Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-09
4 BAcEELOR'S DILEMMA.

He would have passed a pleas
ant life of it, in despite Of the devil
and all his works, had not his path
been crossed by ii being that causes
more perplexity to mortal man
than ghost, goblin, or the whole
race of witches, and that was-a
woman. - Washington irving.
Rex Pendleton quoted the above
lines with more vigOr and emphasis
than was really necessary, as he
gave his friend, Victor Graham's
hand a parting shake and boarded
the stage that was to convey him
over forty miles Of rough, jolting,
mountainous districts TO Madam
Delaplaine's seminary for young
ladies-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 hor" quoth Rex, revolving
the pOnderOus question over and
over In his mind. II ii had been a
steam boat, a saw-mill, or Il whole
menagerie of animals, including q
rhinOcerO5, hfppopotamus, polar
bear and elephants, he could have
seen his way clear in disposing of
them somehow but this question,
"What shall / do with her ?" seom-
ed as easy to settle as to put the
camel through the needles eye.
Yet the cause of all his query was
only "A pretty, brOwn-eyed girl OF
eighteen.
With grim face Rex Pendleton
drew from his pocket n letter en-
cased in tiny white envelope he
goes slowly and thoughtiully
through the epistle for the third
time:
WILDWOOD SEMINARY, New
Hampshire, September 6, lS-Dedr
Guardian Il was not surprised be-
cause you did not come to see me
graduate 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 ncXt-that's
dear, good guardian. Until that
time, | remain,
Your affectiOnate ward,
FLORA lakewood PAYNE"
"Humph :" calculated Rex. re-
peating over the words-''now that
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
hciplessly i'm the face, unable TO set
tie the matter III his mind.
Tho stage had logged slowly over
twenty miles or mOEe of territory,
when, at u small waySide inn, the
coach came to a full stop, the driver
jumped down off his seat and pulled
open the door for a lady TO enter,
and after depOsiting the female and
inuumerable bundles and boxes
opposite Rex, closed the door with
Il bang, mounted the box, and the
old stage numbered slowly onward.
Rex was too thoroughly con-
tirmed bachelor even at thirty to
care for the society Of females, yet
he Was courteous gentleman, and
endeaVOred Ia help his lonely COM
panion to while away the tedious
hours of their journey by pleasant
conversation.
He was delighted to find the lady,
whom he judged to be of about
twenty summers, we'll acquainted
with that part Of the country, espe-
cially in the vicinity and with the
inmates of Wildwood Seminary.
Although he could but indistinct-
ly see his companions face by the
haring coach lamps, the thought
struck him that he had never be-
held Sweeter or more wOmanly
face; he quite regretted the time
he should reach Wildwood Semina-
ry. Perhaps she could suggest
way out of the difficulty; at any
rate Rex concluded to cOntide in
her.
1T Il quite n serious position, )"
assented the lady, with silvery
laugh; "but can't you find some
handsome young man-aS they do
in most well-regulated stOries-to
marry her, and thus relieve you of
SO troublesome burden.
Rex laughed.
"She might not be willing to be
so summarily disposed of. Her
father and mother died when Flora
was scarcely more than six, and
when they placed her in my charge
over twelve years ago, | promised
that her future should be my dear
est thought. l did not imagine the
responsibility then / am just begin
ming to feel now. II | were mar
ried man | could take her to my
home.
"If this troublesome ward would
consent to go" aSsented the lady.
For the first time in his life
strange yearning for a home Of his
own came crOwding 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 quite in love, and he fell 10
specializing whether or not she was
To be won.
perhaps your parents live in this
lonely district ," ventured Rex.
NO" answered the lady calmly,
"my parents are dead"
"Hour husband then, perhaps ?"
IL am not married"
They were only a 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"
"1'hcn your destination is Wild
wool Seminary too" said Rex,
scarcely repressing his intense sat
satisfaction.
Rex was always impuIsive. He
made up his mind as he sat there to
propose to his companion. Never
venture, never win, WAS ReX's
motto. He confessed To himself
that he was head over ears IN love.
"SuppOSing," said Rex, after
short pause i'll the conversation,
"you were in my place, and felt
great interest III a lady, a deep, ear
nest love, and felt that she, among
all women whom you had met,
was the one destined to make your
life happy, what would you say to
her?n
"Just exactly what you have said
to me-simpIy tell her So" said
the lady, with a little, low, musical
laugh.
Rex laughed awkwardly; he felt
more i'll at ease than he even cared
to admit to himself.
AT knOu that | am an pntirp