Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-08-21
AN OLD BACHELORS STORY.

am m old bachelor. AT sixty-fve
can say ! shall never lie anything ell,
willie Eve; but. like all other mcn-alI
] have ever met, at least--I have loved
and hoped to be happy with my ehoscr
bride.
That passion, those hopes, faded forty
years sgo. Since then have done pen.
nncc for the has'y nc. Of one night; have
Stunned the society Of women, and for.
babe myself the shadow Of hope that
might patch my ta,tcred joys with new
ones.
To none who knew me have I ever told
the tale. ! should have been esteemed a
liar. or q mailman, and no one would vii.
lingiy accept such reputation.
To you, unknown reader, dare rccitc
the events Of those four and twenty hours
events which turned my life into its
now wel!-worn channel, aud made me the
lonely. hopeless man am.
Al the age Of twenty-four I was clerk
in the establishment of Mcssrs. Carp &
Cavil. lawyers.
l had energy and ambition, health and
orportunty-evetything. in fact, that
could be wished for by man who hoped
to fight his way up in the world and win
wealth and reputation.
was engaged TO young lady bv the
name Of Grace Hunter. a pretty. delicate
creature. so quiet that her pet name,
wfkc, seemed the only ono suitable
for her.
Her step was noiselcss. her movements
soft. her voice sweet aud low.
She never herself entertained a large
company by her conversation. nor did any
Of those things that give a woman the rep
utation for bril,jancy; hut her mental pow
.rs were very cue, aud III u-teic she
was enchanting.
A lady to the hearts core. in my eyes
Mt least, a perfect beauty. she might yet
have been forgotten by most men in a
room full Of gig.lipg chatting girls.
aiorcd her had felt that her love
was jewel worthy Of IN cnpSrors wear
ing. and hai scarcely dared to utter the
words that told her all felt.
Even now her high bred reserve KEEP;
me at a little distance.
was proud Of l.cr. l felt unworthy of
her
She was a, once the saint whom I rev.
cred. and the being whom i; was TO be.my
delight to cherish and protec; until death
should par; Us.
Six months hai passed since she had
promised TO be mine. At the end of six
more she was tn give me her hand.
had n small salary. but my grand
mother had left NE legacy which would
enable me 20 so 10 housekeeping in plain
hut comfortable styc, aud Grace was will
lirC to Ggh, liic's battles by NY side.
Life seemed bright aud joyous to me on
night Of nidwinter. forty years 20 when
walked through the city streets with
Grace upon my arm. and looking down at
her in her white wrappincs. with CLEANS
Of frosty starlight touching her black hair.
wondered if the angels were fa;rer than
shc was.
We were going to spend the evening al
utualfricnGs residence.
There was to be music. dancing and
cards, and social supper. wen, be.
cauSe Grace desired to 20.
Her sole society at he: own home wa.
more delightful to me than any other
company; bu, was young ani Egh, q
heart, aud when had once entered th,
lighted parlors | did no; sit sileu, in th,
corner
I talked; sang; turned the musi,
for musical ladies: walked through tn,
I.ancers. At last | found myself hit,iug
with ono of the female guests
There arc women Il man is obliged I,
firt with.
He does not admire them, respect them
or love them one whit: he does rot eve:
desire their society; but he must be NOR,
than n man ere he can refuse TO respon,
20 their advances. One of these women
know now. having played the looker-o
for SO many years. can make any man az
PEAR TO other women desperately in Low
with her while he almost dc,ests her.
A woman Of ,ha, kind was among ,h
company. She had hands that delishte
in scfi touches Of hands masculine, eye
that could cast glanees bright and cnchan'
ing. She possessed attractions rather tia
beauty.
What she said was nothing; her eonvei
sation bad no interest. but knew SCENE
absorbed by her-,hat | really was at
sorbed: in two words, that airted aboa
inably with her.
Grace. meanwhile. sat apart from me
She talked to others in her low, swet
tones. Once she sang pretty love sons
Quite calm and self-posscssed. with u
appearance Of noticing my conduct, sh