The morning call., 1891-09-14
LOST-A BACHELOR.

Young Aspinwall- Jones was angry and
he stalked into the clubhouse and ordered
something to quiet his nerves. He was in
love with the glorious Miss Paulsoh, and
there was a lover who was more favored
than he.
He would not have minded so much if it
had not been so very mysterious. He did
not know who the favored lover was.
It was only that morning that he knew
any one else was in the field. He had
called on Miss Pauson at her cottage and
was ushered unceremouiOusly into the
library.
When the footman announced his name
he entered and found to his utter dismay
that there was tobacco smoke in the air,
door was slammed and pair of masculine
boots were just disappearing.
1t was very ill-bred in the man. whoever
be was, to smoke in lady'S library, but
that was not exactly what troubled young
Aspinwall-Jones. He did not like the idea
that a man was on sufficient terms OF int-
macy to smoke in Miss PaulsOn's library.
And so his morning call on that young
lady was not particularly pleasant although
rs he DOW recalled it she was very nice to
him and all that, and treated him in de-
EghJfully frank manner.
That was what charmed him so much-her
frankness. There was a candor in her large
innocent blue eyes and trulhfulness IN the
tones of her oica that seemed to young
Aspinwall-Jones very attractive. Then she
was so very tall ami so very graceful and so
very clever that he quite fell in love with
her though she had been in LennX scarcely
a week She was a very handsOn woman
ard attracted n good deal off attention. but
very few people appeared to know her. 1t
was odd, too, considering ner beauty anu
evident good breeding.
''Sbp seems very nice" Mrs. Leland re-
marked to oae of her friends at a tennis
party as she watched the graceful hgure o1
the girl fitting about the tennis court. "Dut
don't think shall allow my son Archie to
have much to say to her. She may be very
fascinating and all that but we know so
little about her, and l think at times her
manner is TOO bold, to say the least"
But young Aspnwall-Joues didn't think
so at all. She was an agreeable girl and
new girl. If she didn't know many people
il wasn't her fault. And II she wasn't eX-
actly in the swim how could her people
manage 10 get cottage in LenOX and how
could she manage to get invited every
who're?
Nevertheless, at many dances, although
Miss PaulsOn seemed to be invited, she re-
ceIycd very little attention. She knew very
few men, and SO young AsplnwallJone
had her pretty much to himself.
"Do Won know" he said to her one night
after a waltz, Il think you are awfuIly
pretty"
shake of her head. and acknowledged the
compliment by dazzling smile that showed
a set # creamy teeth.
Yes" he continued boldly, Il do really.
And Ike you very much.'
He might have got farther II his particu-
Tl,.Bt D., F,.-s a 4 ,f.fl l~aI
across tie room al him in warning way
and started 10 come to him.
He noticed Peabody. nodded slightly to
hiss Paulson, and then locking arms with
Rim taey stTolled into conservatory.
You're very young" began Peabody,
''and very simple" he added.
Aspiu walI-Jones was so wildly happy that
he did not DENY either of these assertions.
He still remembered a wOman's smile and
be broke away from his companion and
started away.
"Ob. in herel Oh, l say, Cholly, old boy,
do vou know what it is to be in love-"
idiot" exclaimed Peabody. You're
IN a land of dreams. People never are in
love nowadays; they. merely get married"
"But Pm IN love" remarked the other.
"With yourself" put in Peabody, cyni-
No, sir, by Jovel With the prettest girl
you ever laid your eyes Oh. If you had been
here this morning and seen me with her be-
fore you wouldn't talk that way. But I'm
glad you have come, for you may presently
congratulate me-that is, l hope So"
Foolish boy l'
You are quite right, old fellow, but she's
adorable-she's an angell She's too good
Don't be too sure of that. You don't
want to get married anyhow. l SHOULDN'T
advise 1t. You're an idiot to think OF such
a thing. Look at me, old fellow" Aspin-
wall did look at him, and was duly i'm
pressed with his single eyeglass, his hair
parted accurately in the middle and his
snub nose. Look at me. Do you think
you will ever go to my weddingP | think
not. I'm n bachelor, and you remember,
OLD fellow, you are with me, as they say at
the BOwery. Weare in it together. You
remember our compact. marry, you marry
| remain single, you remain single. Don't
break your word"
"Oh, that was such a silly compact"
broke in AspinwalLJon 81 was small
child when we made It. ! didn't know any
better. hadn't met Miss Paulsou then"
Miss Paulson? So she's the charmer.
Why, my dear fellow, you don't want to
marry her. She isn't very well known about
here. She's not in society much, aud she
evidently hasn't much money. l wouldn't
marry a girl | didn't know anything about,
and besides don't see what there Is about
her to attract a man of your good taste"
1bullH ASplu dll-OOHco pullCN hl4O obld
Cling ends Of his charming mustache and
glared savagely at Peabody.
"Oh, she's heavenly creature" he said
with fervor. such eyes, so handsome and
you know, old fellow, l always adored hand
some girls. And then she treats me so
nicely; she doesn't think l am little boy
And she isn't a bit naughty; and, well, she
Is perfection"
But after that morning call young Aspin-
wall-Jones changed his mind. He wondered
how girl cared to entertain callers who
were ashamed to be seen.
He loved her just as much, to be sure.
Perhaps he was misjudging her. 1t might
be a long-lOst brother. or something of that
sort. But why should this brother be
afraid to meet him?
Nothing particularly odd happened until
one night at a german at the pretty assem-
bly, rooms near Curtiss'. Aspiuwall-J ones
had good luck that night and plucked up
courage enough to ask his divinity to marry
him.
His mother had warned him if he did any
thing of the sort she would never forgive
him, and his sister had strongly advised him
not to do 1t, but Miss Paulson looked so
beautiful in charming toilet of white, with
faint color in her cheeks and shining
light in her Eyes, that he quite forgot all his
mother had threatened.
And presently he burst into his friends
room at the hotel and embraced him effu-
sively.
Congratulate me, old fellow p
"Er-whatP" :gasped Peabody, unclasping
his friends arms from his neck, and taking
of ruftied collar and looking at it regret
fully.
"Pm the happiest man in the worldW
That's pretty strong statement"
But am, you know"
Has she accepted yOu {"
Well, not exactly that, yon konw. She
sid l might call on her tomorrow morning,
anyhow"
What is there so wildly happy in that?"
Oh, limited at something, aud the way
she looked at me know she means to ac-
eept me-"
"Seems to me you are taking good deal
for granted"
Then Peabody went on to induce his friend
to give up Miss PaulsOn. He reiterated
their agreement, made long ago, to remain
bachelors, and finally said that he thought
Aspinwall-Jones Was man of his word.
"You seem to take a good deal Of interest
in this thing" said that young man, pres
entity. "If | want to get married will,
and that foolish compact that We made
when Just out of college doesn't bother me
In the least. 1 am going to marry Miss
PaulsOn."