Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-15
THE BACHELORS WARD.
GCOSCLUDED.1

IN iSe7NiS0 l1oiAS: aitO vi EOlliS W Ills
sitting room, saw what appeared to be a
female form, seated in his easy chair,
complacently reading his newspaper, who,
when she heard him, arose, and politely
coming forward, introduced herself as his
ward. Ned took the extended hand as if
it had been red hot, and looked with as
tonishment at her. This, then, was the
invader. the adversary, the coarse country
girl. He tried to think that she was a
very disagreeable person, but when she
blushed so prettily, and timidly apollo
gized for intruding, his manner softened,
and before long he was talking very costly
with her. When at last she went up
stairs to dress for dinner, he began as
usual to blame himself.
"Ned Wilson, you are a stupid indi-
vidual, to allow yourself to be taken in
the first thing by woman. She is very
pretty, but probably she wears a wig,
and paints-to be sure she blushed and
locked innocent, but nevertheless she
may be as artful as the rest of them
they understand these sort of things, and
can blush, laugh, cry, and call whole
artillery of tears and sghs to bear upon
the feelings OF poor defenceless mascu-
line. at any moment but am too deep
for the whole Of them, and will show to
the world that there is at least one man,
that is proof against woman's artifice.' y
A year had passed away, and somehow
Ned had got accustomed to seeing the
sweet face of his ward at the table, and
his old slippers had mysteriously disap-
peared, and new ones came in their place,
and he never read the paper with any
comfort unless the neat little figure of
Mary sat at her work-stand; and the
jokes lost their point unless her silvery
laugh mingled with his; and finally,
though he did not know it, he could no
more have done without her, than his
supper; and by degrees he had left the
club; and though it was very singular.
it was always "too cold," or ''too hot"
or "windT," or he was ''too tired" to go
out evenings, though of course he did not
stay at home on her account.
One day he sat in his counting-room,
and his head clerk entered, and respect
fully asked him if he could spare him
few moments, as he had something to say
Of great importance.
Ned signifed that he was at leisure,
and the clerk, in evident embarrassment,
began:
Il suppose you have observed my
growing partiality for your lovely ward,
and with your permission I wish to cul-
tivate her acquaintance, in hopes that
some future day | may gain her esteem,
and perhaps more. | am not worthy of
her know, but"
He would have continued, but was
stopped by Wilson, who Indignantly
started from his chair, and taking him
by the collar, put him out, and selling
his hat in a violent rage, started post
haste for home, leaving that astonished
individual, the clerk, looking after him
with an air that expressed first resent
ment, then pity and concern, as # he
doubted the sanity Of his employer.
He reached home, and pulling the bell
till the wire snapped, summoned Mary.
who, when she entered, looked almost
with fear at him, for he scowled at her,
and then shouted.
80, my young lady. you have, all
unknown to me. been billing and cooling
with that bare-faced impertinent clerk!
Don't say a word" he thundered, as she
tried to speak, '.for | won't believe it if
you do"
Mary burst into tears, and hastily re-
treated up stairs, and Ned. after walking
at furious rate up and down the room