The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-09-25
A BACHELoR's STORY.

1880 - iF efIf-z-
1 am an old bachelor. Al sfi22ty-fi4ie
/ can say l shall never be anything
else; but, like all other men-aIl /
have ever met, at least-I have loved,
and hope to be happy with my chesen
bride. - s-r.-'.e hatff.
That passion, and those hopes,
faded forty years ago. Since then /
have done penance for the hasty act
of one night. l have shunned the So
ciety of women, and forbade myself
the shadow Of a hope that might
patch my shattered joys with new
ones. -.
To none WEo knew me have l eyer
told the tale. / should have been es-
teemed a liar, or a mailman, and no
one would willingly accept such
reputation. To you, unknown read
er, dare recite the eYents of those
four and twenty honrs-events which
turned my life into its now Well-Worn
channel, and made the lonely, helpless
man am. - -.
At the age Of twenty-four I was
clerk in the establishment of Messrs.
Carp & Cavil, lawyers. I had energy
and ambition, health and opportunity
Everything, in fact, that could be
wished for by 3 man who hoped to
fight his way up in the world and win
wealth and reputation. 49, s..sf....
was engaged to a young lady by
the name of Grace Hunter, q pretty,
delicate creature, so quiet that her pet
name, Snowflake, seemed to, be the
only one suitable for her. Her step
was noiseless, her movements soft,
her voice sweet and low. She never
herself entertained a large company.
by :her conversation, nor did any OF
those things that give woman a
reputation for brilliancy but her
mental powers were very fine, and in
tete-a-tete she was enchanting. A
lady to the hearts core, in my eyes,
at least, perfect beauty, she might
yet have been forgotten by most men
in a. room full of giggling, chatting
l adored her. / had felt that her
love was jewel worthy of an en-
peror's wearing, and scarcely dared
to utter the wOrds that told her all i
felt. Even now her high bred reserve
kept me at 8 distance. was proud
of her. Irfelt unworthy of her. She
was at once the saint whom j reVered,
and the being W hom It was to be my
delight to cherish and to protect until
death should part us. ,,laasoI. -.
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 had small salary, but
my grandmother had left 8 legacy
which, would enable me to, go to
housekeeping in plain but comforta-
BILE style, and Grace was willing to
fight life's battles by my side. 49, ls..sl
Life seemed bright and joyous to
me on that night of midwihter, forty
years ago, when I walked throNgh the
city streets with Grace uponimy ysarm,
and looking down at her In her white
Wrappings, with CLEANS of frosty star
light touching her black hair, Won
dered if the eiangelsa were fairer. than
she W2s.i lsf aE0 tts8 v59aaGas ua
We were going tospend1the even
ing at q mutual friend'sJ residence.
There was to be music and dancing
and cards, and social suppers went
because Grace desired to go.io 1t.AslI
Her sole society at her own home
was more delightful tome, thar any
other company; but was young and
light Of heart, and when i had once
entered the lighted parlorsi I did not
sit silent in the corner. .su bnLse4la
I talked iIcsang / turned the mu-
sic for musical oladies / walked
through the Laneiers. AT last / found
myself flirting with one of the female
guests. a3lo 81 Hood 5HFd sc fw
There are women q man is obliged
to afirC with He does not admire
them, respect them, or love them one
sl.aSs .l<Nos . Il,
society; but he must be more than
man ere he can refuse to respond to
their advances One of these women
] know now, having played the look
er-On for so many years, can make
perately in love with her, while he
almost detests her. "A, woman of that
kind was among the company. She
had hands that delighted in soft
touches of hands masculine - eyes
that could cast glanees bright and en-
4rancing. She possessed attraction
rather than beauty. What she said
was nothing; her conversation had
no interest, but knew that / seemed
absorbed by her-that 1 really was
absorbed in two words, that l f1irted
abominabiy with her. <. ..i''.
Grace, mean while, sat apart from
me. She talked to others in her low,
sweet tones. Once she sang 3 pretty
long song. Quite calm and self-pos-
sessed, with no appearance of noticing
my conduct, the thought that It trou-
bled her never occurred to me. So
that when the evening was over, and
we had left the house together, was
astonished beyond measure to see an
offended look upon her face, and to
hear an offended tone in her voice. /
offered my arm. She rejected it, re-
plying that the ground was damp,
and that her hands were occupied
with her dress, but 1 knew that this
was merely an excuse aud feeling
myself in the wrong, and having
swallowed more wine than / should
at the supper table, l grew very an
CRY.
"May ask what 1 have done ?"
said.
"You know" said Grace.
81 knowl" l repeated. "Nay,
know nothing OF. woman's fancies.
You must explain"
al scarcely think it worth While," /"
said she. 'sIf you do not know that
you have done wrong tonight, I really
should not care. You have neglected
me and devoted yourself to that vul-
gar woman. i heard a lady near me
say that you seemed to be tired of
your bargain. She thought that you
were in love with that creature. So
did other people. Under the circum-