Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-08
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A BACHELORS STORY.

I am an old bachelor. At sixty-6ve
| can say shall never be anything else
but like all other men all that | have
ever met, at least--I have loved, and
hoped to be happy with my chosen bride.
That passion and those hopes faded
forty years ago. Since then | have done
penanee for the hasty act of one night.
| have Stunned the society of women,
ard forbade myself the shadow of hope
that | might patch my shattered joys
with new ones
To none who knew me have I ever
told the tale. should have been es-
teemed liar or mailman, and no one
would willingly accept such reputa-
ton. To you, unknown reader, | dare
recite the events of these four and
twenty hours-events which turned my
life into its well-worn channel, and made
Inc the lonely, hopeless man | am.
AT the age of twenty-four was a
clerk in the establishment of Messrs
Carp & Cavil, lawyers. l had energy
and ambition, health and opportunity
everything, in fact, that could be wished
for by man who hoped to fight his way
up in the world, and win wealth and
reputation.
was engaged to a young lady by the
name of Grace Hunter, a pretty, deli
cate creature. SO quiet that her pet name,
Snowflake, seemed to be the only one
suitable for her. Her step was noise
less, her movements soft, her voice sweet
and low. She never herself entertained
large company by her conversation,
nor did any of those things that give q
woman a reputation for brilliancy but
her mental powers we're very fine, and in a
tete a tete she was enchanting. A lady to
the hearts core, in my eyes at least, q
perfect beauty, she might have been for
gotten by most men in a room full Of
gigglng, chatting girls.
| adored her. felt that her love
was 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 q
distance. | was proud of her. She
was at once the saint whom | revereC
and the being whom it was to be my de.
light to cherish and protect until deatl
should us part.
Six months had passed since she had
promised to be mine. At the end of six
more she was to give me her hand.
had a small salary, but my grandmother
had left me legacy which would enable
me to 90 to housekeeping in plain bu
comfortable style, and Grace was willing
to fight life's battles by my side.
Life seemed bright and joyous to INC
on that night of mid-winter forty years
ago, when | walked through the city
streets with Grace upon my arm, and
looking down at her in her white wrap
pings, with streams Of frosty starlight
touching her black hair, wondered if the
angels we're fairor than she was.
We were going to spend the evening
at mutual friends residence. There
was to be music and dancing and cards
and sociable supper. | went because
Grace desired to go.
Her sole society at her own home was
more delightful to me than any Other
company but was young and ligb,
of heart, and when | had once entered
the lighted parlors | did not sit silent il
the corner.
talked, ] sang / turned the music
for musical ladies'; l walked through the
lanccrs At last l found myself flirting
with one Of the female guests
There are women a man is obliged 10
hirt with. He docs not admire them OF
love them one whit; he does not even
desire their society; but he must be even
more than man ere he can refuse to re-
spoud to their advances. One Of these
wonel now know, having been locker
on for so many years, can make any man
appear desperately in love with her,
sfen he almost dotests her. A woman
Of lat kind was among the company
She bad hands that delighted in soft
touches Of hands masculine eyes that
could cast glaDces bright and enhancing
She possessed attraction rather than
beauty What she said was nothing
her conversation had no interest, but
kaew that seemed absorbed by her