Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-23
BACHELOR BARTON.

when we were first married we bought
a little cottage in the midst Of pretty
garden cottage that had just -four
rooms Kud a garret in all. but we want
ed no mrc.
"Once the property Of the late Miss
Nancy Free" tho real estate dealer said
in his circular.
We did not think much about Miss
Free, however, only that her old fash
ioncl farniture-just what every one
was going wild oyer-went with the
house, aad that we could make 1t the
prettiesl little nest in tho world. We
were beginning the world. Why should
we think Of those who had done with IL?
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 for ourselves
in this world
Jack bought the house; we moved in.
The place had been very carefully kept
clean by the agent, and began to ar
range and rcarrange, 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. rs a bride would be apt to do,
when looking out of the window saw
quaint old figure coming up the road
that of n man very old in years, and
who had not changed his garb with the
faslsons Of the times
His hat had bell crown and rolling
rim; his collar and coat and neckerchief
were of the sort we see in our grand
fathers portraits, | had had him point
ed ont 10 me as Bachelor Barton" and
been told that he was rich and of good
old family, and had once been disap-
pointed in love.
hid myself behind the curtain and
watched him curiously as he came on,
wondering if he were once n 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
to age and golden locks TO gray. and
why it need TO be, when to my surprise
he paused at the gate of my garden and
entered.
Perhaps his old fashioned politeness
led him to call upon the strangers,
after the good old custom so rapidly
dying out.
Amoment more my little maid brought
me his card, and with glance at the
mirror, ! hurried down to greet him.
Close at hand Bachelor Barton was
older than he had seemed from my upper
window, and Trailer, but his face had a
sweet expression still.
Pardon my intrusion, madam" he
said II saw the house open for the first
time for years and could not restrain
myself from approaching the door.
knew it well in bygone days, when Miss
Nancy Free and her mother lived here.
camc 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. Bat we were very young people
when We first met-twenty-one and
twenty-six. You think mo an eccentric
old creature no doubt, but want to see
the house once before die. for old times
| sake"
Come in, sir" said. II shall be
happy t. 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 feel. Not
quite-not quite"
He held his quaint old hat in his hand
as he spoke, and gave me sad smile
that drew his face into a hundred tiny
| crows feet, and rs motioned the way
he followed me into our little parlol
and sat down.
Nothing altered" he said. This il
old Mrs. Freo's furniture. that had beer
her graudmother's in Revolutionar,
| days. They say it is tho fad Of the tim,
70 buy il up or have limitations Of it
The brass andirons, the shovels aaC
tongs, the carved chairs, tho escritoir,
! remember them all. This is Turk
ish carpet-there are hardly any o
them to be found now. Yes. Mrs. Ere,
sat here. and Nancy played the guitar
ana ] sang-you would not think that
sang--or, ! remember, she worked a
her tambour frame while | read alou,
from the poets
He moved his head slowly about
noting every detail-tho peacock feathe
fans. the cut glass decantors and glasses
, thr painted chinn in the corner cul
boa.-. .A- .oo,stOV, l.hc a melon. Ia