The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-07-17
TIE BACHELORS CONFESSION.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES,

l. live In a french nat. VI course there
are objections to French flats. So there are
to most things. l can't afford hotel, and
detest clearinghouse. A bachelor OF
thirty odd, who has been at the mercy OF
clearinghouse keepers all his days can
easily understand that.
So when / engaged suite of rooms
third floor, in French fiat edifce-and ar
ranged my household goods therein, with a
fine lookout over a green dot of park in
front, and the glimmer of the palisades far
away to the rear, above aforest of shipping,
/ considered myself well of.
What is my profession? I haven't any in
particular. l am an artist, and draw little,
daily, in front of my easel 1 contribute to
the press and write when the divine afflatus
seizes me. l read law when | feel like it, and
l draw regular income from a snug little
property lett me by an uncle in India.
Consequently was able to decorate my new
quarters very prettily with Bagdad rugs, old
china dragons, black and gold japanese
screens, and pictures / had picked up at a
bargain.
And when the fire was burning cheerfully
in the CRATE, that first rainy May evening,
the student lamp shining softly on the red
carved table, and the waiter from neigh
boring restaurant had brought in my frugal
dinner of broiled bird, mold of currant
jelly, slice of roast beef, and raspberry
dumping, / considered myself pretty COM
Portable
Upon the Who'll )" said l to myself, 81
rather approve of French flats"
I rang the bell.
The janitor-a respectful, decent sort of
fellow, in round jacket and carpet slippers
answered the summons.
''Janitor," said l, "who occupies the floor
above2"
Nobody, sir" the man answered. "Last
party moved out yesterday. New party moves
in tomorrow"
"a large family" said I, rather dubious
'sBless your heart, sir,'' said the man, no
family at all-single lady, sir
At this congratulated myself more and
more.
Il shall have prospect of little piece
now. think" said L. and ate my dinner
in fools paradise of happiness.
The single lady moved in on the morrow.
She must have moved in when l was down
town, selecting some new mill boards and
color-tubes for the summer sketches that |
intend to make; for when l returned, fondly
expecting once more to enter into my king
dom of peace and serenity, everything was
changed
There was banging and pounding over
head humping and hammering-a sound
as if some middle-aged giantess, in hobnailed
shoes, were enjoying herself in promenade.
/ sent for the janitor, In a rage
SIS the house coming DOWN." said /.
"It's the new tenant a-movin' in sir" said
he, apologetically.
"Does her furniture consist entirely of
Herring's safes and square pianos?" said 1.
'There is two pianos, sir" said he, "she's
musical"
''The deuce she isl'' roared l. 1.-TWO pianos !
And does she play on 'em both?"
Don't know, sir, Pm sure" said the man,
with distressed expression of cOuntenance.
1 endured the noise until midnight, and
then / sent up the ianitor's wife.
"The third floors compliments to the
fourth floor, and would like to know if this
sort of thing is to go on all night"
Down came the woman again.
HFourth floors compliments to the third
floor, and wishes to know if he expects PEG.
pie to get settled without noise"
The next day the piano-only one, however
commenced. was celebrating skeleton
for a scientific essay, and it disturbed me
seriously. I endured it as long as possibly
could, and then had recourse once more to
the janitor's wife.
"Third floors compliments to the fourth
floor, and will feel obliged if she will favor
me with little peace and quietness long
enough to do some necessary writing"
There was no reply, but the music ceased
abruptly.
But that evening, when was beginning
to solace myself with little violin practice
IN the twilight, tap, tap, tap, came the jani-
tors wife at my door.
'sFourth floors compliments to the third
floor, and will feel obliged if he will favor
her with a little peace and quietness, long
enough to write letter.
How / hated that womanl
So we lived for month, exchanging con-
slant missiles of warfare. l could cheerfully
have given up that miserable French fiat and
gone back to boarding, only unluckily l had
engaged it for the year. The fourth floor elo
cutionized, and had friends to select private
readings, whose voices were deeper thar
Hamlet's, and more sonorous than that of &
Charlotte Cushman. She was charitable anC
had classes of heavy-Dooted girls there twice
week, to sing hymns and learn to sew.
single lady. indeed If she had been quad
ripple lady, she could not have made NOR,
noise, nor enjoyed the making of it more.
AT the end of the month, however, an Incl
aent happened which turned the current o
nv whole life.
went on picnic. don't often go To affair
of that kind; but this was an especially selec
affair, gotten up by my friend, Harold Web
ster.
/ went, and there / met Barbara Willis
and fell straightway in love with her. Sh,
wasn't exactly young, but neither am I-anC
TO nv taste full blown rose is sweeter thar
bud, wherever you may find it growing
She was dark-eyed, with full cherry lips
satin-brown hair, and complexion as fresl
as roses and ivoryl We talked-our ideas
conceded exactly. 1t seemed as if our soul
were two looking-glasses, to mirror eacl
others.
Miss Willis cried /, "why is it that W
have never met before? / feel as if we wer
old, old friendsp
AS 1 spoke gently pressed her hand, al
she smiled back unutterable things.
I went to my friend Webster, who wa
making up quadrilles on the upper deck. w
were accompanied by an excellent bras
band.
"Harold," said l, 81 can never thank 20
enough for introducing me to that angell"