Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-12-28
Written Expressively for the BANNER.l
One New Years Eve.

Goodby, old year, good-by.
Written Expressively for the BANNER.l
One New Years Eve.
1t was New Years eve, and | was
in no better company than that of a
bachelor-Tom Hastings-a friend of
my youth. Tom was what the world
would term "a queer duck" somewhat
different from the ordinary run Of
bachelors-he did not like women.
Yet his room was a picture gallery Of
Cynthias' and Venus, and on entering
it, and not knowing its occupant, one
would readily conclude, "here lives a
woman worshipper." This conclusion
would have been all right to have kept
to YOURSELF but to have it in Toms
presence would have met with a long
continued debate, with the probability
of being beaten in your argument. We
were both putting Havanas, seated
about an open CRATE. Tom was robed
in a handsome dressing gown that
looked so pretty that it might have
been presented to him by one Of the
creatures of his attacks. Said he, ad-
dressing me, while the pals smoke
wreathed around bust of Byron, on
pedestal near us:
"This is New Years eve. Thousands,
there is no doubt, are at this moment
in the height of ecstacy, while | am
still the same old Tom Hastings Of
three years ago, unchanged, unrelent-
full"
"But, Tom," said l, "Why COM
plain? You are without doubt happier
tonight than" -
Don't speak to me about it," he
answered sharply, 81 saw her to-day"
As he spoke he handed to me a pink
program, bristling with advertisements,
and on it, printed in large letters, was
Mariania--Miss Claudine Wilson"
"Well, Tom, haven't you got over
that old flame yet ?" queried |.
"No," answered he, "And when |
saw her to-day, playing the part of a
neglected women-a woman signing
for mans love a woman wronged by
mans deceitfulness, fearful, forgiving
I could not help remarking that she
played her part well. ;"
"But would she not have been truer
to her nature if she had taken the
role of the villain ?"
"Ah, there's the rub" and leaning
over me, as gentle as mother over
her sick child, he confessed that if
that woman had been true to him he
would tonight, instead of being a
bachelor with hardened heart, nc
doubt be sitting about his Preside, with
a curly head upon his shoulder, read
ing a glorious future for himself and
wife in the frebrands that were leaping
in the CRATE.
"Tom, you are talking nonsense
said |. "Here all the world terms you
a women hater, and, if the truth were
known, you are the softest man in
town. Why don't you brace up
There's that Highland girl she thinks
the sun rises and sets in those eyes Of
yours. Why she'd have you if you
were not worth cent ; and here you
are worrying your very life away
about an actress, whose idea in life is
only to win mems smiles and have q
fattering account of her performance
in the papers the next day. Why, if
you would marry her she would desert
you tomorrow, get a divorce in week
and marry her manager the next.
tell you, | don't read the newspaper;
for nothing"
"Why you talk plainly" was hi'
only answer.
eyes, l talk plainly, and | asser
again what l before said. You are ,
happier man tonight in being a bach
elor, than if you were the proud hus
band of Claudine Wilson"
As l finished my little speech a louo
rap at the door startled us. 1t was thu
boy who ran the elevator in from Has
tings fiat. Handing Tom note, h
flew to his elevator to answer the cal
of an individual on the next floor wit
was nearly making the little electro
bell ring itself out Tom hastily brok
the seal, and read to himself. In tn
meantime, l busted myself in lookin,
over an illustrated magazine, profus
in holiday pictures, not intending t
show any anxiety in the little trans
action. l read on, expecting ever
moment that Tom would break tn
silence, but he did not. Finally
turned deliberately around to see if h
was still in the room, and to my SUI
prise | saw him seated in an easy chail
with his head buried in his hands
"Tom,' said l, "What is the matter
"Read," said he, handing me tn
letter. l quickly unfolded the delicat
sheet Of note paper, and to my surpris
read as follows:
December, 31st, IS
"Dear Tom Meet me tonight q
the theatre, { Mariana is over at 1885
1t is New Years eve. | can not spen
the third one in agony. Yours,
Claudine Wilson.
1 By this time Tom was erect in h
chair and looking me square in tn
eye, asked, "Would you go?"
j "No," was my emphatic answer.