Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-30
THE ECCENTRIC BACHELOR.

THE ECCENTRIC BACHELOR.
F. was living specimen of the
typical old bachelor, a 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 oddlty;
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 a shrug of the shoulder and
the remark, "What else could you ex-
pect of an oddity like him %
He was an unpopular man, receiving
scant sympathy; yet capable, neverthe
less, of kind and generous acts, per-
formed on the condition that they were
to be strictly secret and that he was
never to be thanked for them. Woe be-
tide 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 nm
lucky wight once detected in thus Civ
ing vent to his gratitude had taken the
surest method of cutting himself off
from further help. He never got
another chance.
Our old bachelor enjoying, as we have
said, the privileges of eccentricity, it
excited no surprise when on one occa-
sion, after an absence from home, he
wrote to inform his servants-an old
couple which had been with him for
years-that on his return he would be
accompanied 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 make -
exclaimed the dismayed old housekeeper.
ga 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
1 can prevent her. She'll be a clever
madam If she gets her foot inside my
storeroom while there's locks and bolts
to keep her out, can tell her!''
s'Don't you make too sure, " said ohm.
The old man could not resist now and
then teasing his helpmate, as little set
off against sundry naggings on the part
of that good old lady. Maybe it's a
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
s'Ah, stop your croaking now!' cried
Mrs. John. This dire suggestion was
too overpowering for her feelings.
The appointed day arrived; and when
the cab drove to the door, the two old
domestics with very sour faces and
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. Out from the
cab, before their astonished eyes, sprang
a girlish figure, whose bright, happy
face contrasted curiously with her morn
ing garments.
'tMind 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;
3'that bag is too heavy for you; I'll carry
1T
And when the stranger came down to
breakfast next morning with morsel of
a cap perched on the top of her golden
braids of hair ("not my idea of widows
cap," said the dame Id her husband:
Sc and would you believe it, John, sing
ing away like a bird while she was dress
ingI'') she looked more absurdly young:
more Like girl in her teens than an ex-
perienced, 'fsettled matron.''
The advent of his pretty niece made
some changes 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
invited, suited to the years of his visitor.
With great amusement, her uncle OBJ
served the attraction her comeliness and
winning ways were for these. "Swarm-
ing round-like flies about a honey-pot!
Seeming, I dare say, fat jointure. All
widows are supposed to be rich; and
just because she is widow, and for no
other reason, making up to her, the
fools!'' This to himself with a cynical
chuckle. Aloud: fNice little woman.
that niece of mine. Plenty of good
looks; but hasn't sixpence-not six
pence to bless herself with"
1t wss wonderful how the old house
was frightened up by the presence of
Its biithe young inmate. But by none
was it's pleasant influence more felt than
by the domestics, who had vowed such
hostility before her arrival. The old
woman especially was devoted to her;
loving her for her own sake as well as for
the kindly help and good offices she was
always receiving from the deft and will
ing hands of the young girl. In the
storeroom- sacred retreat which