Daily globe., 1882-07-16
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 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 ofense; whose eccentricities
are met with shrug of the shoulder
and the remark, "What else can you
expect of an oddity like me?"
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 kept strictly secret and that he
was never to be thanked for them. Woe
betlde 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
unlucky 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 eccentricity, it
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 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 a pretty upset she'll make !"
exclaimed the dismayed old housekeep-
er. GA fussy, middle-aged party, no
doubt, ordering and interfering aud
wanting to have everything her own
way which she won't get, John, as
long as you and I can prevent her. She'll
be clever madam if she gets her foot
inside of my store-room while there's
locks and bolts to keep her out, can
tell her p
"Don'tyou make SO sure" said John.
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 everto marry, that"
"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 their
backs very much up, went to receive
their master and his unwelcome guest.
Their first glimpse of the latter showed
them that they might have spared their
fears and hostile intentions. Out from
the cab, before their astonlshed eyes,
sprang girlish figure, whose bright,
happy face contrasted curiously with
her mourning garments.
,"Mind the step, uncle p ("Oh, his
niece, she is !'') she cried, tripping up
to the hall door. ''Don't trouble.
please" with a smile to the old house
keeper: "that bag is too heavy for you
to take i; I'll carry it"
And when the stranger came down to
breakfast next morning with a 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 ii, John,
singing away like bird while she was
dressing !'') she looked 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
invited, suited to the years of his visitor.
With great amusement her uncle OBJ
served the attraction her comeiness and
winning ways were for these. (" Swarm
ing round Like flies about honey !
Seeming, I dare say, fat iointure.
All widows are supposed to be rich, and
just because she is a widow, and for no
other reason, making up to her, the
fools !" This to himself with cynical
chuckle. Aloud: "Nice little woman,
sir, that niece of mine. Plenty of
good looks, but hasn't a sixpence-not
a sixpence to bless herself with"
It was wonderful how the old house
was frightened up by the presence of
its blithe young inmate. But by no
one was its pleasant influence more felt