Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-10

BACHELORS LOvE.MAKING

den the moment you put your head in the door
Blue, spicy wreaths of cigar smoke circling up
the ceiling-newspspers under the table-Cas.
tile soap in the tiny bronze card-receiver-
fusion everywhere. And yet Mr.. Thornbrooke
poor deluded dmortal-solemnly believed that
his room was in the most perfect order. For
hadn't he poked the empty champagne bottles
under the bed, and sent the wood box to bear
them company, and hung his morning gown
over the damp towels, and busted the ashed
sprinkled hearth with his best silk pocket
hankerchief? He'd like to see a room in bet
ter trim than that; guessed he would ! And
now he was mending himself up preparatory
TO going calling. to call on the very prettiest
girl ia New York. Not that he was particu-
larry send of the needle, but when a fellows
whoio foot goes through hole in the north
east toe Of bis stocking, and there isn't but
ton on his shirt, its time to repair damages.
Now, as Mr.. Thornbrookes whole stock of in
dustrlal implements consisted Of a lump Of wax,
an enormous pair Of scissors, and one needle
the mending didn't progress rapidly. His way
of managing the button question, too, necessa-
Iily involved some delay; ne had to cut all these
useful little sppendages from another shirt and
sew them on, and next when the second shirt
was wanted, why it was easy enough to make
q transfer again See what it is to be bach
elor Of genius; it never occurred 70 him to buy
a few buttons extra,
Thornbrooke TO himself, as ne wiped the >.
spIration from his brow; "but when il comes
TO coat-sleeves, what the mischief is q fellow
20 do? I haven't any black thread, either"
and he looked dorolousiy at a small tear Just
su his elbow, where some vicious nail had
caught in the broadcloth. "a black pin may
do for tonight, and tomorrow I'll send 1t to
the tailor. The fact is, ought to be married;
and 80 would if only dared to ask Lillian.
o, dear, know she wouldn't have me-and
yet I'm not so certain either-if L only could
muster the courage boldly to put the question.
But just as sure as approach the danger
Gus ground, my heart fails me! And then
that puppy Jones, with his curled mustache
and hair parted in the middle-always hang
ing round Lillian, and quoting poetry to her
If / could have the privilege Of kicking him
across the street, I'd die happy! He isn't
bashful, not he If somebody would only in
vent new way Of popping the question-some-
thing that wasn't quite so embarrassing :"
Our hero gave his black glossy curls an extra
brush, surveyed himself critically in the glass,
and then, with deep sigh, set forth to cali
on the identical Lillian Raymond, resolving, as
he had done thousand times before, that if
-perhaps-may be- .t'. '...- p
OH the bashfulness of bachelors
When Mr.. Thornbrooke arrived within the
charmed precincts OF Mr. Raymond's s handsome
pariors, velvet carpeted chandeliered with
gold and ormulu, crowded to the very doors,
with those charming knick -knscks that only
a woman's taste provides, Miss Lilly was cat
home" in bewildering pink merino dress
edged with white lace around the peariy
shoulders, and a crimson moss rose twisted in
among the ripping waves of her soft brown
hair. She never looked half so pretty; and,
thank Providence, Jones wasn't on hand for
once in his life. But what was almost as bad,
Lily > coasin was there-a tall, slender, black
eyed girl, with arch lips, and cheeks as red as
aSpitzbergen apple. o how Thornbrooke
wished that Miss Esther Ellen was at the bot
tom of the Red Sea, or anywhere else except
In that particular parlor And then her eyes
were 50 sharp--he hadn't been doing the agree
able more than four minutes and a half whom
she exclaimed:
q Dear me, Mr.. ThornbrOoke-pray excuse
me-but what on earth is the matter with your
elbow"
Mark turned scarlet-the traitorous black
pin had deserted its post.
s:0nly a compound fracture in my coat, Miss
Allen" said he, feeling as though his face
might do the duty of Mr.. Raymond's chande-
Iers put together, "you know we bachelors are
not expected to be exempt from such things "
Hold your arm, sir, and I'll set it all right
in one moment" said Esther, instantly pro-
ducing from some secret recess in the folds of
her dress, a thimble and needle threaded with
black silk, and setting expertly to work.
" There now, consider yourself whole"
How skillful you ara" said Mark admir-
ingly, after he had thanked her most sincere
ly. but then you have so many nice little
concerns to work with. 1 have only needle |
and some wax, besides my scissorsi''
Z" You ought to have a housewife Mr.. Thorn
brooke, said Miss Lily timidly lifting MP her |
long lsshes in his direction. Lily never could |
speak to Thornbrooke without q soft little
rosy shadow on her cheek.
"A what" demanded Mark, turning very
red.
"A bousau;fa
Yes" said Mark, after a moments awk.
wark hesitation, "my-my friends have told Il
me 80 very often-and really think so nv
sell, you know. But what sort Of one would /
you recommend, Miss Raymond ,''
"Oh, any pretty little concern. I'll send |
you one in the morning if you II accept of il, -
she added, with rosy light on her cheeks
again. /
"I-I'll-accept it ;" said Marx, feeling as
if he were in an atmosphere of pearl and gold /
with two wings sprouting out Of his broad
cloth, on either side. And just as he was
opening his lips to assure Miss Lily that he
was ready to take the precious gift to his arms L
then and there, without any unnecessary de.
lay, the door opened and in walked Jones
Mark was not at all cannibslistic In his pro-
pensities, but just then he could have eaten
Jones up with uncommon pleasure And there
the fellow sat, pulling his long mOustaches and
talking the most insipid twaddle-sat and sat
until Mark rose in despair to go. Even then
be had no opportunity to exchange private
word With Lily.
:" fou-you'll not forget
Oh, III be sure to remember" said she
smilingly, and half wondering ut that unusual
pressure he gave her hand. Ladies often do
provide their bachelor friends so 90 -
Mark went home, the happiest individual |
that ever trod New York pavement. In
deed, 80 great was his felicity that he INDUCED
IN various gymnastic capeis indicatiVe of bliss,
and only paused in them ut the gruff caution Of
a policemen, who probably had forgotten his
own courting days" Come, young man, what
are you aboat?" .-. -s.r - -. - : |
-r Z" Was there ever a more delicate way of as
suring me OF her favorable consideration! Was
there ever more feminine admission Of her
sentiment! Of course she will come herself-I
an angel, breathing airs from Paradise--oh Il
tne delicious words. Wonder what neighbor-
q nood sne would like me to engage q residences
nov soon II would be best to name the day
dream l'' - 80 ~ - '''1 '''A
. Early the next morning Mr.. Thornbrooks set