" pursued Hon
orable Truman, ''that Rilla told me
you were going to marry one of the
PierSon boysP'
''Nor' Infant cried out so suddenly
that the horse started.
Weren't you engaged to one of
themp'
Il never was engaged to anybody ex-
cept you,' she retOrted, burning holly
in the face, ''and did not admire that
experience when you dropped me and
went off. And l don't yet, though you
do lay the blame on poor Rilla. y
Plenty of time had Rilla for all the
domestic countermarching she wished
to perform before that conference by
she fence ended. Unusually stirring
were her tactics, too, for all the Robbs
were hailed up from the tenant-house-
Mrs. Robb to cook q supper. and the
young RObbs not actually farming to
run on errands. twas six o'clock when
EnOs came riding his plow-hOrse to
the great barn. He had turned off
early on purpose to intercept Miss In
FAINT and find out what changes were to
be made. Infant fastened up the or
chard, while Honorable Truman has
tened to the same destination by the
road. She saw him leading his horse
up the avenue, and felt impatient at
Enos Robb's interruption.
Sudden doin's rp to the house,"
said EnOs, wiping his forehead with the
back of his hand. '''Pears like Miss
Rill's made up her mind about Brother
SandersOn at last"
lis Brother SandersOn at the house?''
inquiEed Infant.
''He is, for fact. and the license
and the preacher with him. Now what
want to know, and what I ought to
been consulted, Miss Infant, seeing
Is.rr I hoo,, - rloA -
you and me going to do afterward? Is
it am Inference"
"Enos," said Infant, with a gasp,
''this is almost as sudden to me as it is
to you. But considering Rilla's firm
character, do you think she would let
any new person interfere with her es-
tablished plansP"
mo, DON'T" replied Enos, grin
ming.
Rilla was standing before the dresser
in her room arrayed in her stiffest silk.
She looked with composure upon her
twin, who shut the bedroom door, and
hurried up to embrace her.
cit was the best boiling of soap l
ever had, said Rilla, warding the fad
ing roses away from her silk.
''Rilla, dear, you might have told me
what you meant to do this evening.
But l am so glad! I couldn't bear the
thoughts of leaving you before, but
now l can"
II saw Truman Condit come into the
/ yard with you,'' said Rilla. "He's
! grown fat. 1t must have agreed with
him to go West"
This has been a great rose day, "
said her twin, undOing all traces of
the days festival, and piling them care
fully in a waste-basket where they
could make no litter. won't you let
me kiss you, Rilla?''
The acquiescent nip which Rilla gave
| Infant took up a world of forgiveness
which Rilla never felt.
"And do you think, DEAR" Infant
ventured, wen ever wish we hadn't?
We've lived so long with each other.
4 Truman Condit and Brother Sanderson
are really strangers to our ways"
Il Think replied Rilla, with de-
cision, ''that Brother Sanderson will
never have a rose day while he lives on
my farm; and when I say it is soap
| boiling day it will be soap-boiling day,
| and Brother Sanderson will stir the
soap. m. ". CGtber1Cood, i1s Harper S
/ BdzGr.
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