The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-09-22

N'~-~~
Nancy Free" the real estate dealer
said in his circular. ,
We did not think much about Miss
Free, however, only that her old-fash'
toned furniture-just what everyone
was going wild over-went with the
house, and that we could make it the
prettiest little nest in the world. We
were beginning the world. Why should
we think Of those who had done with
it? Why should Jack and Lottie
Deane, just married, ask what had
been the hopes and griefs OF Nancy
Free, spinister, some time dead? We
live for ourselves in this world.
Jack bought the house and we
moved in. The place had been very
carefully kept clean by the agent, and
began to arrange and rearrange, to
tie ribbon bows on chairs, to loop
fresh muslin curtains at the window
panes, to fill the old china vases with
flowers, thinking of Jack the while, as
a bride would be apt to do; when,
looking out OF the window, l saw a
quaint old figure coming up the road
that OF a man very old in years, and
who had not changed his garb with the
fashions OF the times.
His hat had q bell crown and rolling
rim, his collar and coat and necker-
chief were OF the sort we see in our
grandfathers' portraits. / had had
him pointed out to me as :'Bachelor
Barclay" and been told that he was
rich and OF g. good old family, and
had once been disappointed in love.
hid myself behind the curtain and
watched him curiously as he came on,
wondering if he were once handsome
young fellow like my Jack, and if he
had loved someone as Jack loved me,
and how it was that youth could
change to age and golden locks to
grey, and why it need to be; when, to
my surprise, he paused at the gate of
my garden and entered. Perhaps his
old-tashioned politeaess led him to
call upon the "strangers," after the
good old custom so rapidly dying
out.
A moment more my little maid
brought me his card, and, with a
glance at the mirror, / hurried down
to meet him. Close at hand Bachelor
Barclay was older than he had SEEM
ed from my upper window, and frail-
er, but his face had sweet express
sion still.
"Pardon my intrusion, madam"
he said. I saw the house open for the
first time in years, and could not re.
strain myself from approaching the
door. / knew it we'll, in bygone DAYS,
when Nancy Free and her mother
lived here. I came here often then.
was a very intim ate friend. WANTED
to see the dear old rooms once again.
Miss Free was eighty when she died;
am eighty-1ive. But we were very
young people when we first met
twenty one and twenty-six. You
think me an eccentric old creature, no
doubt; but I want to see the house
once before die, for old times sake"
"Come in, sir" I said. I shall be
happy to show you every corner OF
it. think understand -
LAS young people understand such
things" he said.
"Happily they cannot know how
the old feel, not quite"
He held his quaint old hat in his
hand as he spoke, and gave me sad
smile that drew his face into hun
dred tiny crow's-feet, and as I mo-
toned the way he followed me into
our little parlor and sat down.
Nothing altered" he said. s"This
is old Mrs. Frees furniture, that had
been her grandmother in Revolu-
tionary days. They say it is the fad
OF the times to buy it up or have imi-
tations OF it. The brass and irons,
the shovel and tongs, the carved
chair, the escrit oire-I remember them
all. This is q Turkish carpet-there
are hardly any OF them to be found
now. Yes, Mrs. Free sat here, and
Nancy played the guitar, and sang
you would not think that I sang
or, l remember, she worked at her
tambOur frame while I read aloud
from the poets.
He moved his head slowly about,
noting every detail-the peacock
feather fans, the cut glass decanters
and glasses, the painted china in the
corner cupboard, the footstool like q
melon, lamp mat like a rose. Nothing
had worn out or grown shabby in the
spinster's little home.
"Once," he said, Miss Nancy sat
for a miniature to a painter then we'll
known: 1t was speaking likeness.
Does it by chance remain in the
hOuse?"
II think it Does" I said. "The
heir, nephew, a rich man, who lives
IN New Orleans, wrote orders that
the house should be sold with all its
belongings, and think the miniature
you mean is here"
l went to the escritoire and drew
from one OF the drawers likeness O.
lady, painted on ivory, and set in 6
narrow gold frame, I doubted if il
really resembled any living being. l,
Was a. beautiful doll, all pink anc
white, with blue eyes, little brown
curls pencilled on the forehead, and 6
white frill around the neck; but as
put it into the hands of Bachelor
Bare ay he gazed upon it with rap
ture.
''Miss Nancy's very SELF" said he
las she appeared at twenty-five
There are no such women now" H
paused, and with low bow, add
ed.
With the exception of the fair lad,