Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-10-23
A BACHELORS STORY.

IAN an old bachelor At sixty five
can say shall never be anything else
but, like all other men-all I have ever
met, at least have loved, and hoped tc
be happy with my chosen bride.
That passion and those hopes faded
forty years ago, Since then have done
penance for the TASTY act of one night.
have Stunned the society of women, and
forbade myself the shadow OF d hope that
[ might patch my shattered joys with new
ones.
At the age OF twenty four [ was clerk
IN the establishment of Messrs. Carp &
eCaEil, lawyers. had energy and ambi
ton, health ana pportunity-everyth
IT fact, that could be wished for by man
VINO hoped 70 fight his way up in the
world and win wealth and reputation.
/ was engaged to Grace Hunter, a
pretty, delicate creature, so quiet that her
pet name, Snow flake, seemed to be the
only one suitable for her. Her step was
noiseless, her movements soft, her voice
mellow and low. She never herself en-
tertained large company by her CONVEX
.sation, nor did any one Of those things
that give woman a reputation for bril-
Iancy; but her mental powers were very
0ne7 and IN teteG-tete she was enchant-
Ing a lady TO the hearts core; in my
eyes, at least, q perfect beauty, she might
have been forgotten in a roomful of gig
Cling, chattering girls.
| adOred her. | had felt that her love
WIS jewel worthy Of an emperor's
wearing, and I scarcely dared to utter the
we11s that told her all felt Even now
heriLigh- bred reserve kept me at a dis
lance. | was proud of her | felt I'M
worthy of her. She was at once the saint
whom cevefed, and the being whom it
was SC be NV delight to cherish and pro-
tect until death should part us.
Six months had passed since she had
promised to Be mine. At the end of six
more she was to give me her hand had
e small salary, but my grandmother had
left me legacy which would enable me
TO so to housekeeping in plain but com
Portable style, and Grace was willing to
fight llfn's battles by my side
Life seemed bright and joyous to me o.
that night Of mild winter, forty years
ago, when | walked through the streets
with Grace upon my arm, and looking
down at her III her white wrappings, with
glesMs Of frosty starlight touching her
Wsack hair, wondered if the angels were
fairer than she.
We were going to spend the evening at
a mutual friends residence. There was
70 be music and dancing and cards, and a
sociable supper. [ went because Grace
desired to go.
I talked; l sang; turned the music
for musical ladies; | walked through the
Lancers. At last l found myself flirting
with one of the female guests.
There are women a man is obliged tC
sifirt with He does not admire them, re
spect them, or love them one whit; he
does not even desire their society; but
he must be more than man ere he can re
fuse to respond to their advances. One OF
these women | know now, having played
the locker on for SO many years, can
make any man appear to other wo
men desperately in love with her, while
ne almost detests her. A woman of that
hands that delighted in soft touches OF
hands masculine; eyes that could cast
chances bright and enhancing. She pos
sessed attraction rather than beauty
What she said was nOthin; her converse
ton had no interest, but | knew that
seemed absorbed by her-that [ really
was absorbed; in two words, that | flirt
ed abominably with her.
Grace, meanwhile sat apart from me
She talked TO others in her low, swee
tones. Once she sang pretty love-song
Quite calm and selfpossessed, with NJ
appearance Of noticing my conduct, thu
thought that it troubled her never oc
CURED to me- So that when the evening
was over, and we had left the house to
gether, was astonished beyond measure
60 see an offended look upon her face, ant
to hear an offended tone in her voice.
offered her my arm. She rejected it, re
plying that the ground was damp, ant
that her hands were occupied with he
dress, but knew that this was merel,
an excuse; and feeling myself in tn
wrong, and having swallowed more win
than l should at the supper-table, / grey
very angry.
May I ask what I have done 2"
said.
"You know" said Grace.
Il know repeated. NAY, I knoy
nothing of Homan's fancies. You mus
explain"
she. "If you do not know that you hav
done wrong tonight, l really should nc
care. You have neglected me- and d.
voted yourself to that vulgar woman.
heard lady near me say that you SCENE
10 DE tlreQ OF your Udi gain. oHe tuOuSI
that you were in love with that creature
SO did other people. Under the circun
stances, have right to feel otfe nded, i
sulted'
Perhaps she thought l would deny he
charge. Perhaps she expected me
plead for pardon. God knows what pc
sessed me. answered only:
MAY | not talk to pretty woman b.
cause | hope to marry you some day."
"You were f1irting-almost making low
20 her." she replied.
''She is the sort of woman with whoI
men fall in love-" said "irresistible
her manner, I've heard she makes col
GU SITS everywhere; | don't doubt it,"
Grace looked at me with stern face
white in the starlight as marble statue.
E'Other women are always jealous
such women | added.
IL am not jealous of her." she said. g
would not be like her for kingdom. St
is terrible woman. But since you a.
u,ire her so YOU are free to tell her