Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-10-23
The Old Bachelors Wife.

the bridegroom's face-the beautiful
love-smile on the lip of the bride, and
he had paid his congratulations and
gone his way with q feeling of envy at
his heart.
eff some one only loved me SO we'll, "
he said; If loved some one so. All,
how lonely I am! I have plenty OF
money. numbers of friends who
would not break their hearts, or even
lose their appetites, if I were to be
found dead in my bed any morning.
But want that peculiar affection that
can only be given by the woman who
loves one, or whom one loves. Why
can l not meet with woman who can
inspire such affection? Why can not
feel it as we'll as other men p He had
reached his own door. 1t was late at
night, and the moon was high. Not a
soul was anywhere in sight. He could
do as he pleased, even in that great
city. His own room offered no tempta-
tions to him. He was not sleepy. He
sat down upon the steps of the dwell
ing, and rested his head on his hands.
eff Caroline Croft and T had mar
ried each other twenty years ago, I
might have been very happy oil this
whils," he said. "But that dream
died the death of other dreams, and
she is married to another man, and I
only remember that I loved her now.
No; have not staid single for Caro-
lines sake. No, no! Why have I not
loved, then? Why have I thrilled no
woman's heart? Men palmer than I
do it every day-men not my peers in
anything. If woman loved me, and
I knew it, should certainly love her.
I have heart buried somewhere"
He arose and walked on again, though
the voice of some clock in the neighbor-
hood had sounded the hour of mid
night. No one watched for him; no
one waited for his coming. He was ac-
countable to no one. The time at
which his key should open his front
door was at his own discretion, and
when the heart is restless the steps grow
restless too. He wandered on, taking
little heed OF his course, until he sud-
denly found himself before a gray
church, about which church-yard full
Of venerable stones lay peacefully in
the moonlight.
Long as he had dwelt in the city, he
had never yet seen this spot, and it at
tracted his curiosity.
Opening the iron gate, he entered
the cemetery, and read by the white
moonbeams the black letters on the
stones. The dates which followed were
for the most part those of years so long
gone by that he knew he had not yet
begun to live when these lives ceased;
but it seemed to him that all of them
were married people-beloved wives,
lamented husbands! And in one case
two who had dwelt together in life, in
death were not parted. They slept to-
gether side by side.
It must be happier to die with ones
head upon loving breast" he said.
"It must be sweet to know some one
will weep for us when we are gone: and
if we hope for Heaven to feel sure that
we shall meet true heart here at last,
and live and love forever"
Far away along the street there came
to him at that instant strain of that
music which is sweeter than than that
of any instrument can be-four voices
we'll attuned; one o boys sweet So
prano. Some homeward-going youths
were singing together.
mo one to love. none to caress,
Wandering alone in this lifc's wilderness;
Sad is my heart, joy is unknown,
For In this wide world I'm wandering alone"
He had heard the song before. but
now sung by those clear young voices
in the still midnight it fell upon his ear
with more meaning than it had ever
had before, The tears started to his
eyes.
Fainter and sweeter, as the singers
put still q wider space between himself
and them, their voices fell upon his
ear. mo one to love-" These were
the last words he caught: after that
only faint drift of music that died
away upon the breeze.
"No one to love, he repeated, with
low sigh. "Ahl if some one loved
me as that girl loves Denton, would
give all / have ON earth. I believe I
would give my hopes of heaven-my
soul itself.
"You would, eh ?" said voice close
to his ear. "My friend, I've had more
to do with women than you have, as q
general thing, and I think you offer
too much for just one Of them"
The old bachelor turned with much
confusion toward tho speaker, and saw,
close by him, leaning over a tomb
stone, an elderly gentleman, dressed
from head to foot in black, who was
regarding him with somewhat quiz
zical expression.
"Dear met was I talking to my
selfY' said the old bachelor. 81
really don't know what You must think
Of me, sir; but I've been to wedding
party, and perhaps the champagne has
affected my head. I actually think it
has. IL never talked that way be-
FORE"