The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-12-02
HER SISTER NELL.
Why She Went South to Take
Care Of Kate.


When Tom Norton and his wife came
from the north to the prairics of south
western Louisiana to try rice farming
they brought each their most cherished
possessions.
TOMS consisted, for the most part, of
varied and interesting collection of
theories.
He brought, also, very respectable
financial backing and a fund of good,
practical common sense. These saved
him from collapse when he saw his
theories knocked out by the hard facts
of his new life.
Mrs. Kate brought her etchings, her
water colors, her jars, vases, rugs and
draperies. She had a rather worse
time arranging these in a 'Cadian
house than Tom had with his theories,
which is saying good deal. Both sue
ceeded fairly well, however, and at the
beginning of the second summer their
house had become the rendezvous of
''the boys" lot of young fellows
from various northern states, most of
them, like Tom, rice planters. Their
home was at present board shanty,
set in the midst of far-stretching rice
themselves after the manner of men
unmatched of women. Small wonder
they found at Toms pleasant respite.
John McRae, whose rice fat was
over on Bayou Nez Pique, came often
est and stayed longest. He was older
than the rest and quieter.
He had dined with them, one breath
less noon, and afterward crossed to the
parlor, which Kate had trick of keep
ing cool and shady in the hottest
weather. Kate filed the pipes; Tom
took the sofa and Mae, stretched in a
most comfortable chair, smoked awhile
in silence.
You're a decent sort of fellow,
Tom," he said at length, "and don't
envy you a thing, but this"-with a
comprehensive wave of his hand
isn't exactly calculated to make one
enthusiastic over Black Jim's house
keeping"
This" included the excellent din
ner just eaten, the cool shade of the
pleasant room, and Kate herself in a
most becoming gown.
We'll, then, why don't you do as /
did, marry your best girl and bring her
down here to look after your" queried
Tom.
Mac puffed away awhile before he
answered: 81 haven't any best girl.
had one once-a nice, sensible girl"
II hate nice, sensible girls" inter
rupted Kate; but Mac went calmly on:
Father died when was just out of
school and left me with mother, four
children and mortgage to look after
j laid the case plainly before my girl,
told her here was bound to be hard
work: but that ! knew ! could pull
through, and If she wanted to take hold
and help all right If not, say so-and
'gocd-by, sweetheart
"She wrote me the incest kind of q
letter; said she couldn't think of COM
ing between me and my duty to my
family; but she should always etc
But it was 'good-by'aall right enough.
] told you she was sensible" he ex-
planned.
Here Kate shifted contemptuously.
But even that failed to interrupt the
even tenor of Macs tale.
$50 went to work alone, and. by
George, how did work! But pulled
through az last, as I knew / would:
pam tnC dhSi NS@SSs '~No~~N~1 Nh~ LII
dren and provided for mother" All
this was delivered between the puffs of
Macs pipe in his usual quiet tone,
without trace of emotion on his thin
face, and from first to last his amused
smile did not uary.
He refilled his pipe and concluded, as
II done with the subject:
"My folks have got out Of the habit
of thinking of me as marrying man,
and ] reckon, as they say here, they're
nboat right"