The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-06-28
AN OLD FRIEND or PAvAs.

closer 10 the blsxiag Are. and rested N,
fee, 90 The isaJer. s1d ssxsd With salts
faction si the ministnre reflection OF u,
comfortable room 10 the polished knobs oi
the ssdirons Comfortable Yes. that
expressed II we'll II might have been
called elegant hsd there been . woma1's
hand 10 add to 1t the arscefui finisb which
. bachelors apartment always lacks. DC
matter hos handsome or costly lis fnr
niture may be. However, l felt contented
with my quarters. aud 10 spite q forty
years. = lee gray hairs. and rapidly in.
creasins tendency to badness, knew that
. handsome face sad good income were
things that no rational woman would de
spice. 30 had put of tue evil day OF
slavery from on year TO another; and en-
joycd ny liberty. my club. and II may be
Alec my solitude. too much to be in haste
70 take upon my shoulders the responsi
biIities Of married lie.
But ou this memorable evening there
had come letter from my father. The
dear old man said be Vas falling e mere
notion Of his) and bis on, wish VAS TO see
his only son married and settled before be
departed this life II was only fair that
should humor this fancy OF one Who had
grAti6ed every wish Of mine since ! WAS
able TO ssk for anything. 80 sat there
musins and making up my mind that the
time 70 sacrifice my freedom had come.
l IAlwsys intended TO marry, but !
thought Of it only IS duty to be per
formed some time 10 the dim future. .
long way off. However. the time had
come, 90 II was best TO have il over quick.
". passed 10 review tho women Of my
from blusbipg debutantes to
those Who had seen nearly IS many sea
sons a. myself. but my heart beat no fast
er as, one after smother. recalled their
faces Tue clock on the mantle struck
nine, and with Sigh / took my feet of
The fender, stretched myself, gave last
look at the roaring logs. and passed into
my dressing room. This will he good
l thought, OF singing out
What sort Of 9 woman will be likely to
make me most comfortable. and least like.
y to upset my bachelor habits. I gave
veil satisfied look ct myself in the glass as
brushed my hair. Few woman would
,sy nay to such reflection. joined to
,olid bank account.
A debutsnte or woman Of sense /?
There wAvered. Would II be best 10
AXE girl whom l could form, or wo-
man Of the world who would not expect
100 much Such for instance - Mrs.A-,
|or whose ball was dressing - charming
little widow Of thee and thirty or there
lbouts. By the time WAS dressed and
'eady 10 start II ives after ten, and debu.
sntes we're 10 the ascendant The Rrst
hing was 10 pick ont the one fancied,
md then pay her marked attention. !
miled, thinking how pleased the dear old
nan would be TO know how soon oil would
% settled. My hostess greeted me most
cordially; il seemed TO me that mine was
warmer welcome than that bestowed up.
N her guests in general. She was charm
pg. and II would be pleasure to see her
lifting opposite st dinner or entertaining
mes friends. Yes. the widow was Ger
ainIy beautiful woman; perhaps little
90 much Of the world, worldly; but one
'annot have everything.
passed on, and dropped into chair
,eside bright. clever young girl. She
ooked pleased % took the vacant seat and
'pened > lively conversation; but to night
noticed more than ever tendency 10
Ie!er to me. ~ il ono must not assert ones
eli toe strongly In the face OF age. 1t
rritated me; surely ! was not so old IS
II that Presently younger man came
lp and took seat on the other aide Of
Ter "A stupid young ASS. thought him
nd It struck me that wonld be doing |
Ter . Kindness to remain and deliver her
rom boredom. II WAS very annoying that
whenever she turned her head to speak 10 |
lin her voice dropped 30 that | could not
ear what was being said. Soon found
ayssIi left wholly TO my own entertain
,ent, 90 took the hint and walked away;
ut not before had heard the youth ask
D . stage whisper; "Who is that old
arty y
50 IL had come 10 that / Istrolled into
be conservatory, and while wandering up
nd down there heard the voice Of sn
ID college chum whom had not seen for
lonths. Whist be was saying could not
ear. and without stopping to think
a,,iiy sought the dim end OF the cjuser
story, from which bis voice came.
well. old man. am glad to Aai you
nee more" | cried. pushing aside the
ranches Of some plants which bid him
'om view.
Oh, my unlucky.s,sr l had pnt my
,ot into it again. Iostesd Of the warm
sception bad counted npon. there came
D swkssrd pause, ia which IL seemed to
e thst my friend ~as doing his best TO
II - far from very pretty young lady
the smAll bench upon which they we're
,sted you'd sllov. while she diligently
udied the painting on her iso.
! bOltsd. DE trop. de trop." | said 10
yseIf There seemed 10 be no place fof
e 10 this gay sssembIsse. left the con
'rvalory aud my way back 10 my hostess
here vas old Jim Randolph. wiiowsr.
ID man OF Hity OF more. talking to her
II his life depended upon ii. aud ] 6.i-
red myself that here st least would be
elcome: but II gave me the uucomfort.
s.. l..tta~ xf hax,ng ,utr,Aa1 whap \