The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-02-15
LOVE OR MONEY.
Final Choice OF a Msreenary Little
Wretch.

She was so pretty-so very pretty
80 childishly willful, with her face
puckered into frowns, and her lips
pouting, that the heart OF the man
looking at her ached with heavy pain,
and responded with throbs OF agony as
she stabbed it again and again with
her words. He loved her deeply, and
yet so unselfshly, that he was honestly
trying TO hope she would be happy
without him, although his life-dream
had been to contribute to that happi-
ness.
You are so unreasonable" she pro-
tested, Ito tell me now that you love
me.n
But hoped to-day. " he said, sadly,
you might still be free to choose
your own future"
why, so am; but my grandfather's
choice for me is-n She hesitated, and
then, leaving her sentence unfinished,
rushed on, in rapid utterance: Prank
and 1 have known each other since we
were little children, and you know /
was always a mercenary little wretch"
Were youp" he asked, with a smile
more pitiful than tears.
You know l vast You know I
used to fondle grandpa, and coax and
fiatter him, just because he was rich;
for he was not very affectionate.
was planning for legacy, and / must
have one, even II have to take Frank
with il; and Frank is good-natured,
and fond Of me-"
And your grandfather leaves you
nothing If you do not marry FrankP"
Nothing! He can refuse me but I
can not refuse him without FORGETTING
all share in grandfather's money. I
call il shabby, but there IL isl And
am 50 tired Of being poor, so tired of
turning old dresses, patching my boots,
saving car fares to buy gloves Oh,
Bertl don't look as il you wanted TO
Cry. You are we'll rid of such a selfish
little horror as l am, you are .indeed!"
al viii try to think so,n he said,
pressing his white lips together for a
moment before speaking II hope
you will be very, very happy. But
II you should find, on consideration,
that
Now, pleaser' she said, looking up
at him with misty eyes.
Il only want to say, dear-I may
call you dear Once-that life with me,
although not such life of luxury as
your cousin Frank offers, will not be
absolute poverty, while 1 have my
strength to work for you"
But you have only salary. and
not large one"
VERY truel Still, il you can think
OF me and my salary with favor-with
love, dear-one word. Come win
bring me TO your side. I will not
tease you any more to-day. Good
bye"
He was gone a moment later. and
the unreasonable little lady was cry
ing like a baby.
"Tm not worth his lover she
sobbed, tearing her very best handber-
chief with her nervous fingers; I'm
only nasty little bunch of avarice
and selfshnessl But am glad it is
over, and nOw-good-bye to poverty,
music lessons and make-shifts. I viii
accept Aunt James invitationI
Aunt James invitation had been to
wished her son and her niece TO marry,
she thought it would be well for said
niece, Elsie Reed. to make n visit to
l. and become accustomed to her
future home.
So it was only three hours after her
parting with Herbert BedIow when
Elsie drove to the depot to take a
train for L. and leave poverty,
music lessons, and, perhaps, true,
earnest love behind her forever. Sc
she assured herself.
Her welcome was n warm one from
her aunt, but Frank was stir and en-
barrassed. Every wish of the little
heart was gratified in the new home.
Dresses, bonnets, jewelry, we're given
her with lavish hands, and she fitted
from one superb room 70 another, try
ing to fancy herself the mistress OF the
wealth around her.
The grand piano, under her skilled
fingers, gave forth treasures Of music
all of the SNOWY. brilliant type, and
her voice, like birds, carolled the
bhthest ballads.
But surely no bird or butterfly was
ever more restless in a gilded cage
than Elsie in her new home. She was
never still Walking. riding, driving,
gardening, fitting here and there, till
Aunt Jane, model of. repose, won
dered she did not drop down with
actual exhaustion
Il don't sleep wen unless / am
tired she said once. in answer to
some gentle remonstrance.
But my dear, at twenty, you surely
know, you ought to sleep well. 81
TWENTY / feel as if / were fftvr'
and having made this tremendous as
sertion, she fitted from French win.
dow and down the balcony steps like 9
child OF ten.
1t was April when old Mr.. Reed died
and in September his grandchildren
were to be married. There was only
Aunt Jane 10 care for the details o
Elsie's trousseau. for the young CIR
was an orphan, and her fathers mar
riage had been displeasing 70 he