Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-06-26
THE BACHELORS DILEMMA.

"And don't you know when you will
pass through this part of the country again,
Mr. Verley?'
No. DON'T" said the old bachelor,
decidedly.
lie was something Of bear to answer
50 crus,ily, when Barbara Smith stood in
the doorway with the shadowy lashes droop-
ing over the soft brown eyes. and the ro-
-scs deepening into deep carmine on her
ROSY checks, until her dress was plain in
comparison. Such pretty, big eyed low
ing little Barbara as she was, in all the
blonde freshness ofh her eighteen Summers,
and the soft sigh that futtercd from her
lips as the onc-horse carriage drove away.
was checked instantly. Barbara had no
idea Of becoming victim of unrcquited
love. though she fancicd Mr.. Vcrley du-
ring H. brief stay at her fathers house.
Mr.. Ncrlcy drove away through the
rus,ling green drapcries of the Summer
lanes, whi>ting sadly as he drove.
Il shall be in very good time for the
I II SO train ~ mcditatcd to himself =
'Punctuali,y IS the soul of happiness. and
never was one Of the behind tribe, thank
Providence Besides. think it was be.
coming dangerous TO remain in that place
any longer; for am tLrty-nine to-mor.
row. and that is just twenty years too old
for me to 60 making fool of myself
Fancy me getting. married No 20,
don't Joseph Verley. my friend" "
As he settled himsel! comfortably in tn,
crowded railway car. aud opened letter
the subject again occurred to his mind will
curious persistence.
The letter of my poor brothers cxeeu
tor came just in time. or should certain
ly have fooled away more time than w"ul'
have been sensible. or at least profitable.
Poor. dear Harold ;. | don't see wha
on earth possessed him to fall sick and di
on the way home FROM Venice, and leav
his daughter? never did understand
wcman's ways. and what's moro | don
want to. am 10 NEE, her at Spcedvll
and take her home with me. Oh
groaned Mr.. Vcrley. despairingly. 'Whu
am to do with her there, Id like to know
| suppose she's great creature with ring
lets and ribbons. and has. just like as no,
an Italian lover. talking sentiment to he
; a creature that reads Byron. and kecr
t an album and eats slate pencils and chall
4 I'll send her to a boarding school-that
what I'll do with my niece Perhaps whe
: she has graduated there. the school ma
ter can suggest some means of getting ri
Of her. OF course she'll have doze
large trunks. and bonnet box. and pa
!. rot cage; that's the way women travel,
5. believe. I'm glad | am ou, Of the way
Barbara's Vaccinations now
Mr.. Vcrley looked out Of the car wine
ow. in a sort Of calm desperation at Il
prospect before him.
i suppose she'll want piano and
poodle dog. and there's no knowing wh
! else. do not see Why Harold wanted
, die aud leave his daughter to my care ju
;. now. Speedville station, twenty-sev,
= miles farther; | wish it was twenty sew
" hundred miles. that's what wish
T. And with vindictive statement in |
: mind our hero tied a red handkerchief ov
his head. and tried TO lose himself in $
rics of brief. troublesome dreams, wher
in the vision of tall, nice young lady &
urcd conspicuously.
Are We here already 2 he stammcre
rs starting 10 his feet. as the conductor grow
cd out 'Speedville station : and sci.i
valisc and travelling shawl. with the bu
Z. ling b,wilderment peculiar to people j.
ed aroused froa sleep. he aligh.ed.
y. er Speedvil!e was rather \ large-siscd '
lage. situated at the junction of seve
railways. with an imposing Amerie
Gothic structure for depot Into ,
building Mr.. Verley walked. looking ril
and left for the young lady whose Gu
dianship he was TO assume.
.Ofconrse.' he responded mentally. :.
= will be on the lookout for me; women
prcverbialiy curious
Blu, Harold ferley's daughter was
on the lockout for her uncle. When
= crowd iuciden, 20 the evening train !
en- subsidized. and the people had gone th
i've different ways. the only remaining &C
pants Of the depo, werc Mr.. verley,
lame old man who sold peanuts and
y, pies. aud decent colored woman wit
bright Madras ,urban on her head, Y
took care Of the building. vcrlcy. .,
reTplcxed hesitation addressed him