Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-02-15
THE ECCENTRIC BACHELOR.

THE ECCENTRIC B4 CHELOR.
F was n 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 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 can You
expect of an oddity like me2"
lie was an unpopular man, receiving
scant sympathy yet capable, neyerthe-
less, of kind and generous acts, per-
formed on the condition that they we're
to be kept strictly secret and that he
4 was never to be thanked for them. Woe
betide the recipient Of favor to whom
it was brought home that he had men,
toned the same to any one, or extolled
the kindness of his benefactor The
nnlucky wight once detected in thus
giving vent to his gratitude had taken
the surest method of cutting himself off
from further help. He never got an
other chance.
Our old bachelor enjoying, as we have
said. the privileges of eccentr:city, it
n excited no surprise wnen,
sion, after an absence from bone, he
wrote to inform his servants-an old
ccsple who had lived with him for years
n that he would be accompanied by n
widow lady, who was likely to make
long stay in his house. and for whom
apartments were to be got ready.
N "And O pretty upset she'll make +
exclaimed the dismayed old housekeep.
er. "a fussy, middle-aged party, no
doubt, ordering and interfering aud
wanting to have everything her own
Il way which she won't get, John, rs
Il long as you and l can prevent her. She'll
be clever madam il she gets her foot
N inside of my store-room while there's
locks and bolts TO keep her out, can
a tell her y
"Don'tyou make so sure, said John.
II The old man could not resist now and
then teasing his helpmate as little set
off ffagainst sundry naggings on the part
Of that good old lady. Maybe it's q
mistress of the house and of yourself
that's coming to it. Them widders are
great at wheedling. It's time, il the
master is ever to marry, that"
q "Ah, stop your croaking now T. cried
B Mrs. John. This dire suggestion was
"a too overpowering for her feelings.
The appointed day arrived, and when
the cab drove 10 the door, the two old
domestics, with very sour faces and their
backs very much up, went to receive
their master aud his unwelcome guest.
Their first glimpse of the latter showed
them that they might have spared their
n fears and hostile intentions. Out from
n the cab, before their astonished eyes,
i sprang q girlish figure, whose bright,
happy face contrasted curiously with
her mourning garments.
II mind the step, uncle !" wOh, his
y niece, she is ~ she cried, tripping up
4 to the hall door. "Dop. trouble,
please" with smile to the old house.
\ keeper "that bag is too heavy for you
to take; I'll carry it."
And when the stranger came down to
breakfast next morning with morsel OF
cap perched on the top Of her golden
braids Of hair ("not my idea of Wild
ow's cap" said the dame to her hus-
band; "and would yoa believe it, John,
singing away like bird while she was
dressing ~ she looked absurdly young;
moro like girl in her teens than an ex-
perienced, "settled" matron.
H 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
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 honey-pot
Scenting, I dare say, fat iointuro.
All widows are supposed TO be rich, and