Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-04
Bachelors Love" Making.

You would have known 1t for a bachelors
den, the moment you put your head in the
door Blue, spicy wreaths of cigar smoke
circing up to the ceiling-newspapers under
the table-Castile soap in the tiny bronze
observation-disclosures on the mantel piece,
and general confusion everywhere. And vet
Mr. Thornbrooke-pOor deluded mortal-sol
smnly believed that his room was in the most
perfect order For hadn't he pOked the emu-
ty champagne bottles under the bed, and ssnt
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 handkerchief! He'd like to see a
room in better trim than that-euessed he
would And now he was mending himself
up, preparatory to going calling, to call on the
very pTettiest girl In New York Not that he
was particularly fond of the needle, but when
a fellows whole foot goes through hole in
the northeast toe of his stocking, and there
isn't button on his shirt, it's time to repair
damages.
Now, as Mr. ThOrnbrooke's whole stock of
industrial implements consisted of a lump of
wax, an enormous pair of scissors, AMI one
needle, the mending didn't progress rapidly -
His WAY of managing the button question, too,
necessarily involved some delay; he had to cut
all 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 is to be bachelor of genius it never oc-
CURED to him to buy few buttons extra
Buttons are not mnch trouble" said Mr..
ThonbrOOke 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? I haven't any black thread either,'' and
he looked dolorously at a small tear Just in his
elbow, where ssme 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 l
would, if | only dared to ask Lillian. o, dear
know she wouldn't have me-and vet I'm not
so certain either--if only could muster the
courage boldly to put the question But Just
as sure ss l approach the dangerous ground.
my heart fails me And then that puppy Jones,
with his curled moustaehe and hair parted 10
the midde-always hanging round Lillian, and
quoting poetry to her-if l could have the
privilege of kicking him across the street, II
die happy He isn't bashful, not he ! If
somebody would only invent new way of
popping the quest.On-sOmething that wasn't
quite so embarrassing ~
Our hero gave his black, glossy eurls an
extra brush, surveyed himself critically in the
glass, and then, with deep sigh, set forth Ito
call on the identical Lillian Raymond, revolv-
ing, as he had done thousand times before
that stif-Perhsps-may be-
Oh! the bashfulness of bachelors.
When Mr.. Thornbrooke arrived within the
charmed precincts of Mr. Raymond's handsome
parloFs, velvet earpeted, chandeliered with gold
and ormulu, crowded TO the very doors, with
those charming knick-knacks that only a wo-
m ans taste provides, Miss Lily was sat home"
in a bewildering pink merino dress, edged with
white lace around the pearly shoulders, and a
crimson moss rose twisted in among the rip
ping 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 ss bad, Lily's cousin was
there's tall, slender, black eyed girl, with
arch lips and cheeks as red as SpitzenberQ
apple 0 how Thornbrooke wished that Miss
Esther Allen was at the bottom of the Red
Sea, or anywhere else except in that particular
parlor. And then her eyes were so sharp-he
hadn't been doing the agreeable" more than
four minutes and a half before she exclaimed:
''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
"Only compound fracture in my coat, Miss
Allen" said he feeling as thongh his face
might do the duty of Mr.. Raymond's chandeI
ers put together, "you know we bachelors are
not expected to be exempt from such things"
"HOld your arm, sir, and I'll set 1t all right
in one moment said Esther, instantly produe.
ing from some secret recess in the folds of her
dress, thimble and needle, threaded with black
silk, and setting exPertly to work
"There now, consider yourself whole"
"How skillful you are" said Mark, admir-,
ingly, after he had thanked her most sincerely.
"But then you have so many nice little con.
Germs to work with. hsve only needle and
some wax, besides my scissors !"
''You ought to have housewife, Mr. Thorn.
brooke" said Miss Lily, timidly lifting up her
long lashes in his direction. Lily never could
speak to Thornsbrooke without soft, little |
rosy shadow on her cheek.
"A what % demanded Mark, turning very
"a housewife"
Yes" said Mark, after momsnt's awk. |
ward hesitation, ''my-my friends have told |
me so very oiten-and really think so myself, |
you know. But what sort of one would YOU
Miss Raymond Z"
"0h, any pretty little concern. III send
you one IN ths lnOIAihg5 II you'll accept of it." |
she added with rosy light on her cheeks |
again.
eIf-rll-sccept it !" said Mark, feeling az
if he we're in an atmosphere of pearl and gold |
with two. wings sp-outing out Of his broad !
opening his lips to assure Miss Lily that he
was ready to take the precious gift to his arms
then and there, without sny unnecessary de-
lay, the door opened and il walked Jones.
Mark was not at ali canhibalistic in his pro-
Penslties, but just then he could have eaten
Jones up with uncommon pleasure. And there
the fellow sat, pulling his long moUstaches
and taking the most insipid twaddle-sat and
sat, until Mark rose in despair to 90. Even
then be had no opportunity TO exchange pri-
Vate word with Lily.