The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-03-29

tsyself had formed ourselves into PR
ys,e bachslors' ciab for the purposes Of
whi.s and other intellectual epicym~nss,
snd very good tame Ne eontrived 70 hsss
together. We did not have many rules
ana By laws for our club. We we're sworn
bachelors, aud each Of us had TO aiisge .
reason why he did not intend TO we'd. but
ve bad 80 far recognized the possibility oi
change In our sentiments as 10 bind our.
selyes 10 inform the club ai once should
~e ever neditats ''halsing our pleasures
AMI doubling our expenses" Sm'lhers
said he hadn't time 10 marry; vas too
poor. sai Marby, who was regarded as
our romantic member. gave us indefinitely
to understand tina, blishted affection stood
between him and the hymeneal Altar,
Dudsll al frst laughed at the idea q .gis-
ing reason; and he wished 70 aA'gn -
his that he hadn't met Mrs Budell yet
This was unanimously rejected by the
rest OF the club, ~hereupon he insisted
upon our accepting as an alternative that
he was afraid OF ladies. We were willing
to stretch a point in favor OF Budell. who
wm one Of the jolliest possible fellows q :
bachelors supper; so We decided to ac-
cept this second reason. For the rest. We
nobly resolved not to fly, but to withstand
temptation; our maxim was that every a.
dy is charming as long as one is not mar
ried to her; aud we were ready to 80 into
society, and even to sustain the reputation
OF being dancing men, We used to re-
late TO each other over our cclibate pipes
wonderful stories OF narrow escapes from
euiloful women every season; but il these
we're all as dependent upon the narrators
fancy for the important details as my con-
tributions to the conversation, the escapes
were somewhat more than hairs breadth
Budell was especially favorite 10 society !;
he was one of those rare phenomena, .
young barrister with some practice, and
he had besides comfortable allowance
from his father. Like the rest OF the
club had at first taken as joke his as
sertion that he was afraid OF ladies'. but
gradually | came to see that there was
some truth in it. SO long as Budell was
in large company ball room or any
place like that--he was quite. at his
ease and bold as lion; but II by any
chance be happened to fall temporary
captive to solitary damsels bow and
spear, he was almost overcome with ner'
vousness, and his usual powers OF conver-
sation completely deserted him. ! once
met him at the Royal Academy escorting
very pretty young lady and looking ss
though he had worse conscience than
King Hsrod; and have seen him tremble
at o mere passing mention OF the conserv-
atory by his partner at a dance. Howev.
er, in the Square Club he was our most
enth husisstic member; and indignation
filled our souls when We realized the dire
ful fact that Budell was in love and doing
his best to be married.
Had we been women We might probably
have seen the symptoms OF the advancing
malady; but we were only obtuse and
short.sighted men. Now, as look back
over those months, can recall incidents
that might have been warnings. The
gradual decrease Of Budell's hilarity at
the club and the gradual increase OF his
excursions into society could hardly, in
deed, have been portents. for Budell al
ways did go into society more than the
rest of MS. The first allusion that he made
1, me about the lady who was afterward
to play Beatrice to his Benedick was at
c,ucert-or rather in the cloak room after
a concert. That's what l call pretty
girl, he whispered to me, "that dArk-eyed
girl over there in the warm, feecy,
brown shawl, none Of your Aimsy, white
opera cloaks." The girl was pretty in
frssh, piq uant sort Of way, and even
sworn bachelor might have been excused
for being pleased With such frank smile
as she greeted Budell with. Again, mo-
many days after. he remarked to me, me,
rather an interesting girl last night; she
qaite agrees with me on the subject o'
names. may be excused for neglectine
this hint Budell, think, would have
fouud a mollusc interesting ii 1t had
a rreed with him that there was nothing
more Objectionable than 10 have ones
name murdered. He was nervously anx
ions that his name should be pronounced
with the accent on the second syllable
and afterward found that he had been
introduced tfor the second time) to thi'
interesting girl as Doodle "Just a.
Though rhymed to noodleT as he indig
nsntly expressed it. But the most impor
tan, hint was given the night after Mrs
Burton's ball, At which We had oil beef
present. We we're lounging in Budell'
rooms, and Snithers was giving us shigh
| " colorsd and graphic illustration Of tn'
triyoli,y that passes for conversation be
tween young men and paidens. That
all nonsense" broke in Budell; "or at an
rate it's your own fault. Why. last nigh
| I hsa quite q serious and interesting con
yersstion with maiden about woman
education. l even quoted Scripture
her."
"Bet you q hat you misquoted' sal
tho irreyerent Smithers. who thought e'
ery one was as ignorant as himself.
"No; I'm not joking; it'sa fact; and
cot an idea or two. let ms tell you."
be hai only told Us thst he had venture
into the conservatory in order 70 carry Q
the conversation wi,hott interruption
4, least. should have surmised that the .
QUESTION Of an idea or two was not Inc Q
Ily result. However, was not TO rema