The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-01-17
THE BACHELORS CONFESSION.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

l live In French fiat. Of course
there are objections to French fats. So
there are to most things. ] can't afford
hotel, and l detest boarding house.
A bachelor of 80 odd, who has been at
the mercy of clearinghouse keepers
all his days, can easilyiunderstand that
So, when l engaged suite of rooms
third floor in French hit edilce-
and arranged my household goods there
in, with fine lookout over green dot
OF park in front, and the glimmer of
palisade far in the rear above a foreet Of
shipping, | considered myself well off
What is my profession2 haven't
any in particular I'm an artist aud
draw little; daily, IN front ofmy easel,
contribute TO the press, and write when
the divine afflstus seizes me. / read the
law when l feel like it, and draw little
income from. snug little property left
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. s--
And when the fire was burning cheer.
fully in the crate. the first rainy May
evening, the student lamp shining softly
on the red, carved table, and the waiter
from q neighboring. restaurant had
brought in my frugal dinner of a hroiled
bird, mold of currant jeliey, slice OF
roast beef, andsa raspberry dumpling, /
considered myself pretty comfortable.
Upon the WHOLE" says l to myself,
81 rather approve of French fits"
] rang the bell. The janitor-a re-
spectfuls decent sort offellow, in round
jacket and carpet slippers-answered the
Summons.
"Janitor," said 1, "who occupies the
floor above2"
Nobody, sir" the man answered
Last party moved out yesterday. New
party moves in to morrow"
"A large family ?" said 1, rather du-
biorsly.
"Bless your heart, SIR" said the man,
"no family at all-single lady, sir!"
At this | congratulated myself more
and more.
81 shall have prospect offs little peace
now, think" said I, and | ate my
dinner 10 FOOLS paradise Of happi-
ness
The single lady moved in on the NOR
row. She must have moved in when I
was downtown selecting some new mill
boards and color-tubes for the summer
sketches intended to make, for when |
returned, tondly expecting once more to
enter into my kingdom of peace and
serenity, everything vas changed.
There was banging and pounding
overhead, a humping and hammering-
q sound as if some middle-aged giaptess
in hob-naIed shoes was enjoying herself
in a promenade. l sent ior the <nitor
in a rage. n
ais the house coming d0g4?" said l;
"It's the new tenant sSsoVln' IN, SIR,
said he, apuloge'icailp
s.Dues her turnityre consist entirely
CT Hering's safes snd square pianosf"
said |. ~
"Thcre is two pianos, sir" said he
"She' musical
THE duce she is," roated I 1.-TWO
pianos! And does she play on 'em
bo.n! %
"Don't know, sir, I'm sure," said the
man, with distressed expression OF
countenance.
] endured the noise until midnight,
and then sent up the jaultor's wife.
"rhe third floors compliments to the |
fourth floor, and would like to know if |
this sort of thing is to 60 on all night"
Down came, the woman again.
"Fourth floors compliments to the
third floor, and wishes to know if he ex
poets people to get settled without
noise"
The next day the pano-only one,
however-commenced. ] was elabora-
ting skeleton for scientific ESSAY, and
it disturbed me seriously endured it as
long as | possibly could, and then had
recourse once more to the janitors 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 neces-
sary writing"
There was no reply, and the music
ceased abruptly, But that evening, when
l was beginning to solace myself with a
little violin practice in the twilight, tap,
tap, tap came the jantor's vile at my
door.
Fourth hoor's compliments to the
third floor, and will feel Obliged il he
| will favor her with little peace and
quietness, long enough TO write letter"
How l hated that woman! So we lived
for month, exchanging constant mis-
sizes of warfare. / could cheerfully
have given up that miserable French fiat
and gone back to boarding, only un-
luckily l had engaged it for the year
The fourth floor eocutionized, and
bad friends to select private readings,
whose voices were deeper than Hamlet's
and more sonorous than that Of Char.
lotte Cushman. She was charitable and
had classes of heavy booted girls twice
week, to sing hymns and learn to sew.
A single lady, indeed! If she had been
quadruple lady she could not have
made more noise, nor enjoyed the ma
king of it more.
At the close of the month, however,
an incident happened which turned the
current Of my whole life. ] went ON
picnic. I don't often go to anything OF
that kind; but this was an especially
select affair gotten up by my friend Har-
\ old Webster. / went, and there / met
: Barbara Willis, and fell strsightway in
r love with her She wasn't exactly young,
e but neither am /, and to my taste full
q blown rose Is sweeter than bud, wher-
Y ever you find it growing. She was dark
s eyed, with full cherry lips, satin bro wn
D hair, and complexion as fresh a roses
$ and ivory We talked; our ideas coin
;. cided exactly. 1t seemed as If our souls
{. we're two looking glasses, to mirror each
I others
"Miss Willis" cried I, "why is it tha
we have never met before2 feel as i
n we we're old, old friends"
l. As spoke ] gently pressed her hand
q and she smiled back unutterable thing.
I went to my friend Webster, who wa
l. making up quadrilles on the upper deck
Of We were accompanied by an excellen
10 brass band.
20, Harold!" exclaimed /, 81 ca