The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-14
the TWO BACHELORS.
PART II.
From Chambers Journal.l

jacks reverie, a change had certainly
come over him, but as yet he left me un.
informed as to the cause. Sometimes
his old gayety would return, but it was
sure to be followed by a ft of more
sombre silence than before. I chaffed
him about it often, but his testy replies
invariably shut me up. We never met
Miss Hallam. and the only times we
ever saw her was in the morning among
her flowers, or in the evening, when, al
ter having ravished us with her music,
on her fathers arm, to enjoy the moon
light. On such occasions Jack seemed
strangely affected, and would either
break forth into voluminous praises OF
her grace and loveliness, or sit gazing
mutely at the apparition. Such state
OF affairs led me naturally enough to the
conclusion that whatever might be the
matter of Ferrars, the fair cantatrice
had something to do with it.
One afternoon we resolved to have a
row down the loch, and as / crossed the
lawn, with an oar over each shoulder, /
chanced to glance at Colonel Hallam's s
window, where the two ladies were seat
ed sewing. The younger one was scan
ming me with halt-amused expression in
her brown eyes; and as Jack came saun-
/ w -
in each pocket, quietly said:
"Miss Hallam's at the window"
| He looked in the direction indicated,
and, to my surprise, he immediately
blushed up like girl.
| "Why, Jack, old fellow, what is the
matterH i asked, with smile could
not repress. Miss Hallam was viewing
us with the aid Of an opera-slass.
"Psnaw, Harding, get on board quick,
and row as well as you can," he an
swered, throwing himself in the stern of
the boat, in position where the sun
| shine struck forcibly on his handsome
| face and auburn locks.
bent as gracefully as could to my
oars-l had been fair oarsman at Cam
bridge-and soon the little craft was
skmming far over sunlit ripples.
AS it was still early when we returned,
we strolled down the road until il would
be time TO 60 in for dinner, when, turn
ing corner, we came suddenly upon
Miss Hallam and her father, mounted on
a couple of splendid grays. AS she can
| tered past us with a smile, her beautiful
face lighted with the exercise, certain
ly thought l bad never seen any one half
SO lovely. Her perfect form, the grace of
every fold oil her dark green riding habit,
the indescribable coils and twists of her
brown hair with the sunshine shading il
to gold, the coquettish little felt hat
turned up on one side, with it's dancing
plume and streaming gossamer-com-
blned to make up charming tout ensena-
bic, which was altogether irresistible.
Jack had stared after her in open
mouthed admiration for such an indecent
length of time, that felt constrained to
accuse him.
"Ferrars, you admire Miss Hallam,"
said.
He had his head bent, ana was kicking
the dead leaves with his feet as he
walked. When he raised his blue eyes,
they were filled with the expression Of a
passion had never noticed in them be-
fore, and which fully corroboraied the
four words he uttered, as his eyes met
mine: II do love herp
Strange as it may seem was thunder
struck at the announcement. Much as
had noted the change in Ferrars, had
hesitated to ascribe it to the circum-
stances OF his being in love. protested
and ragged against such tolly-falling in
love with a lady with whom he had never
exchanged a single word. For answer,
passionate confession was poured into
my astonished ears, In which he vowed
he must and would win her. Matters
were made considerably worse when we
received our letters that evening in
forming us OF business engagements
requiring our immediate return to town.
1t would be impossible for us to remain
more than three days, longer.
"Humph! your time is rather limited,
Ferrars,v L said, with more sarcasm
than sympathy. "You'll be pretty
sharp fellow IL you woo aud win hand
some girl in three days."
Tire next morning he came down ia
breakfast looking pale and haggard.
don't believe he mad slept all night, but
| made no inquiries, as felt annoyed al
and was altogether out OF temper WITH
this adventure OF his. He ate
| little or no breakfast, ant
looked SO detected that at last my sym
pathies were aroused, and l shouted
| cheerlully: eCheer up, old fellow
we'll manage iJ all beautifully, AM
you'll go up to London the accepted
suitor OF Miss Hallam."
Gradually he became more animated
and began to talk, aud finally quit,
shocked me by saying that he was gUin,
TO write and propose to Miss Hallan
that very day. 1 considered him to b.
simply mad, but he had apparently
thought it well over, and was deter
| m1neQ WnaC course TO ADOPT.
"But Jack, the thing is .preposterous,' ?
argued;"sh knows nothing about you
Can you expect anything but distinc
refusalY
"And what would you recommend? p
he asked, curling his upper lip as b
waited Tor my advice.
"Why, get introduced to her first, an,
wait at least until you know her littl
before you make such proposal"
said.
"Have I not been waiting for the las
1 two monthsW ne answered. "And d
you forget that in TWO days must leav
this placer There is no time for waltin
now; it must be action, immediate AM
peremptory."
Sand are you quite determined to do
this--th--thingT
| "Quite."
| "And will nothing persuade you tha
| ii Is an extremely foolish action, an
one which will be certain to defeat al
your wishesf"
"Under the circumstances consfde
| it the only thing to be DONE"
| Isuccumbed. In difficulties of di
ferent nature he had proved bette
diplomatIst than l, and pefchance hi
skill might extend to this department
also. a
swell, IL it must be action as you sa,
it must. action let it be; you must writ
your proposal" said, pulling out th
writing materials with alacrity. an