The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-04
A Bachelors Confession.

thirty odd, who had been at the mercy OF
boarding house keepers all his days, can
easily understand that.
SO, when engaged a suite of rooms
third floor in French flat edif1ce-and ar
ranged my household goods therein, with
a fine lookout over green dot of park in
front, and the glimmer of a palisade in the
rear, above forest of chipping, I consld-
cred myself well Off.
What is my profession? haven't any
in particular. am an artist, and draw q
little; daily, in front of my easel, contrib
ute to the press, and write when the divine
atlatus seizes mo. l read the law when l
feel like it, and draw little income from
a snug little property left NE by an uncle
in India. Consequently was able to dec
crate my new quarters very prettily with
Bagdad rugs, old China dragons, black and
gold japanese screens, and pictures had
picked up at bargain.
And when the fire was burning cheer
fully in the crate, the first rainy May ev-
ening, the student lamp shining softly on
the red, carved table, and the waiter from
a neighboring restaurant had brought in my
frugal dinner of a broiled bird, mold Of
currant jelly, u slice of roast beef, and a
raspberry dumping, l considered myself
pretty comfortable.
"Upon the WHOLE" says to myself, "I
rather approve of French flats"
rang the bell.
! The janitor-a respectful, decent sort
of fellow, in round jacket and carpet
slippers-aDswercd the summons.
"Janitor,"', said I, "who occupies the
floor above2"
''Nobody, SIR, the man answered. s.Last
party moved out yesterday, New party
moves in tomorrow"
"a large family7' said I, rather dubi-
ously.
| "Bless your heart, SIR" said the man,
mo family at ala single lady, sir"
At this congratulated myself more and
| more. -f
81 shall have the prospect of little
peace now, Think said j, and ate nv
dinner III fools paradise OF happiness.
The single lady moved in on the NOR
| row. She must have moved in when I
| was down town selecting some new mill
| boards and color TUES for the summer
| sketches that intended to make, for when
| returned, fondly expecting once more to
enter into my kingdom of peace and seren-
| ity, everything was changed.
There was banging and pounding over
head, humping and hammering-a sound
as If some middc-aged eiantess, in hob
nailed shoes, was enjoying herself in a
| promenade.
sent for the janitor in rage.
'ls this house coming down." said I.
'lt's the new tenant a-moyln' in, sir, ="
said he, apologetically.
"Does her furniture consist entirely of
Herrlngs safes and square planos2" said I.
''there are two pianos, sir,r said he.
| 'sShe's musical"
| "The deuce she Isl" roared 1. s'Two pi-
amos! And docs she play OH 'em both2"
'Dont know, sir, I'm sure" said the
man, with distressed expression of coun-
| tenancc.
endured the noise until midnight, and
then sent up the jani or'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 tho woman again.
"Fourth floors compliments to the third
floor. and wishes to know if he expects peo-
pie to get settled without noise"
The next day the piano-only ono how
ever-commenced. l was celebrating q
| skeleton for a scientific essay, and it dis
turbed me seriously. endured it as long
as possibly could, and then had resource
once more to the janltors 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 40 some necessary writing"
There was no reply, and the music ceas-
cd abruptly.
But that evening, when [ was beginning
to solacc myself with little violin prac-
tice IN the twilight, tap, tap, tap, came the
Janitors wife at my door.
'Fourth floors compliments to the third
floor, and will feel oblig iged if he will favor
her with little peace and quietness long
enough to write a letter."
| How hate that womanl
So we lived for month, exchanging
constant missiles of wa, fare. I.could cheer.
fully have given up that miserable French
flat and gone back to boarding, only un-
luckily had engaged it for a year. The
fourth floor elocutionizcd, and had friends
to select private readings, whose voices
were deeper than Hamlet's, and moro So
norous than that of Charlotte Cushman.
She was charitable, and had classes of
heavy booted girls twice a week, to sing
hymns and learn to sew. A single lady,
indecdl If she had been a quadruple lady
she could not have made more noise, nor
enjoyed the making of it moro.
At the close Of the month, however, an
incident happened which turned the
current of my whole life. went on pic.
mic. | don't often 60 to affairs of that
kind; but this was an especially select affair,
gotten up by my friend Harold Webster.
l went, and there l met Barbara Willis,
and fell straightway in love with her. She
wasn't exactly young, but neither am l.
and to my taste a full-blowu rose is sweet or
than bud, wherever you find it growing.
She was dark-cycd, with full cherry lips,
satin.brown lia,r, and 'mplcxion as fresh
coincided exactly. 1t seemed if our souls
were two looking glasses, to mirror each
others
Miss Willis" cried I, "why is it that
we have never met bcfore2 feel as If we
were old, old friends'
| AS spoke gently pressed her hand,
and she smiled back unuttcrable things
went to my friend Webster, who was
making up quatirilles on the upper deck.
We were accompanied by an excellent brass
band.