Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-11
SHARING A BACHELOR

''POSItIYely, you won nave anything
more--another cake or a cup Of cocoa >"
Ard pretty, brown eyed Miss Kittridge,
standing by the tray In her fathers cosy
library, glanced inquirlugly around into
eyes grey blue, hazel and brown like her
own. you are leaving the big chair for
me- Though be the hostess, since
have taken the liberty Of appointing my =
self speaker | will take it can cut short
my peroration if you will kindly cali to
mind that your notes ran something IL
this wise:
Miss Kittridge will be at home We'd
nesday, October q, at ) p. m. The favor
of your company is especially requested
as a matter Of interest TO all will be under
discussion
For a moment will you be so kind as
to take an inventory o. yourself? Before
to-day, nave more than three Of you ever
been under the same roof together? Have
more than two of you, except in thu case
of The Misses Cube2 Now, who will be
first to surmise what matter can be Of
common INTEREST,""
"a mani" cried the unconventional Miss
Sater, with one of her sparkling little
trills Of laughter.
''The man, amended Miss Norwich,
with her usual direCtness of speech.
why not say Mr.. Grange and be done
with it?" said Miss SODIUM, sourIy. "a
handsome trifer who has made love
to every unmarried woman in the
place.
Miss Kittridge smiled, then waited a
moment as she glanced around.
"Ah, thirteen of us--an unlucky num-
Der for Mr. Grange! Young ladies. they
say a woman can keep her Own secret BET
ter than that of another AS the proceed
ings of this little convention are of inter
est to each of us, | think that We shall find
no trouble in holding Them strictly conf
Dental. Now the next condition | would
impose is not as easy as it looks at first
blush. Hands up, all Of you! Who will
tell the exact truth tor the next half / our!
Come, Miss DayO, wear your heart on your
sleeve for once IN your life; 1t may ease
it. -
The smile on the tpeaker' face was so
sympathetic, so sweet, so assuring that
though Miss Dayo's tender brown eyes
showed that her heart stood sill midway
in its beat Ike frozen waterfall, yet she
raised her hand.
Now set aside all 8elf-depreciation
while you answer this question from your
own private poiut Of view: How man. of
you believe Mr. Grange at some time
showed marked symptoms of being in
love when In your presence? Come. Miss
Dayo, they had you engaged to him.
$50 have we all been, sighed Miss
SaIter.
Miss Dayo you need not put up your
hand. | read your answer in your eyes"
As she looked around a laugh shone In
her own brip hit brown nrhS
Gracious girls" she exclaimed,
"what mighty fountain of love must be
yelling up in that heart of his that he can
reach us all!
at may oe one of those parlor foun-
tains, )" suggested Miss Norwich. using
the same water over and over again"
''Or his love may be like the wind, "
said Miss Cube at bloweth where a
girl Hsteth, and know one knows whence
it cometh or whittier it goeth."
"Ob," sighed Miss Salter, "the wind.
or wave motion moves on, but the calm
depths so tossed and torn must fall back
III the same old place-squeezed lemon
fashion,"
"Oh, Miss Salter, beg of you do rot
tell me that he pressed your, hand tool"
cried Miss Fair.
Would you have me accuse him of
partiality? Is not the of true love ever
the same?'
Then, | suppose" said Miss Ellis
worth, that he popped out of his Office
like jack-in the-box at all of you
Come, girls, must call you to order, "
said Miss Kittrigde, at this junction. Il
have another question. How many of
YOU have had au odd moment or two in
which you have fancied yourself in love
with Mr. Grange? Miss Fair and Miss
Ellsworth, your hands are not up. Lucky
girls! You, too, Miss Lynn
You see, said Miss Lynn, in that big
CHEEKY voice of hers, Il was not engaged.
though if Mr.. Grange had begged me
quite hard hut go on, Miss Salter."
''Wei, said that lady with a laugh,
might, after night spread before him
my engageless hanU. but to no purpose.
He seemed to take no real heart interest
in me till wore Tom Martin ring; then
he found value that possession would not
show him.
Girls" said Miss Kittridge. as sh,
leaned her chin thoughfulIy in her hand
"Siuce my engagement | have BEEN en-
bed to see Mr.. Grange with other eyes;
do not say that they are trUer ones, but a
all events he stands before me in the clea,
light OF reason. and not in fancy's ros!
rays. Now, youug ladies, aside from thi
one fault, you will all agree that he is /
model man. That he is bright and tai
ented his numerous cases testify. How {
man so constant to bis profession can b
so lnconstant in his love affairs is tn
mystery. Perhaps, with Ferdinand, b.
never found so full soul but some 6efec
in her did quarrel with the noblest grac
she owned.
When he congratulated me upon m
engagement" said Miss Lynn, he toll
me confdtnJialiy the quality he most al
mired In woman was modeSty. 1 am sorr
to say he added, that the girl OF to, da
Is too easily won and repels lover by he
eagerness to allure him.
There was a storm of indignation a
this.
What is girl to do when a man a
but proposes?' cried bright Miss Saltel
.Frown him DOWN."
''Or run away ?" suggested Mis-
SODIUM.
Perhaps she should draw herself to be
full height and give him glance of 81
preme scorn, added Mis- Kittridge.
"'But TO return to business. My purpo:
in calling you here is TO declare plot
compel this creature wrapped up In sc
to provide pin-money for some pinin
woman. Ills duty seems very clear
me. He has been playing with our heart