Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-12-22
HOW He READ IT.

Although it was bachelors estab-
lihhment, there were few mansions
handsomer than Mr.. Rowland Cole
mans, and many were the feminine
hearts who would not have been at all
averse to transform the imposing stoue
front and its rows of plate glass windows,
ainst which the almost priceless lace
curtains fell in foamy grace, into para
disc that should not be @ bachelors
paradise.
Everything was faultlessly handsome
inside, furnished with an exquisite finish
of detail that denoted the refined taste
of the owner.
People wondered-and nad been won
dering for twenty years-why Mr.. Cole
man did not marry.
Forty-eight found him portly- not
too portly-gentleman, with fine frank
face, adorned by thick, dropping white
moustache, bright laughing eyes, as
dark as we'll could be, and thick luxuri-
ant grey hair-a handsome, independent
gentleman who had all his life liked his
bachelor life, and his bachelor home
that was so gracefully presided over by
IAAo HldONCu WllO IhCu UuG lhtIleS
remarkably well, but who had never
been convinced he could love any one
as he believed o wife should be loved,
unless we except little May Dean, whose
blue eyes had once or twice been lifted
to look at this wonderful rich, handsome
gentleman, who was Mrs. Anderson s
brother, and Mrs. Anderson was one of
those genuine high-bred ladies' who was
not ashamed to condescend to be warm,
true friend to May Deans mother, even
if Mrs. Dean did do her plain sewing for
her.
May had several times seen Mr.. Cole
man, and once or twice he had taken
especial notice of her, rather enjoying
her unconscious awe of him, and very
much admiring her undeniable gentle
sweetness Of manner, movement and
voice.
He had come to find himself thinking
frequently about her, 80 frequently that
he had been obliged to bring himself to
account for presuming to give seconds
thought to the insane probability of @
little blossom like blue.eyed May Dean
caring for him--old enough to be her
father.
Mr.. Coleman sat In his library alone
such magnificent, imposing room ii
was, with Its high ceiling, its niches
where statues of all the great scholars
and statesmen stood, its rows of shelves
reaching to the ceiling, it's long central
table, its other tiny tables where low,
pleasant-looking chairs were drawn up,
ito avuaar,inO ctro,a,, 1orooel, o,,rkos,,, ~
carpet like huge bed of emerald moss.
h. Mrs. Anderson had gone out TINT
night, and Mr.. Coleman was thoroughly
revelling in the prospect of long un-
disturbed evening, when q servant rap.
ped at the door, with note on silver
salver.
Mr.. Coleman took it rather abstract
edly, for notes were of such common oc.
currence with him, and, besides, he was
already impatient to be in the dry details
of some projected improvement in one
of his big, fourishing factories-an i'm.
provement that would be appreciated by
the hundreds of girl operatives he en-
ployed.
So he took the note rather indifferent.
ly until he saw the name subscribed in
full" May e. Dean"
just little look of surprise same into
his eyes, and there was Just the merest
possible acceleration in his steady pulses
not enough to make perceptible tremor
in his hands-as he read the communica-
ton
"DBAR Mr.. CoLEMAN,-I have nc
doubt but that you will be very much
astonished when you find have taken
the liberty Of writing to you; but what
I wanted to say 1 thought I had better
write. Please do not be angry with me
for venturing as I have done. am moi
sure that I am doing right in telling you
all I do; but I have thought it over and
over, and have come to the conclusion
that / will. OF course you know how
poor mamma and I are-how she has to
sew, and how I have been employed in
Mrs. Emmett's family with the children
from nine till three; but she has dis.
charged me and sent the children to O
regular school, and, Mr.. Coleman,