The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-04-26
SELECTED SKETCH.
A BACHELORS DILEMMA.


" He would have passed pleasant life of
it, in despite of the devil and all his works,
had not his path been crossed by being that
causes more perplexity to mortal man than
ghost, goblin, or the whole race of witches,
aud that was-=a woman. Nv WASHINGTON
IRVING.
Rex Pendleton quoted the above lines with
more vigor and emphasis than was really
necessary, as he gave his friend Victor Ora
hams hand parting shake and boarded the
stage that was to conway him overforty miles
of rough, jolting, mountainous districts to
Madam Delaplaine's seminary for young
lades-a lonely, isolated place far removed
from the haunts of men, lodged in the heart
of the New Hampshire mountains.
"What in Heavens name shall do with
her?n quoth Rex, revolving the ponderous
conundrum over and over in his mind If
it had been a steamboat saw-mill, or a
whole menagerie of animals, including q
rhinoceros, hippopotamus, polar bear, and
elephants, he could have seen his way clear
in disposing of them somehow; but this
question, What should he do with her?
seemed as easy to settle as to put the camel
through the needles eye.
Yet the cause of all his query was only
pretty brown-eyed girl of eighteen.
With grim face Rex Pendleton drew
from his pocket letter encased in tiny
white envelope he goes slowly and thought,
fully through this epistle for the third time ::
WILDWOOD SEMINARY, New Hampshire,
September G, 49,
DEAR GUARDIAN IL was not surprised
because you did not come to see me gradu-
ate With the highest honors, etc. but am
surprised because you do not come to take
me away from here, now that my school
days are over. Be sure and come for me by
Friday night next-that's dear good
guardian. Until TINT time, remain,
Your affectionate ward,
FLORA IpLEwILD PAYNE"
Humph!" CALCULATED Rex, repeating
over the words" now TINT my school days
are over"
He could not imagine how in the world he
ought to dispose of her; heretofore he could
always settle the thought by keeping her at
school now that the "school DAYS were
over" he stared the dilemma helplessly in
the face, unable to settle the matter in his
mind.
The stage had logged slowly over twenty
miles or more of territory, when, at small
wayside inu the coach came to full stop,
the driver jumped down off his seat, and
pulled open the door for lady to enter, and
after depositing the female and innumerable
bundles and boxes opposite Rex, closed the
door with bang, mounted the box, and the
old stage numbered slowly onward
Rex was too thoroughly confirmed
bachelor even at thirty to care for the socie-
ty of females yet he was courteous gentle
man, and endeavored to help his lonely com
panion 10 while away the tedious hours of
their journey by pleasant conversation.
lie was delighted 10 find the lady, whom
be Judged to be of about twenty summers
well acquainted with that part of the coun-
try, especially in the vicinity and with tbr
inmates of Wildwood Seminary.
Although he could but indistinctly see hs
companions face by the Haring coach lamps
the thought struck him that he had never
beheld a sweeter or more womanly face he
quite regretted the time be should reach
Wildwood Seminary. Perhaps she could
suggest way out of the difficulty; at any
rate Rex concluded to confde in her.
g 1t is quite serious position" assented
the lady, with slyery laugh; but can't
You find some handsome young man as
they do in most wellregulated stories-to
marry her, and thus relieve you of so
troublesome burden Z"
Rex laughed
She might not be willing to be 80 sum
Iaarily disposed Of Her father and mother
died when Flora was scarcely more than six
and when they placed her in my charge over
! twelve vesrs ago, I proinised her future
should be my dearest thought, did not i'm
agine the responsibility then am just be-
ginning to feel now. If l were married
man could take her to my home"
:" If this troublesome ward would consent
to CO." assented the lady.
For the first time in his life strange
yearning for a home of his own came crowd
ing over his lonely bachelor heart, as he
listened to this low, sweet-voiced stranger
sitting opposite him in the stage-coach
"For the first time in Rex's life he was
quito in love, and he fell to specializing
whether or no she was to be won.
Perhaps your parents live in this lonely
district % yentured Rex.
"Eo," answered the lady calmly, "my
parents are dead ~
Your husband then, perhaps?"
81 am not married"
They were only few simple words, but
they made Rex's heart beat with an exultant
emotion he had never experienced before.
~ am connected" continued the lady
quietly, with the seminary which contains
your troublesome ward"
"Then Wildwood Seminary is your des-
tinstion toe" said Rex scarcely depressing
his intense satisfaction.
Rex was impulsive, always He made up
his mind as he sat there to propose to his
companion. Never venture, never win, that
was Rex's motto. He confessed to himself
he was head over ears in love.
"supposing," said Rex, after a short
pause in the conversation, lyon were in my
place, and felt great interest in lady, a
deep, earnest love, and felt that she, among
all women whom you had met, was the one
destined fo make vour life haury what