Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-16
CAUGHT AT LAST.

was about 10 retire for the night.
He had thrown off his vest, released
his collar and cravat, and taken off
his boots, but there his divesting pro-
cess had suddenly ceased, and we find
Mr.. Thackston sitting upon the edge
of his bed as motonless as statue,
holding Il boot in either hand, and at
times gazing silently from his boots
to the gas jet, and from the gas jet to
his boots.
A person might have surmsed from
the bachelors appearance that he was
in doubt whether to complete his iii
yestment and go to bed, or resume
what art cles he had already taken of
and sally forth for little more enjoy
ment, or that he was racking his brain
over a question of more serious inter-
est A few words from the gentleman
himself, however, will spare the tor
ture of conjecture.
80, so, he unused, looking down
upon his boots with smile of amuse-
ment, and swinging EN- between his
knees like pendulums as he spoke.
$50 Ralph has gone-eh? Gone mad,
and been married? Well-well, who'd
have ought it? And I'm the only
one of the club left single. Ha, a!
What grand triumph tbs is for me.
The last! The only man of the whole
lot who had the pc er to resist it,
Ha, ha! You're quite hero, Harvey.
my boyl They all said YOU would 20
first. but you didn't Several of them
vowed that they would be the last ones.
Several of them had the impudence to
VOW tley never would be married.
But they have all succumbed at last
Love, the conqueror, has levelled them
all like reeds under the scythe, or ten
pins before the bowlng-ball, stand
alone, the only survivor of the dread
full carnage. Poor Ralph! Gone! and
he was captured SO helplessly. Amelia
Weatherston's bright eyes and hand
some curls were too strong for him,
much as he used TO profess himself in
vulnerable to n score Of Amelias. Ha,
ha! WHAT helpless bit of clay "a man
seems to be, with a pair of black eyes,
beaut full face, and cluster of curls
confronting hm.
Mr.. ThackstOn here stopped swing
ing his boots, and transferred his at
tention suddenly to the gas Jet
The flame of love, he sohloquised,
his metaphor probably inspired by the
dancing gas-hght-'.t c flame of love
has devoured them as aft, and here
sit self-conceted saIamander-a
gloating victor, Your turn now
Ralph said to me, parting at the club
tonight, Yes, my turn, | know, but
turn that will be totally devoid OF
event Not so, they all said, You're
no more loye-proof tuan we are, Har-
vey. You have had will enoug to
stick it out TO last, which must
have been extreme torture, but you'll
succumb, never fear. Never! Neverl
| have lived bachelors life too long
to relunquish it in the very zenith of
glory aud delig t.
"What! Surrender liberty for slav-
cry! Give up my Jolly life, that MS
not even the shadow of authority, for
that welded bliss which holds for the
innocent victim the gloomy prospects
of rigorous system, punctual hours,
spicy breezes, occasional hair-dress-
ingS, cradles, soothmg-syrup, and
much else too distracting 10 think of!
Step from Elysium into Bedlam! Ugh!
the thought makes me SILVER. If |
should take such a mad step my con-
sc lence would torture me to the grave.
I'd be PLAYING false TO my club, to my
night-kev,tnd 10 the general principles
of good fellowship. Some people think
my sentiments rancid, Let them.
have been called a woman-haler |
am not. | can revel i'm a woman's
smile and sweet talk as we'll as any of
them. can look upon n woman with
as much true admiration as any of
them, but can admire her from the
proud height ofimpartallty, and while
toying with the fatal hook, prove the
fact that ! am an extremely hard fish
to eaten. Oh no-l'm not woman
Halter. I'm a man Of common SENSE
that's what am"
With this sage reflection, Mr.. Thack-
ston threw bis boots into a corner, ar
rayed imsplf in his uight-costume,
put out the gas, and ent To bed
A few days subsequent, Mr., Harvey
IhackstOn was enjoying his summer
vacation among the most fashionable
circles of Newport society. Handsome
and wealthy, courteous, iovial, and
EtNFl Jus ih the lgUtNb NtHftt. MT.
always created a marked
impression IN whatever society he
chose to enter
Al Newport he was in his glory.
The Jolly, appy-go-lucky, free-aud-
easy heauX, the stately bellies. and the
Haunting coquettes, AN locked around
him. the former to reyel in his charm
ing company, and share is maguid-
cent wine. the two latter to endeavor
wita tie G arm of beauty. and the
science 81 araIice. to snare him i'm
their nets. and effect the capture of
and his fortune.
For the arst ulass Harvey cared a
great deal Totem he devoted his
hearffeltutteuton; for, rollicking care
less fellow that he was, he loved good
fellowship, and was bound rs enjoy it.
40 matter what the cost For the lat
ter classes, he cared comparatively
nothing. He was bachelor, "a man
$ ho, regarding the sublime passion,
possessed, it VAS said, a heart 81 ada-
maut. IupuluerHble 20 charm. uua>-
-lr. IS .tt.t Is .fr,affrar ~ h-.r .4fs..sI 4l