The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-14
THE ECCENTRIC BACHELOR.

r was living specimen of the
typical old bachelor, q parsonage more
often met with in the pages of fiction
than in real life; lean and sharp-visaged
of aspect, crusty and cynical of temper.
He was, moreover, an avowed oddity;
one of the privileged class who, by vir-
tue of this reputation, can do what 9th
ers dare not without exciting surprise or
giving offense; whose eccentricities are
met with shrug of the shoulder and
the remark, What else could you ex-
poet of an oddity like him ?"
He was an unpopular man, receiving
scant sympathy; yet capable, neverthe-
less. of kind and generous acts, performed
on the condition that they were TO be
kept strictly secret and that he was never
20 he thanked for them. Woe betide
the recipient of favor to whom it was
brought home that he had mentioned
The same to any one, or extolled the
Kindness of his benefactor! The I'M
lucky wight once detected in thus giving
vent TO his gratitude had taken the sur
c,t method of cutting himself off from
further help. He never got another
chance.
Our old bachelor enjoying, as we have
sAid, the privilege of et-rsIstr'it-ity, -
excited no surprise when on one occa-
sion, after an absence from home, he
wrote TO inform his servants-an old
couple who had lived with him for years
that on his return he would he &C.
companied by a widow lady who was
likely to make long stay in his house,
and for whom apartments were to be got
ready,
and pretty upset she'll maker ex-
claimed the dismayed old housekeeper.
"A fussy, middle-aged party, no
doubt; ordering and interfering and
wanting to have everything her own
way; which she won't get, John, as long
AS you and can prevent her. She'll be
n clever madam if she gets her foot in
side my storeroom while there's locks
and bolts to keep her out, l can tell
herl"
Don't you make too sure" said
John. The old man could not resist
now and then teasing his helpmate, as q
little set-otf against sundry naggings on
the part of that good old lady. May
be it's mistress of the house and of
yourself that's coming to it, Them
widders are great at wheedling. It's
time, if the master is ever to marry
that"
"Ah. stop your croakinS now" cried
Mrs. John. This dire suggestion was
too empowering for her feelings.
The appointed day arrived; and when
the cab drove to the door. the two old
domestics, with very sour faces and their
backs very much up, went to receive
their master and his unwelcome guest.
Their first glimpse OF the latter showed
them they might have spared their fears
and hostile intentions. Ont from the
rab, before their astonished eyes, sprang
a girlish figure, whose bright, happy
face contrasted curiously with her mourn
ing garments.
mind the step, uncle!" ("Oh, his
niece, she is"') she cried, tripping up to
the hall door "Don't trouble, please, "
with a smile to the old housekeeper;
"that bag is too heavy for you; I'll
carry it."
And when the stranger came down to
breakfast next morning with morse1 of
a cap perched on the top of her golden
braids of hair mot my idea of widows
cap" said the dame to her husband
"and would you believe it, John, sing
ing away like bird while she was dress
ing!") she looked more absurdly young
more like girl in her teens than an ex-
perienced, "settled matron."
The advent OF his pretty niece made
some change in the habits of the old
gentleman. He had friends at dinner
more frequently than of yore and in
addition to the elderly fogies that formed
his usual society, younger guests were