Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-25
BACHELOR BARTON.

BACdELOk BAhIUN.
Whsn W were first married We boughs
lesis eoGsgs IN the miiss Of pretty
Gnphse-s cottage that had just four
posns aad gsxrss in ell. bss We want
- 20 mora
One ths property Of the late Miss
Uoncy Free" the real estate dealer said
= - circular.
We did nos think much about Mis-
Ysss. however. only that her old fash-
1Dnnd furnisure-just what every ons
49, going wild over--wsnt with tho
houns, and that We could make II tho
pReoGfus hrtls nest in the world We
wsp beginning the world Why should
~ think Of thoss who had done with it,
Why should Jack and Lotfie Deane.
~ married. ask what had been the
49, and griefs Of Nancy Free. spinsfer.
nums tans deads We live for Ourselves
= In world.
Jnck bought the house; We moved in.
n plHcs had been very carefully kept
elsan BY the agent. and l began to ar
Snngs and rearrange. to tie ribbon bows
- chairs. To loop fresh muslin curtains
e ~ window panss. to Ill the old china
vnnn with flowers, thinking Of Jack the
vfzle. - bride would BE- apt TO do.
Whsn looking out of the window | saw
. qunipt old figure coming up the road
-thnt of . man very old In years. and
vho had not changed his garb with the
fnGhions % the times.
His hat had bell crown and rolling
Sim; his collar and coat and neckerchief
vseo Of the sort we see in our grand
1nthsrs' portraits. had had him point
"a out 10 me ~ Bachelor Barton" and
besn told that no was rich and of good
oad family, and had once been disap-
ynintsd In love.
hid myself behind the curtain and
WATCHED him curiously ~ he cane on,
wonderins il he were once handsome
young fellow like my Jack, and If he
had loved some one as Jack loved me.
and how it was that youth could change
10 aGe and golden locks to gray, and
Why It need TO be. when To my surprise
10 paused at the gate Of my garden and
onfercd
Perhaps his old fashioned politeness
lid him TO call upon tho strangers. !"
after the good old custom 90 rapidly
dying out.
Amoment more my little maid brought
ne his card. and with glance at the
mirror, hurried down to greet him.
Close at hand Bachelor Barton was
c1dsr than he had seemed from my upper
window. and Trailer. but his face had .
owees expression still.
'APardon my intrusion. madam" he
I'D II saw the house open for the first
tims for years and could not restrain
myself from approaching the door. !
1nsw Il veil In bysone days, when Miss
Uoncy Free and her mother lived hero.
lcnns hsre often then. ! was . very
iu1tmats fxiend- ! wanted to see the
1sar old rooms once again. Miss Free
vaa eighty when she died; am eighty
INA But wo were very young people
vhn 70 6xst met-twenty -one and
tUsnty-stx. You think mo an eccentric
o11 crsoe1Ee no doubt, but ! want to see
~ houss once before die, fOr old times
49,"
'sComs In, dr." aid 81 shall be
hnpPy 70 show you every corner Of it ]
1hink I undszstand"-
'.As young people understand such
1kinp." hs said Happily they can
~ Qn5ts know how the old feel Not
Qat<s-n0t quite"
He hid his quaint old hat In his hand
- ~ spoke. end save me . sad smile
thnt drew his face into . hundred TIM
crows fest. and ~ mo6oned the way,
- followed me into our little parlor
I'D 81 down
'sNo<hing altered" he said. ''This is
ed Mrs. Frees furniture, that had been
A~ grandmother's In Revolutionary
dayx They say 1t Is tho fad Of the time
- bay il up or have limitations Of it
Ia bras andhrsds, the shovels and
tuneB, ths carved Shairs, the escritoire
zruusnhsr them all. This 10 q Turk
IN osrpet-there are hardly any Of
tham 20 - found now. Yes, Mrs. Free
- hsre, snd Nancy played the guitar.
and ! sang-you would not think that I
onng--or. remember, she worked at
~ tsmbour frame while I read aloud
hon tho poets"
He moved his head slowly about,
no<ing every dstail--the peacock feather
fans, the Gus glass decanters and glasses,
ths painted china In the corner cup
boasd. the fsotstool like . melon, the
lnmpnnat like rose. Nothing had worn
cut OF grown shabby in the spinster's
Hsols hsme.
''Ouce." he said. Miss Nancy sat for
. ninaeare to . painter then well known.
Is ~ . speaking likeness. Does 1t by
ehance rsmain In the house,
IL think il doss." said. Tho heir.
. nephew, . rich man. who lives in New
OTIeons. wrote orders that the house
ohn1kd - sold with all its belongings.
I'D think the miniature you mean is
1ess."
lWsn1 to the escrftoire and drew from
- II the drawers the likeness Of lady
pointed On ivory snd set in - narrow
es2d frame. aouo< II it really resem-
bled my Irving being.
Il VS. b-sutiful doll. al pink and
vhi1e. with blue eyes, little brown curls
Dsnri1ed en- the forehesd and a white
mn sbsus the neck. but ss put it into
- hnnzis 81 Bachelor Barton he gazed
upon u w1th raptare.
''1GB Nsncy's very SELF" he said. las
ne appeared ~ twenty-five. There are
nosuck women now" He paused. and
vifh . Low bow, added With the ex-