Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-07-01
MY FRIEND EDITH.
onAprBn 1.

longer than care to remember, I'd describe | z
myself as man Of middle age, ybt people J
speak OF me as an old bachelor, sometimes
in derision, but frequently fancy, with
envy.
Yes, am bachelor 1.-The adjective con-
slider unnecessary-rather by miscbance than
anything else, for ] never started ON life (
with any intentions Of cellbacy, or when
subject
if-but that has nothing TO do with the story.
At all events, am bachelor now, and in.
| tend to remain one. My-well the physical
| disad vantages which time has brought--a
tendency to embonpoint,. and more than
sufficient protection, for continually see
| such Benedicts as myself striking their colors
and falling victims, mellow and overripe, or
| But l am made OF sterner stuff; and having
been exposed--for I am man Of property
to several severe tests, and having come OIL
unscathed from the encounter, I may just
ly conclude that my heart Is cupid-proof,
and 80 journey on In middle aged medita- |
tion "fancy free" I am sure could have |
ns,er a hiPp hss sa the neS so
must be content with making myself happy, |
q thing not 30 easy a. IL looks, for this work
a-day world is full Of briars, even for old
, bachelors 1t IL fortunate that / have no In
cumbrances, for my nerves are not strong
J the least bother interferes with my digestion,
, | although, II people will let me alone, am
! peptic enough. I have only one relative IN
> the world--a nephew, my poor sisters only
5 son. Poor soul how she used to dote upon
the boy! But she died suddenly, and her
;, | pension with her, SO found myself the nat
! ural guardian OF q bright, handsome Young
s fellow, but as impetuous and selfwilled as
r loving mother could mako him. had no
desire to avoid the responsibility, for ! am
9 the last man In the world to shirk duty
g and besides I felt great affection for him
, nevertheless we managed to quarrel, al
= though II was certainly not my fault
+; Wei got on together remarkably we'll for
It | some time, until decided must get him
4 something to do, and naturally with my ex-
perience was the fittest Judge OF what was
,r best for him. A remarkably good opening
was offered me for Charlie--thats the boys
name--in the Office of an eminent firm OF
solicitors. / made the arrangements without
=. consulting my nephew, thinking II would
be pleasant surprise to him but such "
m the perversity of youth that he actually y
Ia scoffed at the idea, declaring that he would
rather enlist for soldier than perch himself
ol on an Office stool. / was very much dis
n mans zeal and aptitude to the partners in
prophetic terms. Now, Charlie had been
m | dabbling In art In an amateurish way for
al some time, and although could see he had
" ment--he had never learned to draw cor
he rectly
m "Then what the deuce do you intend to
:" do for living p said angrily.
ne 81 mean to take to art" said he, blushme
se little.
"Art indeedw cried sercastically; "you
lit srtr' aE 'n''' 'o '
"Hardly yet" said he, getting redder
''but hope to-"
in "Do you expectpeoplc will be fools enough
are to buy any picture you're likely L
hat "Tll wait and see," said he; "at any rate
I'd rather be a bad artist than bad attorney
At least can't cheat anybody"
l
, to enough to buy one Of yonr pictures" an
les swered, and that's not likely"
COR The dispute at this point becomes littl
'"oi " indistinct ] was exceedingly angry an,
Vo- suffering from q slight attack OF gout
ore fancy, however, told Charlie he might g
hat to the deuce tor aught cared, and he seeme
ari. to take me at my word, for he left the hOus
.,, and have not seen him since.
mo have learned, however, that he has bee
; 10 earning a precarious livelihood by gvin
rect drawing lessons, and am told he declares b
,ars would rather go to the workhouse than be
,ter | burden on his relatives. Strange he shoul
or speak Of me in the plural How disrespec
y. full IL soundsl
no 1t is two years ago that he LEFT me. ofte
ter. SEQ my sisters eyes looking at me reproacl
cen fully, and how willingly would kill Ii
hat fatted calf for this foolish prodiga II he woul
, ars Why cannot the boy put his pride in h
~ | pocket and ask me to forgive him?
ISL CHAPTER H.
rbe 1t was the delightful juno weather tin
ater tempted me TO take cottage on the rive
nee 1 am moreover, fond Of canoeing, and Il
With owner Of canoe OF greater width and stabi
.en ity than such craft usually possess II ms
80 be that do look an odd figure as sit In m
Do small bark, clad in white flannel and crownt
beer with large straw hat, but the benefit m
the health and temper derive from this exhila
iect ating amusement more than compensate f
the the plebeian raillery meet with. 1t was
~ avoid boats manned by incompetent an
hoarse-voiced crews OF vulgar cockneys tn
a'er one beautiful afternoon padded my cam
nces up small tributary, whose windings an
ove- shadows protected 1t against the inroads
larger craft In the meadows on either side
could hear the sweep Of the scythe and SINE
'e Of as as one should store in the he cells s Of one ne
uhe memory for the winter AZ a bee stor
lilies honey. l padded myself about 4
long time In peaceful enJoymeeI
,oer flashed through the sunbeams that slant
H. through the Pickering leaves After awhi
eNe turning my canoe, let myself drift dow
ired with a vigorous stroke Of my paddle. Bla,
It care had no place beside me that day, and
y in was deep in q midsummer's dream WIN
An well all once violent shock, followed by
,.h; al little scream, recalled me to myself al
iaDi- checked my absent career. was jerked U
phia comfortably forward and my hat shak
rson over my eyes To my dismay found h
sur run right INTO young LADY as rounded
ntlv curve were the current ran swiftly, WI
',. with her canoe motionless in q thick grow
aAei OF weeds, was reading, half concealed by I
sely boughs of weeping willow. Her book 4
! the into the water her canoe, driven closer
can the bank by the collision, grounded, and n
q on own shared the same fate among the th
=, .s. weeds.
u,a,s "Oh, my poor book ~ exclaimed she, /
.s'ck fore I had sufficiently recovered from II
their confusion TO apologize.
'een, ~ beg you thousand pardons," I stal
,ach- mered, pouring little stream of water ov
her dress from my paddle in my agitatio
''but didn't see you."
nent "Oh, 1t can't be helped" said she goo
naturedly. 'Perhaps you'll be kind enou
to pick out my book"
.. =, She turned toward me and / saw b
- " face was exceedingly pretty one, with &
nt Is pressive gray eyes, soft brown hair, delics
al of features, and cheeks flushed with the CO
way fusion my awkwardness had caused. s.
um. seemed much more inclined to laugh tn
,van to be angry, and have no doubt my ia
!. showed curious mixture OF shame and
20 IL tonishment
cen, took the book from the water, and afte
Rus vain attempt to dry its sodden pages, hand
how IL to the owner
HShallav oxclns,ood 7 raadtusp xl,a ttS