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 2"
"No. DON'T" said the old bachelor,
decidedly.
lie was something Of hear to answer
so crus,ily. when Barbara Smith stood in
the doorway with the shadowy lashes droop.
ing over the soft brown eyes, and the ro-
ses deepening into deep carmine or 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 Of her eighteen Summers,
| and the soft sigh that fut,ered 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 fancied Mr.. Verley du-
ring his brief stay at her fathers house.
Mr.. Verlcy drove away through the
rus,ling green drapcries Of the Summer
lanes, whistling sadly as he drove.
Il shall be in very good time for the
II 80 train he meditated to himself.
'Punctuality 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 l am thirty-nine TO- NOR
row. and that is just twenty gears too old
for me to 60 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 opened letter.
the subj ject again occurred to his mind with
curious persistence.
The letter Of my poor brothers exeeu-
tor came just in time. or should certain
ly have fooled away more time than would
have been sensible. or at least 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? l never did understand q
woman's ways, and what's moro don,
want to. l am to meet her at Speedville
aud take her home with me. Oh =
groaned Mr.. Verley. despairingly. 'Wha,
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 not,
an Italian lover, talking sentiment to her
"A creature that reads Byron, and keeps
an album and eats slate pencils and chalk
Ill send her to q boarding school-tha,'s
what I'll do with my niece Perhaps when
she has graduated there. the school mas.
ter can suggest some means of getting rid
OF her. Of course she'll have q dozen
large trunks. aud bonnet box. and par.
rot cage; that's the way women travel,
believe. Pm glad am out Of the way oi
Barbara's fascinations now
Mr.. Verley looked out Of the car wind.
ow. in a sort of calm desperation at The
prospect before him.
i suppose she'll want rtano and q
poodle dog. and there's no knowing wha,
else. do not see why Harold wanted tc
die and leave his daughter TO my care jus,
now. SPeedville station. tweuty-scveu
miles farther; l wish it was twenty seven
hundred miles, that's what / wish
And with vindictive statement in his
mind cur hero tied red hs nd kerchief over
his head. and tried to lose himself in Sc
ries Of brief. troublesome dreams, where
in the vision Of \ tall. nice young lady rig.
ured conspicuoasly.
Arc We here already ? he stammered
startirg 10 bis feet. as the conductor growl.
cd out 'Spcedville station 2 and scisir 4
valisc aud travelling shawl, with the bust.
ling bewilderment peculiar to people jus,
aroused ftOm sleep. he a,ighted.
Speedvil!e was rather q large sized vii.
lase. situated at the junction of severa
railways. with an imposing American
Gothic structure for depot Into the
building Mr.. Verley walked. looking righ
and left for the yoang lady whose guar,
dianship he vas to assume
'ofcoursc.' be responded mentally. .shs
will be on the lookout for me; women or,
proverbially curious
Bus Harold verley's daughter was no,
on the lookout for her unele. When ths
crowd Incident TO the evening train bed
sabsided. and the people bad goae thei,
ditersnt ways. the only remaining occa.
pants Of the depot were Mr.. verley, ,
lame old man sho sold peanuts anifap.
pies, aud . decent colored woman with l
bright Madras turban on her head, whs
t0ok care Of the huitdiny vsri.v '.f,.,