Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-05-09
A BACHELORS STORY.

I am an old bachelor At sixty.ive
can say shall never be anything else but
like all other men-all I have ever met, al
least-I have loved and hoped to be happy
with my chosen bride.
That passion and those hopes faded for.
ty years ago Since then I have done pen
ance for the hasty act of one night. | have
stunned the society Of women, and forbade
myself the shadow of a hope that [ might
patch my shattered joys with new ones
To none who knew me have [ ever told the
tale. would have been esteemed liar, or a
madman, and no one would willingly accept
such reputation. To you, unknown read
err, dare recite the events of those four
and twenty hours-events which turned my
life into its now well-worn channel, and made
me the lonely, hopeless man | am.
AT the age of twenty-four, was clerk
in the establishment of Messrs Carp &
Cavil, lawyers 1 had energy and ambi-
ton, health and opportunity-everything,
in fact, that could be wished for by man
who hoped to fight his way up in the world
and win wealth and reputation.
was engaged to young lady by the
name Of Grace Hunter, pretty, delicate
creature, so quiet that her pet name, Snow
fake, seemed to be the only one suitable for
her. Her step was noiseless, her move.
mepts soft, her voice sweet and low. She
never herself entertained large compa.
nv by her conversation. nor did any of those
things that give woman reputation for
brilliancy; but her mental powers were
very fine. and in a tete-a.tete she was en-
chanting. A lady to the hearts core, in
my eyes at leastsa perfect beauty, she
might yet have been forgotten by most
men in room full of giggling, chatteripg
girls.
| adored her. I had felt that her love
was jewel worthy Of an emperor's wear
ing, and scarcely dared to utter the words
that told her all I felt. Even now her
high-bred reserve kept me at distance I
was proud of her. | felt unworthy of her
She was the saint whom | revered, aud the
being whom it was to be my delight to cher.
ish and protect until death should part u.s.
Six months had passed Since she had
promised to be mine. At the end of six
more she was to give me her hand. I bad
small salary, but my grandmother had
left me legacy which would enable me to
90 to house keeping in plain but comforta
BILE style, and Grace was willing to fight
life battles by my side.
Life seemed bright and joyous to me on
that night Of midwinter, forty years ago,
when I walked through the city streets
with Grace upon my arm, and looking
down at her in her white wrappings, with
CLEANS of frosty starlight touching her black
hair, wondered if the angels were fairer than
she
We were going to spend the evening al
mutual friends residence There was tl
be music, dancing, and cards, and a soca
BILE supper went because Grace desired
| to go.
! Her sole society, at her own home, was
more delightful to me than any other com
pany but l was young and light of heart,
and when had once entered the lighted
parlors l did not sit very silent in the cor
| ner.
talked, sang turned the music for
musical ladies walked through the Ian
ciers. At last I found myself flirting with
one of the guests.
| There are women man is obliged tt
hirt with. He does not admire them, re-
spect them, or love them one whit; he doe'
not even desire their society; but he must b.
more than man ere he can refuse to respono
to their advances One Of these women
know now, having played the locker on fo
so many years. can make any man appea
to other women desperately in love witt
her while he almost detcsts her. A womal
of that kind was among the company.
She had hands that delighted in soft touche
of bands masculine eyes that could cas-
glances bright and enhancing. She pos
sessed attraction rather than beauty. VIVA
she said was nothing her conversation ha
no interest, but 1 knew that | seemed az
sorbed by her-that l really was absorbed =
two words, that I 6lrted abominably wit
her
Grace, meanwhile, sat apart from me. =
She talked to others in her sweet tones
Once she sang pretty love song. Quit
calm and self-possessed, with no appear
ance of noticing my conduct, the though
that it troubled her never occurred to me
So that when the evening was over, an
we had left the house together, [ was a.
tonished beyond measure to ses an offende
j look upon her face, and to hear an offende
r tone in her voice. | offered my arm. 81
, rejected it, replying that the ground WI