The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-11-25
My Uncle was a Bachelor.

"You have often wondered, George:
why it is I have never marricd--won-
dered, and most probably rejoiced,
for at my death, you know, the old
place will come to you, as it came to
me, free of debt or encumbrance, l
suppose you have attributed my con-
firmed bachelorhood to some disap-
pointment in love in early life, eh :?
| Alb, we'll I'll tell you the whole
story. 1t may serve as warning to
yop, was going to say, only | do not
believe in one mans experience being
of Sany use to another. And as to
watning bah ! they never save. But
II ain in retrospective mood tonight
|if Sou caro- to hear the story you
Ny uncle George and I wore stay
ing up at Barlnig, a small fishing place
of his in the Highlands, to we resort
ed Regularly twice a year, for about a
fortnight, in pursuit of salmon. l had
lost my father wheu l was about four
wears old, and since that time. his
brother, had been my father in all
but tho name. Indeed, / think we
were fonder of each other than faith
crs and sons usually are in these
days.
it had always been awonder to me,
and to every one else,. that Uncle
George had never married. Some
people declared that he had been
naaelessly in love with the beautiful
Duchess DC, and that it was for
her sake he had hiptcd at some en-,
taglement; while some maintained
boldly that Sir George Wyville was
married, and that I, his nephew, and
heir presumptivey in the eyes of the
world, should look very foolish some
day on the baronetcy and Wyville
castle being claimed by the son iofmy
Iunclo's old college bed-maker.
But to all these stories l turned a
deaf ear. l know enough of Uncle
Georgey.to feel sure there was not Q
shadow Of truth in any Of them. My
uncle often spoke of the Duchess de
- as (what she was) one of the
bandsomest women and most finished
coquettes of her day. But Ifelt GER
! tain no never cared for her, he would
not have talked SO much about her if
| he had. Ard as to an entanglement
or q seeret, marriage, why, I knew all
my uncle's affairs as we'll as ! knew
those of Charlie Baynsford, my bosom
friend and brother officer, who had
been eazetted an ensign and lieuten'
ant in the 5th Foot Guards the same
day as myself, about two months be-
fore. No whatever reason mysuncle
may have had for remaining single,
it was one he had carefully guarded
from the, whole world. I was glad
that / was going to hear it at last.
IrefiIled my glass with whisky and
water, lit my pet pipe, about the col
; oring of which l was so anxious, ano
drawing my chair nearer to the fire
prepared to listen in comfort.
II was about thirteen, George
when I, first saw Nora O'Byrne.
was at Eaton, then, and she was
hower-girl in the streets of Windsor
1 he first day I ever saw her-I re
member it as we'll as if it were yes
\ terday-it was a bitterly cold after
noon, and she was standing outside
the then only, hotel in the place sell
| ing violets. To this hour canno
stand seeing agirl selling violets il
the street. L gave her all the money
I had in my pocket, aud my hear
with it. 1t is no use attempting tt
describe her. All descriptions of he
real beauty are futile. She was sim
ply the loveliest child, as she was Iai
Z forwards the loveliest woman, Love
beheld. Day after day / used. to Sc
her, l eontrived to meet her quietly
I did all I could for her. and il wen
to my heart to feel that I could do S
little. l used to give her food, clotf
ing was of no use giving, for he
I mother took it away directly, on
q pawned to buy gin. 55.i ~, 2ei
'aI need scarcely tell you that Nor
was nc, common beggar-girl. He
father had been q well-to.do workma
: and during his lifetime she had bee
4 to school, and had learned to. rea
! and write; but after his death sh
s1had been reduced to beggary thfoug
Thar 11other,a }fatal propensity fc