Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-10
Miseella'1eons. g
A Bachelors Dilemma.

, "And don't you know when you will
pass through this part of the country
again, Mr.. Verleys"
: mo, / DON'T" said the old bachelor
decidedly.
He was something Of bear to an
swer so crustily, when Barbara Smitl
stood in the doorway with the shadowy
lashes dropping over the soft brown
+ eyes, and the roses deepening into
deep carmine on her rosy cheeks, until
her dress was plain in comparison
Such a pretty, big-cyed loving little
Barbara as she was, in all the blonde
freshness of her eighteen summers
and the soft sigh that fluttered from
her lips as the one-horse carriage drove
away, was checked instantly. Barbara
had no idea of becoming a victim OF
unrequited love, though she rather
fancied Mr.. Verley during his brief
stay at her fathers house.
Mr.. Verley drove away through the
rustling green draperies of the summer
lanes, whstling sadly as he drove.
IL shall be in very good time for the
1890 train,' he meditated to himself.
"Punctuality is the soul of happines,
and l never was one of the behind
tribe, thank Providence. Besides,
think 1t was becoming dangerous to
remain in that place any longer; for l
am thirty-nine tomorrow, and that is
just twenty years too old for me to go
making fool Of myself"
Fancy me getting married! No
you don't, Joseph Verley, my friend"
AS he settled himself comfortably
in the crowded railway car, and open
ed letter, the subject again occurred
to his mind with curious persistence.
"Ihe letter of my poor brothers
executor came just in time, or l should
certainly have fooled away more time
than would have been sensible or
profitable"
Poor, dear Harold, | don't see
what on earth possessed him TO fall
sick and die on the way home from
Venice. and leave his daughter on my
hands, too. Why could he not have
left son instead of daughter? |
never did understand woman's ways,
and what's more | don't want to. |
am TO meet her at Spcedville, and take
her home with me. Oh" groaned Mr..
Nerley, despairingly. What am to
do with her when | get her there, I'd
like TO know. | suppose she's great
creature with ringlets and ribbons, and
has just as like as not an Italian lover,
talking sentiment TO her-a creature
that reads Byron, and keeps an album
and eats slate-pencils and chalk. III
send her TO boarding school-that's
what Ill do with nv niece. Perhaps,
school master can suggest some means
OF getting rid of her. OF course she'll
have a dozen large trunks, and bon
net box, and a parrots cage that's the
way women travel, l believe. am
glad am out Of the way of Barbara's
destinations, now.'
Mr.. Verley looked out of the car
window in a sort Of calm desperation
at the prospect before him.
Il suppose she'll want a piano, and
a poodle dog, and there's no knowing
what else. l don't see why Harold
wanted to die and leave his daughter
to my care, just now. Speedville Sta
ton twenty seven miles further.
wish it was twenty-seven hundred
miles, that's what wish" And with
this vindictive sentiment in his mind,
our hero tied red handkerchief over his
| nd trio m -al in,
series of brief, troublesome dreams,
wherein the vision of a tall nice young
lady figured conspicuously.
Are we here already?" he stam-
mered starting TO his feet, as the con-
ductor growled out "Speedville Sta
ton !" and seizing valise and travel
ing shawl. with the bustling bewilder-
ment peculiar to people just aroused
from sleep, he alighted.
Speedviile was rather large sized
village, situated at the junction ol
several railways, with an imposing
American gothic structure. for q depot
Into the building Mr.. Verley walked
looking right and left for the young
lady whose guardianship he was tc
assume.
'.Or course" he responded mentally
Z .'she'll be on the lookout for me wo
men are proverbially curious
: But Harold VerIey's daughter wa!
not on the lookout for her uncle
When the crowd incident to the even
ing train had subsidized, and the peo
pie had gone their different ways, th'
: only remaining occupants o: the depo
e were Mr.. Verley, lame old man VIII
y sold peanuts and apples, and decen
u colored woman with bright Madra
:, turban on her head, who took care O
!. the building. Verley, after perplex
5 ed hesitation, addressed himself to tn
y colored woman who was busy polish
: ing the windows with piece of crum
= pied newspaper.
:, "Ahem! was TO meet my nice
u here, and l don't see her."
= Your niece, sir; what is her name
e ''Verley."
,r so! yes sir she has been here thi
e, two hours, bless her dear heart, she
u asleep now"
3 Asleep gasped Mr.. Verley, br
a the stewardess answered him by burs
al ing into the inner apartment and brins
l. ing out what appeared to be q cOmpa'
% bundle with pink face at one en-
q. and mass Of trailing embroidery I
I'd the other.
at Joseph Verley recoiled as far as Il
"a angle Of the door would permit him.
m "Why-it's baby"
~ ssTo be sure it is," said the woma