Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-09-03
BACHELOR BARTON.

wanted no more
"Once the property Of the late Miss
Nancy Free, the resl estate dealer said
in his circular.
We did not think much about Miss
Free, however, only that her old d-fash-
ioned furniture-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. We were begin
ring 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 for ourselves
in this world.
Jack bought the house we moved in.
The place had been very carefully kept
clean by the agent, and l began to ar
range 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 q
quaint old figure coming up the road
that of man very old in years, and who
had not changed his garb with the fash
ions of the times.
His hat had a bell crown and rolling
rm his collar aud coat and neck erchies
were of the sort we see in our grand
fathers 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 once been disap.
pointed in love.
watched him curiously as he came on,
wondering if he were once handsome
young fellow like my Jack, and if he had
loved some one as Jack loved me, and
how it WIS that youth could change to
age AMI golden locks to gray, and why il
need to be, when to my surprise he
paused at the gate of my garden and ep-
tered.
Perhaps his old fashioned politeness
Id him to call upon the strangers,
after tli good old custom SO rapidly dy
ins out
y moment more my little maid brought
re his card, and with a glance at the
;..,lsor, hurried down to greet him.
C.ose at hand Bachelor Barton was
oi'vv than he had seemed from my up.
CT window, and Trailer, but his face had
i sweet expression still.
Pardon my intrusion, madam" he
aid. II saw the house open for the first
time for years could not restrain my
elf from approaching the door. knew
it well in bygone days, W hen Miss Nancy
Free and her mother lived here. l came
here often then. was a very intimate
friend. | wanted to see the dear olG
rooms once again. Miss Free was eighty
when she died; am eighty-fve. But
we were very young people when we
irst met-twenty- one and twenty six
You think me an eccentric old creature
no doubt, but 1 want to see the house
once before 1 die, for old times sake.
Come in, SIR" 1 said. II shall be
happy to show you every corner of it. l
think l understand"
"As young people understand suck
things" he said. "Happily they cau
not quite know how the old feel-no.
quite.
He held his quaint old hat in his hanc
as he spoke, and gave me a sad smile
that drew his face into hundred tiny
crows feet, and as I motioned the way
he followed me into our little parlor ano
sat down.
Nothing altered" he said. "This is
old Mrs. Frees furniture, that had been
her grandmother in Revolutionary days.
They say it is the fad of the time to buy
hoy ifof nf hros
andirons, the shovels and tongs, the
carved chairs, the escritoire-I remember
them all. This is Turkish carpet
there are hardly any of them to be found
now. Yes, Mrs. Free sat here, and
Nancy played the guitar, and I sang
you would not think that l sang-or,
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 feathe.
fans, the cut-glass decanters and glasses,
the painted china in the corner cup.
board, the footstool like melon, the
lamp mat like rose. Nothing had worn
out or grown shabby in the spinster's
little home.
"Once," he said, Miss Nancy sat fo,
miniature to painter then well
known. 1t was a speaking likeness.
Does it by chance remain in the house?'
"I think it does, said "The heir, a
nephew, rich man, who lives in New
Orleans, wrote orders that the house
should be sold with all its belongings,
and l think the miniature you mean is
here.
l went to the escritoire and drew from
one of the drawers the likeness of lady
painted on ivory and set in II narrow
gold frame. l doubt if it really resem
ole1 any living being.
1t was beautiful doll. all pink and
white. "ith blue eyes, little hrown curlg
pencjlrl on the forehead ald IA whlte
frill about the neck, but rs put it into
the hands of b ,chelor Barton he guz ii
npon it with rapture.
Miss Nancy's very self, =" he said, "as
she appeared at twenty-five. There are
nu such women now" lie paused, and
it'll low bow, added, with the cx,
'pl,tion Of the fair lady in whose presence
I now stand.
| court'-ird. hope did it properly.
1t seemed the only thing to do under TIN
circumstances.
After this begged the old gertIcmau
90 visit any portion of the h"u,'' amh
grounds he pleased. AMI when he went
u ay presented him with Miss Naucy'A