Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-02-15
Selected Story.
A Bachelors Story!

MIR. Eben Higgins WAS confirmed
old bachelor: the term confirmed IN
this instance comprising the facts tha,
he had passed his forty fifth Dirt day
that ne was rapidly growing very bald
and that with each Of the successive
yeats Of the past ten Of his existence
he had -etreate,i further and further
into the shell which he deemed his
sole protection against womans wlles.
The bachelor apartments he occu-
pied with his worthy lanaIadv, Mrs
Brown, he had inha bited so long that
he WAS iu them most thoroughly al
! ONE
Iuasmnrh as Mr.. Brown waa still
il the flesh, he felt himself perfectly
secure in ,rcelving any Of the small
attentions she mig. t be inclined to be-
stow upon hin, in tn, way ofsolne par
icuIar de'cacv !or breakfast, or some
,bjag hot snl ,,r'p inspiring lust be.
tore retiring,
Had Mr. Brown seen fit to depart
this l.fe however, it is extremely du
1i0us whether even these comforts
4 would induce Mr Eoen to remain IN
~ locality marked by danger,
From ypins'er4 and widows he fled
as from the pagpe. Certainly he must
have hcen conscious "t some weak
SCOT n his armor, else l." would not
! have sough, safety in avoidance. 1t
:rmHined for SOM woman 3 glance to
, discover this weak s.'ot. and then
make her auhAclous thrust, for Mr.
] l1ixgins had very tair proportion o!
!; thr worlds goods, and MAS moreover
! /. very good'cokl"g NAN.
=, But on this particular evening, sit
ting in All eaey chair before hi, fir,
hls dinner tray pushed away, and his
fragrant cigar lSt lighted, be looked
,horonghv unsuspicious OF any such
J.; possible design epon his peace, when
h,s anllady's tlnid knock sounded
on hls ioor.
i You II pardon ny ,.isturhins YOU
d.. Mr. IiIgg,nS,' she sald, when she had
obey ed bis summons to enter, and
stood nervou,ly before h,n, twisting
one conner Of hrl apron, before SINK
nag into the cuar he politely ndvsnc-
Ell her, "but you've been with ne 50
= long going on five years next Au.
gust. lLat felt might Ia ke the lib
eltv OF corsn Iing you on most par
ticuhu m,tter. Now :.e talke,! tc
Grown abont Il, but. dear me, Brown
h.s no nerves He don t think any
t!Ing a3o,t the money, bnt | do l1u
ljeye that I'd he that nervous that / d
meyer close nv eyes. and | don't think
any am aunt Of money would conpen
safe me for a winters loss Of sleep,
and so | thought 10 myself, Il just
step IN and ask Mr.. Higgins, and if
advises me | am foolish, why perhaps
am
Here the worthy woman panted for
1 breath, her listener gazing At her IN
-tnpifel arnasement, wondering if
some secret domestic misery he had
never suspected all these years he
| had dwelt under her roof, had at last
turnel her brain,
Il don't quite comprehend" he sai3
"What is the matter on which you
wish my advice"
Dear me, haven't told YOU vet,
and lay awake all night long thinking
it ever. Well Mr. Higgins, | have AZ
offer tor my parlol floor; aud such an
oHer--slx months guarantee and ten
dollars month more than my price,
with fire extra. Brown says I'd be
fool you'll excuse me, sir, but these
were Browns very words, though |
confess they sound very strong ia re-
peating) l d be fool not to take such
an offer, but | declare it n.akes my
flesh creep to think Of it,
Make your flesh creep What can
you mean? Is it menagerie or al
infant asylum which threatens you?'
Worse than either, sir, and here
Mrs. Browns voice sunk 70 myster.
ious whisper, and she stole lance
of secret terror about the room, as If
afl aid Of some unseen listeners, worse
than either It's medium as wants
,1c- .acla.a g T-e!c@'s = ca!