Richland beacon., 1888-03-10
AN OLD FRIEND OF PAPAS.
BY i. sam iBUHY.

IL WdS Cbi'l L uiC" tiNil
closer to the bluins Ere, and rested my
feet on the fcNdcr ald gazcd with salts
faction ut the miniature reflection of my
comfortable room in the polished knobs
of the a1dirOns. comfortable, Yes,
that expressed it well. 1t migl have
| cen called elegant had there been a
woman hand . add to the graceful fin
ish wnith bachelors apartment always
lacks, no matter how handsome or costly
is furniture may be- Howe, cr, | felt
wei contcn;cd with my quarters, and in
sOitc OF forty Year, Il few gray hairs,
and Il rapidly increasing tendency to
( badness, knew that I; handsome face
and good income w,rc things that no
rational woman would dcspisc; so | had
uut of tic evil day of slavery from one
yc. to another, and en- njoycd my Liberty,
H.; cub, and it may b. IA my solitude
TOO much to b. in haste To take upon nv
shoulder the re ,rolsihi itc Of married
life.
But Oh this memorable evening there
had one letter from my fathcr The
dear old man 81 Il he vas ia ling "a rcrc
potion Ol hi and his one wish was to
see his only son M. ricd and settled be-
fore he dcpartcd this life 1t was only
,dir that | should humor his fancy of
nc VIII had gratiic every wish mine
since was abe to ask for anything, SO
sat there muSing and MAKING up my
mind that the time TO sacrifice my free
dom had come
had always intended to marry, but |
thought Z. it only a, duty to be per
formed some time in the dim future, a
long WY OF. However, the tinc hal
ow come, SO it was best to have it over
QuicNly passed in review the women
OF my acquaintance, from blushing de-
butantes 10 those who had seen nearly a'
many seasons as myself, but my heart
beat no faster as, one after another, | re-
callcl their faces The cock on the
IN intel struck nine. and with a sigh
took my feet OF the fender, stretched
myself, gave last look at the roaring
logs, AMI used into my dressing ROOM
This will he II good opportunity, |
thought of si9olinS out what sort of a
woman Will be likely TO make me most
comfOrtal lc, and least likely 10 upset my
bachelor habits. Igivc a well satisfied
look at my face H. the glass as brushed
my hair. Few women would say nay to
su, h a reelection, joined to solid bank
account
A dcbutantc, or woman of sense
| There wavcred. Would it be best to
take a girl whom could form, or a
woman of the world who would not cx-
pcct too much. Such, for instance, as
Mrs. A, for whose ball was dress
ing--a charming little widow of three
and thirty or ihcrcabouts. BY the tine
Twas dressed ard ready to st irt it was
after ten, and dcbutantes were in the
ascendant. The first thing was to pick
out the one l fancicd, and then to pay
her marked attention. smiled, think
ing how pleased the dear old man
would be to know how soon all
would be settled. My hostess greet
cd me most cordially; it seemed
to me that mine was warmer
welcome than that bestowed upon her
guests in genera. She was charming,
and it would be a pleasure to see he;
sitting opposite at dinner or entertain
ing ones friends. Yes, the widow was
certainly a beautiful woman; perhaps a
little too much of the world, worldly
but one cannot have everything.
Ipassed on, and dropped into chair
beside bright, clever young GIRL she
looked pleased as took the vacant seat
and opened lively conversation; but
tonight l noticed more than ever q
tendency to defer to me, rs if one must
not assert ones self too strongly in tho
face of age. 1t irritated me; surely
was not 50 old as all that! Presently ;
younger man came up and took a seat Or
the other side of her-a stupid young
ass, / thought him and it struck mt
that would bc doing her a kindness Il
remain and deliver her from boredom
1t was very annoying that whenever sh'
turned her head to speak 10 him he
voice dropped so that | could not hea
what was being aid. Soon found my
self let wholly to my ow n entertainment
so / took tie hint and walked away
but not Lcfore had heard the you'll
ask, in a stagcwhisper: "Who is th'
old par,y.'
So it had come to that. I strollcd int,
the conservatory. and while wandcrin:
up and down there heard the voice o
an old college chum whom | had moi
seen for months. What he was saying
could not hear, and without stopping t.
think hastily sought the dim end o
the conservatory, from which his voic'
came.
well, old man, am glad to find yo1
once more" cried, pushing aside tn
branches of some plants which hid hin
from view.
Oh, my unlucky star. | had put m
foot into it again. Instead of the warn
reception had counted upon. there cam
an awkward pause, in which it seemed t
me that my fri nd WAS doing his best I
get as far from very pretty young lad
as the small ben h upon VIII ch they wef
seated would allow, while she diligcntl
studied the ainting on her fan.
b)lted. ''De trop. de trop," sal
to myself There seemed to be no plaC
for me in this gay assemb!age. l lie.
the conservatory and made my way bac
to my hostess. There was old jim Far
dolph, widowcr and man OF fift
or more, talking to her as if his H.
dcpcndcd upon ii. aud flat.crcd myse
that here at least would bc welcome
but it gave me the uncomfortable fee
i'm. of having intrmlcd when l heir
him say in an undeitoue, as he rose
.,May l come to mcrrow and sec "
alJne.'
Never had found the widow so har
to talk to as now; she was eeoccupic
and absent.
~ Id Jim Randolph wears prett
well" said, after having start d half
dozen general topics, on'y To ha,
them dropped in most summary maj