The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-12-02

was the mortgage, the mother and the
children to be considered, but now"
and Kate paused, suggestively.
"But now," said Mac, rising, sI've
mo CALI to be dawdling here. Carter
told me this morning that the twin
levees were seeping badly. I've got to
hold up all my water if make crop,
so l came into the Magnolia saloon for
something to sh arpen up the shovels."
He paused by one of the tables and
took up picture w hich lay there. 1t
was a bright-faced girl, with an air
of spirited self-r eliance.
"Now, that's nice girl Mac
said, after moments examination of
the picture.
''She just isl" said Kate, emphatic
ally. Its my sister, Nell. She's nice,
but not nice and sensible like your
stick of girl
Think not?" and Mac continue to
give the picture the same careful scru-
tiny he was won't to bestow upon a
seeping levee or a clogged pump.
mo, indeed!' replied Kate. ''If there
was hard work to be done, Nell would
go at it with all the energy she devotes
nowadays to having good time"
THAT would knock harder job than
yours silly, Mae" and Tom laughed
''Well, if you don't believe me, just
go and see my sister Nell, Mr.. John
McRae," said Kate with great dignity.
THAT sounds alluring, but I'm too
aged to run any risks. Before / do
anything l must be assured of several
things"
Macs eyes twinkled, but he spoke
quite as if Kate were an agent for
new pump or grading plow.
"What, for instance?" Kate's tone
was crisp enough to have warned Tom,
but Mac went on calmly.
WELL" he said, meditatively, this"
and again his gesture included the
arrangement of the room-'and the
dinners you're always giving us, and
the way you have of meeting Tom in
| pretty gown when he comes in hot and
tired. But I don't want to be too
grasping. ] wouldn't insist-at first,
anyway-on sitting with her in the
dusk in a hammock, as ] saw you and
Tom doing the other night"
Wouldn't you?'' asked Kate, with
calm derision. Mac laid down the pic
ture, rose and shook himself.
/
back by supper time. Good-by."
He came back, however, out of the
glaring sunlight to say:
81 fear / must insist upon another
thing. I'm not proud, but there's
look about Toms clothes that drives
me to despair when contemplate my
| own raiment"
''Better set up a clothes brush; it,
cheaper than-any other arrangement,
interrupted Kate.
Tom groaned an emphatic assent to
this proposition nd Mac finally mount
ed his pony and took his way across the
hot prairie toward the distant timber
line which marked the course of the
Nez Pique.
This was in early June, and the Nor
tons saw no more of him during the
month. Carter, Macs foreman, whom
Tom saw in town, reported: ''Mr
John sho' gwine to beat hisself plumb
out de way he's gwine on. He's at
dem ar pumps and levees early an
late Say, if de hull rice fiat amt
flooded by du Fo'th o. July de debbil
himself gwine be to pay"
1t was in the dusk of one of the first
July days that Mac rode to their gate.
'Good-by," he called, without dis
mounting.
They left the porch and came down
the moonlighted walk for explanations
which he did not at once offer.
What is that?' he asked at length,
respectfully indicating with his whip
the f1eecy affair in which Kate had
wrapped herself against the chill of the
gulf breeze.
ia shawl Nell made il for me at
Christmas, she said. holding up cor
ner for his inspection
Eve always thought of shawls as
ugly, checked things" Mac comment
ed, and then abrupt ly: I'm going
north to see-mother and the boys"
| There was q curious pause in this
! encouragement. as il its ending had
/ been reconsidered. Macs usual quiet
seemed reinforced tonight by an added
/ constraint, and after a little he rode
away into the soft radiance of the
southern moonlight.
The latter part of the week Kate re-
ceived her usual letter from her sister
| Nell. The week after there was none,
nor the week after that. Her vexa-
tion was becoming serious solicitude,
when Tom brought her the following
/ letter:
my DEAR KATE: We've been so busy since
| Mr.. McFae came there hasn't been q moment
/ TO write letters 1t awfully nice Of you to
suggest his stopping OF TO see He talks
10 father by the hour about the country and
! TO mother about you He doesn't talk 10 me
much, but watches me as il / were something
unusual.
Father and mother seem 10 like him, but
don't - much I'll write more next time.
| He's going tomorrow. Love 10 Tom. NELLAp