The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-23
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A BAcHELoR's STORY.

Il AW hn Olu OACnetoIs NJ % eau say
1 shall never be anything else; but like
all other men-all that I ever met at
lsast-I have loved and hoped to be hap
py with my chosen bride. 49, ~.
That passion and those hopes faded for.
tyyears ago. Since then Ihaye done
pennance for the haSty act Of one night.
l have Stunned the society Of women,
and forbade myself the shadow Of hope
that might patch my shattered joys
with new ones.
To none who knew me have ever told
the tale. / should have been esteeued
. liar or a mailman, and no one would
willingly accept such reputation. To
you unknown reader, l dare recite the
events Of those four and twenty hours
events which turned my life into its
well.worn channel, and made me the lone
Iy, hopeless man that i an. fa
At the age Of 24I WA clerk in the of
fee Of Messrs. Carp & Cavil, lawyers. I
had energy and ambition, health and OPP
portuuity, everything in fact that could
be wished for man who hoped TO fght
his way up in the world and win wealth
and reputation:
: / was engaged to . young lady by the
name Of Grace Hunter, n pretty, delicate
creature, SO quiet that her name, Snow.
fake" seemed 10. be the only one
suitable 10 her. Her step was noiseless,
her movements soft, her voice sweet aud
low. She never herself entertained
large company by her conversation, nor
did any Of those things which gave NO.
man reputation for brilliancy; but her
mental powers were very fine, and in a tete
a tete she was enchanting, A lady to the
beart's core, In my eye at least Il perfect
beauty, she might have been forgotten by
most men in 3 room full Of gigglipg
girls.
q jewel worthy Of an emperor's wearing,
and scarcely dared to utter the words
that told her all ] felt. Even now her
high bred reserve kept me at distance.
| was proud Of her. She was at once the
saint whom il was 10 be my delight TO
cherish and protect until death should US
part. -,
SIX months had passed away since she
had promised to be mine. At the end oil
six months more she was TO give me her
hand. I had small salary, but my
grandmother had left me legacy which
would enable me to go to housekeeping
In a plain comfortable style, and Grace
was willing to 6ght LIES battles by my
side. ...
Lille seemed bright and joyous to me
on that night Of mid winter forty years
ago, when I walked through the city
streets with Grace upon my arm, and
looking down at her In her white wrap.
pinV,, with streams Of frosty starlight
Touching her black hair, wondering il the
angels we're faiier than she was.
We we're going 10 spend the evening at
a mutual, friends residence: There was
TO be music and dancing and cards and
social supper. l went because Grace
desired TO go.
Her sole society at her own home was
more delightful 10 me than any other
com pany; but l was young aud light OF
heart, and when / had once entered the
lighted parlors did not sit silent In the
/ talked, I sang, turned the. music for
musical Young ladies, | walked through
The lancers. Al lat | found myself airt
ipy with one Of the female guests.
There are wom,n man Is obliged to
airt with. He does not admire them or
love them one whit; be does not even de-
sire their society; but he must be even
more than man ere be can refuse 10 re-
Ispond 10 their advances. OGe Of these
SGmen now know, having been look
al. on for 90 many yeara, can make any
man appear desperately in love with her,
when he almost detesls her. A woman
Iof that kind was in the company. She
had hands that delighted in the soft
touches Of hands masculine; eyes ihat
could cast glances bright and enhancing
she possesIed attractions rather than
Ibeauiy. What she said was nothing, her
conversation had no interest, but know
Iseemed absorbed by her-that l really
was absor bed; in two words, ! hirted ao'
ominably with her.
Grace, meanwhile sat apart from me
and talked to others in her low sweet
ton.s. Once che sang pretty love song.
ooite calm and teli.possessed, with no
anne rsnce Of noticing my conduct, the
thought that It troubled her never occur
red 10 me, so that when the evening was
o,er and va had left the house together,
T ga astonished beyond measure TO see
an offended look upon her lace and hear
an offended tone.in her voice. offered
hhr INV arm. She rejected il, replying
that The ground was damp and that her
bands were occupied with her dFe't; but
Iknew that this was merely aprete1t,
and feeling myself in the wrong, and hay,
Inc swnllowed more wine than lshould
at The supper table, grew very angry,
1lGM May ask whatl have done!' SAID
~ You know" said Grace. t
~ know / repeated. Nay, | know
nothing OF woman's!ianoies. You must
Il scarcely think itworth WHILE" said
aha 1IfIyou do not know that yon have
done wrong 10 night, ] really should not
care, You nave utkaeS1Su
voted yourself to that vulgar woman. l
heard lady near me say that you seem
Id tired Of your bargain. She thought
inf Won we're 10 love with that creature,
So did other people. Under The Sircq9'
s,apces have u right to feel offended
insulted,"
= Perhap. she thought would deny her
charge Perhaps she expected me to
pIeaS for pardon. God only knows
what possessed me. l answered her
"May I not talk to a pretty woman
because l hope to marry you some
S"2You were airting-almost making
love 10 her." abe replied. ',;,ag
GGshe Ia the sort OF woman with whom
men iall in love-" 1 replied i''irresistiole
in her manner, I've heard che makes
eonaues,s everywhere don't doubt IL!
Grace looked at me with stern lace
white in the starlight as marble
statue. -, ,..io,. =,
such women" added. ,oi7,,,
nj am not Jealous Of her." she said
ar would not be like her Tor Kingdom
She il a terrible woman. But since you
admire her %, you are free to tell her 20
I IL