The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-10-15
BACHELOR BARTON.

When we were first married we
bought little cottage in the midst of
pretty garden-a cottage that had
just four rooms and garnet in all.
but we wanted no more.
Once the property of the late Miss
Nancy Free, the real estate dealer
said in his circular.
We did not think much about
Miss Free, however, only that her
oldfashloned turniture-just what
every one was going wild over
went with the house, and that we
could make it the prettiest little nest
in 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, spinster, some time dead? We
live tor ourselves in this world.
Jack bought the house, we moved
in. The place had been very care
fully 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 bride would be apt to do,
when looking out OF the windov 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 fashion of the times.
His hat had bell crown and roll
ing rim, his collar and coat and
neckerchief were of the sort we see
in our grandfather's portraits. | had
had him pointed out to me as
Bachelor Barton" and been told
that he was rich and Of good old
family, and had aI.1" been disap-
5,ointufiii love.
l hid myself behind the curtain
and watched him curiously as he
came on, wondering if he were once
a handsome young fellow like my
lack, and if he had loved some one
as lack loved me, and how it was
that youth could change to age and
golden locks of gray, and why If
need to be, when to my surprise he
paused at the gate of nv garden and
entered.
Perhaps his old fashioned polite
ness led him 20 call upon the
.'strangers, after the good old GUS
tom so rapidly dying out.
A moment more my little maid
brought me his card, and with a
glance at the mirror, | hurried
down to greet him.
Close at hand Bachelor Barton
was older than he seemed from my
upper window, and Trailer, but his
face had sweet expression still.
Pardon my intrusion, madam, he
said. 1 saw the house open for the
first time for years and could not
restrain myself from approaching
the door. | knew it well in by gone
DAYS, when Miss Nancy Free and
her mother lived here. | came here
often then. was very intimate
friend. | wanted to see the dear
old rooms once again. Miss Free
was eighty when she died; | am
eighty five. 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 want to see the house once
before | die, for old times sake.
Come in, sir, | said. | shall be
happy to show you every corner OF
it. think understand
AS young people understand such
things, he said. Happily they can
not quite know how the old feei-not
quite.
He held his quaint old hat in his
hand as he spoke, and gave me a
sad smile that drew his face into
hundred crows feet, and as |
motioned the way he followed me
into our little parlor an sat down.
Nothing altered, he said. This is
old Mrs Frees furniture, that had
been her grandmother's in Revolu-
tioncry days. They say it is the
fad of the lime to buy it up or have
limitations otit The brass andirOns,
the shovels and tongs, the carved
chairs, the escritoir-I remember
them all. This is a Turkish carpet
there are hardly any OF them to
be found now. Yes, Mrs. Free sat
here, and Nancy played the guitar,