Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-05-23
WEAK PROMISES.

Mr.. Harvey Thackston, bachelor,
had arrived NJ home from the club, and
WAS about to retire for the night. He
had thrown of his vest, released his
collar and cravat, and taken of his
boots, but there his divestIng process
had suddenly ceased, and we find Mr..
Thackston sitting upon the edge of his
bed as motionless as a statue, holding
a boot In either hand, and at times
gazing silently from his boots TO the
gas-jet. and from the gas-iet to hIs
boots.
A person might have surmised from
the bachelors appearance that he was
In doubt whether to complete his
divestment and go to bed, or resume
what articles he had already taken off
and sally forth for little more enjoy
ment, or that he was racking his brain
over 4 question of more serious inter-
est. a few words from the gentleman
himself. however, will spare the reader
the torture of conjecture.
$50, So" he mused, looking down
upon his boots with smile of amuse-
ment, and swinging them between his
knees as he spoke 80 Ralph has
gone, eh? Gone mad, and been mar
rIed? Well, well, who'd have thought
itY And I'm the only one of the club
left single. Hal hal What grand
triumph this is for mel The lastl The
only man OF the whole lot who had the
power to resist il. Hal hal You're
quite hero, Harvey, my boyl They
all said you would go first but you
didn't. Several of them vowed that
they would be the last ones. Several
OF them had the impudeuce to vow
they never would be married. But they
have all succumed at last Love, the
,conqueror, has leveled them all like
reeds under the scythe, OF ten-pins
before the bowling-ball, stand alone,
the only survivor OF the dreadful car
mage. Poor Ralphl Gonel 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 a score of Amelias. Hal
nal What helpless bit of clay man
seems to be, with a pair of black eyes,
a beautiful face, and IA cluster OF curls
confronting him"
Mr.. Thackston here stopped swinging
his boots, and transferred his attention
,uddanly TO the gas-iet.
ssThe flame OF love-" he soliloquiZed,
his metaphor probably inspired by the
dxncing gas-light-''the flame OF love
has deyoured them as chafi, and here l
silt = selt-conceited salamander "A
gloatipg victor. Your turn now,
Ralph said to me, parting at the club
tonight. Yes, my turn, 1 know, but
n turn that will be totally devoid OF
event Not So they all said. You're
no more love-proof than We are. Har-
vey. You have had will enough 10
stick II out to the last, which must
have been extreme torture, but you'll
ssuccumb, never fear NeverI Never!
4 have lived bachelors life too long
70 relinquish it in the very zenith OF
,-Iory and delight Whatl Surrender
In N.rty for slavery Give up my Jolly,
roIh Ncking life. that owns not even the
shad. ~ OF authority, for that welded
blIss' , ,hIea holds for the innocent VIC
tim the gloomy prospects OF rigorous
system. D. lctual hours, spicy breezes,
occasional halr-dreSsings, cradles,
soothing syrup, and much else too dis
tracing TO think or. step from Ely
sium into BeJtlsm- Ugh! the thought
makes me shiver. III L should take
such a mad step, my conscience would
torture me to the grave. 1c oe pray
ing false to my cluS, to my night-key,
and 10 the general principles OF good
Fellowship. Some people think my SEN
timents rancid. Let theu- have
been called a woman-hatCr. am notl
/ can revel in woman's smiles and
sweet talk as well as any OF Them L
can look upon a woman with rs mueh
true admiration as any OF them, put l
can admire her from the proud hSlght
OF impartiality, and while toying win
the fatal hook, prove the fact that L
am an extremely hard fsh to calch-
oh. no-I am not woman-hater- III
a man of common sense, that's what l
am
With this sage reflection, Mr.. Thack-
ston threw his boots into a corner, al
rayed himself in his night costume,
put out the gas, and went to bed.
A few DAYS subsequent, Mr.. Harvey
.Thact On was enjoying his summer
vacation among the most fashionable
,cipeles OF Newport Society. Hand
,soule- and wealthy, courteous, iovial'
and generous, In the highest degrees,
Mr.. Tnackston always created marked
nmpression In whatever society ne chose
TO enter.
at Newport he was in his glory.
The folly, ,happy-go-lucky, free-ana-easy
beaus, the stately bells, and the haunt
ing COQucttcS, Ill nOShcN o4SN~
the former To reyeI in his charming
company. and share his magnificent
wine, the two latter. to endeavor, with
the charm of beauty and the science OF
artifce, to snare him in their nets, and
effect the capture OF millionaire and
his fortune.
FOR the hrst class Harv.y cared q
great deal. To them he devoted MS
heartfelt attention; for, rollicking,
careless fellow that he was, he loved
good Fellowship, and was bound &c
enjoy it, no matter what the cost Fol
the latter classes he cared comparatively
nothing. He was bachelor, man
who. regarding the sublime passion
nossessed, it was said, heart OF ada
mant, Invulnerable to charm, unassail-
able by stratagem. What cared he foi
their smiles and coquetryp Nothing.
He let their cunning articles pass
unuoticed with the utmost innocence.
If he met them. he paused for while
aud chatted ~ ,fasan'ly' when Invited ''