The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-02-15

emergency, and the profusion OF Elsie's
bridal wardrobe was e good earnest Of
the luxuries to come after her mar
riage.
II wonder. now" Elsie thought.
after the rapid fight into the garden
already described, ''what is Franks
opinion Of all this Four blessed
months have been in this house, and
hp has not once spoken a word of love
TO me. He is all courtesy, gentleness,
and viii say it once-stuptdity, but
as much like a lover as a walking cane.
/ suppose he don't like having his wife
willed TO him, like teapot or cake
basket. Why couldn't my grand
father have left me a tiny, tiny little
fortune all my ownP / can't wear
more than one dress at time, after
all, and nobody can eat more than one
dinner, IL they order enough for fifty.
oh, dearl There is Frank now, in the
summer-hOuse, looking like-h'm, let
me see! Downcast face, brooding eyes,
hands clenched fast! Not like happi-
ness-grief is too mild a word-he
looks like despairl WhyP 1 believe
IN have it out with him nowr'
In pursuance Of which design Elsie
presented herself before her betrothed,
rousing him from his gloomy abstrac-
ton TO his usual gentle courtesy.
What we're you thinking Of as /
came down the walkP" she asked alb
ruptly.
For moment he looked confused, but
/ aOssv erred very oentIv.
"A mans thoughts are not always
ready for dress parade, Elsie"
''Were you thinking of me?"
No"
II am glad OF that. should expect
to end a dose of arsenic in my next
cup Of tea, if you had been"
Ibid really look so murderousP"
he said, smiling as old people smile at
the vagaries of their children.
You looked" then she paused,
and came nearer to him upon the rus
tic seat. Frank, she said softly, and
with eyes of womanly tenderness,
! giving a new beauty to her winsome
face, ''win you answer me one ques-
tion truthfully? Only oner
For a moment he hesitated, then
with a long deep breath, he braced
himself as if to meet a blow, and said:
Il willr'
did you love somebody else when
grandfather diedP"
Somebody elseP"
Besides me! Are you keeping the
terms of the will because you will
not thrust me out of share of grand
fathers viii? Are you breaking your
own heart"
stop. Elsie! There are many
questions"
Answer my first one, then. Do
you love somebody else better than
your little cousin?"
Yes" was the murmured answer.
"Oh, so do I ! so do 1 It is all a
wretched mistake! Oh, Frankr' in a
passion of tears.
Never had he been so lover-like
as now, when he had renowned her.
He took her in his arms, soothed her,
kissed her. called her pet names.
Don't Elsie. don't sob so. My dear
child, there shall be no compulsion.
I thought you were heart whole"
80 1 ought to be. I treated him
shamefully. told him wanted
money, money, lots of money. was
hatefulr
Then there was a sobbing confession,
and a cousinly confidence; and Aunt
Jane, seeing the pair coming arm in
arm, thought;
"Why, dear me, the dear children
have come to an understanding, and
Frank win forget Agnes, after all.
am so gladr'
The summer had been a long one to
Herbert He worked, studied in the
evenings, wearied himself in many
ways. having much of the same rest
lessness that had tormented Elsie. He
tried TO think he had had a wonderful
escape in losing his dream of love.
"She would have been always dis
contented and unhappy" he thought,
land she is hard, selfish and mercen-
airy by her own confession. But 1 love
herl love her! How 1 would have
worked for her! In time l might have
conquered fortune, and given her the
riches she coveted. Ny little love
. So patient, so Industrious, so tender,
= until this will came TO part us"
Unhappy thoughts do not tend tc
| improve health, and in July, Herbert
> looked haggard and pale. He was en-.
titled TO holiday of two weeks, and
) took Il at l.. Elsie did not dream
: that he was near her. but he saw hei
/ every day. heard the brilliant music
that foated out from the window, un
] ~, ~ H. a J,
dainty riding dress, the pretty home
dresses that fitted about the garden
and thought:
D 'She is happy. She never loved me
or she has forgotten me-"
So he was not so much improved By
his trip, as he might have been had ht
D taken it in some other locality, and h'
r went back to his Office work little
more haggard and paler than when h,
r left it,
! But a wonderful change awaited
\ him. Years before. when ne was bu
a boy. he had gone with his father
, long dead, to see a great-uncle, wh'
D even then appeared to his youthful
eyes a marvel of age. He had a din
a recollection OF miserable, shabb!
= house, an old woman servant wh'
. cooked a horrible soup, aud a genera
, impression that his uncle was a mar
a OF great poverty, and much to b,
1 pitied. Aud now. when he had almos
: forgotten his father ever had an uncle
. there comes to him a lawyers letter
brief, formal, informing him that tn
4 old miser had died, and left him sol'
, heir to about n quarter Of a million.
/ 1t stunned him. He thought he wa
Q dreaming When persuaded that h.