Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-12
.Tile ssturp Tellf't.
THE PRESERVE CLOSET.

AuN NN4 II " 'if-H
"Upon my word, this Is about the coolest
proceeding ever knew
Colonel Templar sat in his bachelor sane
tum where the rays Of an April sunshine
shone in lines of glittering gold among the
Neapolitan violets in the window, and drove
the little canary half wild with asilver-voc
ed dclight--a sanctum crowded with mis-
@ llaneous confusion Of fmtersehaums, in dif
ferent stages of color, drcssing-gowns, cigal
boxes, newspapers, and gorgeous velve
slippers sand contracted his brows moodily
over letter, whose pink paper and deli
cate scent of foreign perfume betokened {
troublesome lady correspondent.
"DEAR SIDNEy."-Yes, I'm always "dear'
when Bertha wants disagreeable commits
sion executed--what hypocrtes women art
to be sure" an eligible house, somewhere
in some nice locality, II surely can be nj
trouble TO engage one foru,." No trouble
quotha that's just woman's random idea
No trouble to rush pillar to post house-hunt
ing. Where's the indemnity Of bachclorhoot
I'd like to know? might as well be mar
ried man in good earnest, If I'm to be saddlet
with all the responsibility Of the thing.
won't be imposed upon-Ill write to Berth
at once and tell her
Colonel Templar gave his jet black mus
tachc a savage jerk and pulled his writing
desk rcsolutely forward. Then softer moot
seemed to draw athwart his mind-he hesi
tatcd, biting the handle OF his pen mcdlta
lively.
"Poor little Bertha-she always was m,
pet cousin, and suppose it is rather incon
venient for her to come all the way here t
look for a house-and her husband will be il
India till the middle of May, and well-th
upshot of the whole matter is that I'm doom
ed to victimize myself, and the sooner il
over the better. Heigho! where's the news
pap RI I'll just look over the TO Let's frs
and then I'll go to the estate agencies"
The sun was peeping from behind masse
of flying clouds, like a shy beauty who a
ternately smiles and hides her face-the al
was full Of faint spring odors, even in thi
brick -and. mortar wilderness, when Colon,
Sindey Templar sailed forth, armed an
equipped with various references, direction
and addresses, to engage in the momentou
business of hunting.
He was not handsome man-yet yo
would have turned involuntarily to loo
after him as he sauntered by, attracted b
the deep smotherod fire of his eyes, and til
firm outline of his lips. No, Colonel Ten
plar was not handsome, but he was VIII,
the ladies term interesting" Moreover
carried an empty sleeve where the left arl
should have been-an everlasting memoirs
of the red battle-clouds,
at seems odd enough for me to go hous
hunting" mnsed Templar, as he strolle
onward through the dusty streets. 'For n
the solitary, homeless rcclusc of one-ant
thirty years old -Four years ago thinl
appeared differently to me-four years az
might have dreamed of home of m
own with Marion Caryl's bright eyes to ligl
up its hcarthstone All, me this is
world of change. A careless word-a hit
misunderstanding and here lam cripple
t old soldier, while Marion is probably the SUI
shine of some other mans life. Hold on
am getting maudlin and romantic ell, Sdnt
: Templarg This will never do, old fellow
i The Colonel gave his heavy black loci
j q backward toss, as if impatient at his ow
| folly, and vigorously directed his attentic
0 to the list OF eligible residences, in his pocke
book.
U "No. 40 - street here's the ve
place. Wants painting badly on .he ou
! side, but may present more promising n
a pearance within. AT all events well try"
9 He rang the bsll, and after brief skirmi
of servants in the hall, a faded lady,in dy'
1t silk, md hair in crimping pins, appeared.
&c sis this house to let, madam?" inquir
9 our Colonel, dcferentially.
u swell, yes, its to be let, but you cal
: see 1t now"
4 "Cant see it tnow?"
!, "No," snarled the lady, vindictivel
,t "Hours are between two and four"
sim quite sure the female in the Grim
r ing pins is an old maid, declared the O.
4 onel, mentally, "and she must have brea
i tasted off broken glass and cambric needle
Ut l wonder if the people at No. III -
- street will be any more ailable."
2. A pretty bluc-eyed woman in torn wra
n per and slippers down at the heel, answer
i'd the door bell.
er "Can see this house ?" meekly qucstie
l ed Colonel Templar. M
Is "Coud you call again in about an hou
nd questioned the blue-cyed one. My HI
=, band is out and we've been troubled W
-. thieves and respectable looking agents W
carried keys with them that"
m, "oh, beg your pardon. Under the {
to cumstances will not intrude, > said Colo
u" Tcmplar, with comic elevation If the e.
brows. "Perhaps. however, you will
las good enough to see that have the door-r
DIG behind me, quite SAFE
us It's well didn't let him come in, was
~. mental comment. " He looks as if he mi
ar be little crazed.
,d While Col. Templar stroked his musta
Sc and pondercd obviously within himself:
ce, wonder il l do look like rogue"
!, it
"Herbert! Berthe! don't YOU hear
donr hall Rnrtia cav ~