Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-04-20
BACHELORS LoYE-mAK1Ne.

and general confusion everywhere. And "
Mr.. Thornbrooke-poor deluded mortal-so
emnly believed that his room was in the mo:
perfect order! For hadn't he poked the emf
ty champagne bottles Under the bed, and ser
the wood box to bear them company, an
hung his morning gown over the damp towel
and busted the ashed sprinkled hearth with hi
best silk handkerchief! He'd like to see
room in better trim than that-guessed h
would And now he was mending himsel
up, preparatory to going calling, to call on tb
very prettiest girl in New York Not tha
be was particularly fond of the needle, bu
when fellows whole foot goes through a hoI
in the northeast toe of his stocking, anc
there isn't button on his shirt, it's time t.
repair damages.
Now, as Mr.. Thornbrooke's whole stock o
Industrial implements consisted of lump o
wax, an enormous pair of scissors, and one
needle, the mending didn't progress rapidly
His way of managing the button question,
too, necessarily involved some delay be had
to cut ali these useful little appendages from
another shirt and sew them on, and next when
the second shirt was wanted, why it was easy
enough to make transfer again See what
it's to be bachelor of genius it never oc-
CURED to him to buy few buttons extra!
Buttons are not much trouble" said Mr.
Tbornbrooke to himself, as he wiped the per-
spiration from his brow, "but when it comes to
coat sleeves, what the mischief is a fellow to
do? l haven't any black thread either aud
he looked dolorously at small tear just in his
elbow, where some vicious nail had caught in
the broadcloth. "A black pin may do for to-
night, and tomorrow I'll send it to the tailor
The fact is ought to be married and so /
would, if / only dared to ask Lillian. o, dear
1 know she wouldn't have me-and yet I'm
not so certain either-if I only could master
the courage boldly to put the question! But
just as sure as | approach the dangerous
ground. my heart fails me- And then that
puppy Jones, with his curled moustache and
hair parted in the middle-always hanging
round Lillian, aud quoting poetry to her if l
could have The privilege of kicking him across
the street, I'd die happy! He isn't bashfu,
not he If somebody would only invent a
new way of popping the question--something
that wasn't q ute so embarrassing ~
Our hero gave his black, glossy curls an ex-
ira brush. surveyed himself critically in the
glass, and then, with a deep sigh, set forth to
call on the Identical Lillian Raymond, revolv |
ing, as he had done thousand times before, |
that if--perhaps-may be- l
Oh the bashfulness of bachelors.
When Mr.. Ihnrnbrooke arrived within the |
charmed precincts Of Mr.. Raymonds hand
some parlors, velvet carpeted, chandelered
,,i+b or,,ld AMI orpulr erov,lod 10 the varv
DOORS with those charming knick- knacks that
only wonian's taste provides, Miss Lily was
AT home in bewildering pink merino dress,
,dged with white lace around the pearly
shoulders. and a crinlson moss rose twisted in
among tic ripping waves Of her soft brown
lair. She never looked half so pretty and,
hank Providence, Jones wasn't on hand. for
,nee in his life. But what was almost as bad,
Li.v's cousin was there-a tail. slender. black
,seti girl. with arch lips and checks as red as
Spitzenberg apple. o how 7'hornbrooks
ON of the Red Sea, or anywhere else except
n that particular parlor. And then her eyes
we're SO sharp-he hadn't been doing the
agreea bic" more than four minutes and half {
before she exclaimed, K
"Dear me, Mr.. Thornbrooke-pray excuse {
ne-put what on earth is the matter with
our elbow p
Mark turned scarlet-the traitorous black
,in had deserted its post.
"Only compound fracture in my coat, Miss
ilIen," said he feeling at though his face might
nut together, 'you know we bachelors are not
expected to be exempt from such things"
Hold your arm, sir, and LII set it all right
D one moment" said Esther. instantly produc- !
ng from some secret recess in the folds of her
ress, a thimble and needle, threaded with S
lack silk, and setting expertly to work.
"There now, consider yourself whole
allow skillful you are" said Mark, admir- a
ngly, after he had thanked her most sincerely. :
But then you have so many nice little con-
erns to work with. l have only a needle and :
ONE wax, besides my scissorsT
.'You ought to have housewife, Mr. a
said Miss Lily, tinidly lift t
ng up her long lashes in his direction-l :
lily never could speak to Thornbrooke with II
ut soft, little rosy shadow on her cheek.
ga what ?" demanded Mark, turning very h
ed. o
"a housewife" II
"Yes," said Mark, after a moments awk- fl
Tard hesitation, "my-my friends have told n
lie so often-and really think so myself, you o
now. But what sort of one would you re- d
Miss Raymond?" 81
"Oh, any pretty little concern. I'll send Il
ou one in the morning, if you'll accept of it, a
he added with rosy light on hr cheeks d
gain. u
If-I'll-accept it ?" said Mark, feeling as 81
he were in an atmosphere Of pearl and gold IL
18th two wings sprouting out of his broad n
10th, on either side. And just as lie was II
pening hfs lips to assure Miss Lily hat be III
ras ready to take the precious gift to his arms p
len and there, without any unnecessary de- N
y, the door opened and in walked Jones.
Mark was not at all cannibalistic in his pro-
ersities, but just then he could have eaten ..
ones up with uncommon pleasure. And rf
here the fellow sat, pulling his long mousta- se
he and talking the most insipid twaddie-sat a
nd sat, untff Mark rose in despair to go.-I +
wen then he had no opportunity to exchange r.
private word with Lily. e
"You-you'll not forget" IL,
"Oh, I'll be sure to remember" said she W
milingly, and half wondering at thae unusual %
ressure he gave her hand. Ladies often do h
rovide their bachelor friends so !' 3
Mark went home, the happiest individual s
hat ever trod New York pavement. In. T
eed, so great was his facility that he indulged o
, various gymnastic capers indicative of bliss n
nd only patses in then at the gruff caution EIe
i a policeman, who probably had forgotten
is own courting days-"Come, young man. n
hat are you about?" fu
''Was there ever more delicate way of as Ie
lring me of her favorable consideration p f.,
Vas there ever nsere feminine admission Of IT
er sentiment? OF course she will come her. =.
s;f--au sngel breathing airs from Paradise Vi