Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-28
BACHELOR BARTON.

When we were first married we bought
. little cottage in the midst of a pretty
garden--a cottage that had just four
rooms and garret in all, but we want
ed no more.
"Oncs 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 old fash
toned 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 beginning the world. Why should
we think of those who had done with ita
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 bride would be apt to- do,
when looking out Of the window 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
fashions 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. L had had him point
ed 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.
/ hid myself behind the curtain and
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 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 frazier, 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. i
knew it well in bygone 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- 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" l said. II shall bo
happy to show you every corner of it. !
think underestimate
"As young people understand such
he said. Happily they can
not quite know how the old feel. Not
quite mot quite"
He held his quaint old hat in his hand
as he spoke, and gave me sad smile
that drew his face into hundred tiny
crows feet, and as motioned the way,
he followed me into our little parlor
and sat down.
Nothing altered" he said. This is
old Mrs. Frees furniture, that had been
her grandmother's in Revolutionary
days. They say it is the fad Of the time
to buy it up or have limitations Of it.
The brass andirons, the shovels and
tongs, the carved chairs, the escritoire
II remember them all. This is a Turk
ish carpet-there are hardly any of
them to be found now. Yes, Mrs. Free
sat here, and Nancy played the guitar,
and / sang-you would not think that i
l. remember, she worked at
her tambour frame while read aloud
from the poets"
He moved his head slowly about,
noting every detail-the peacock feather
fans, the cut glass decanters and glasses,
the painted china in the corner cup
board, the footstool like q melon, the
lampmat like rose. Nothing had worn
out or grown shabby in the spinster's
little home.
Once" he said, ssMiss Nancy sat for
a miniature to painter then well known.
1t was speaking likeness. Does it by
chance remain in the house?"
II think it does," said. 1.-THE heir,
a nephew, rich man, who lives in New
Orleans, wrote orders that the house
should be sold with all its belongings,
and ! think the miniature you mean is
here"
! went to the escritoire and drew from
one o. the drawers the likeness Of lady
painted on ivory and set in narrow
gold frame. doubt if it really resem-
ibled any living being.
It was beautiful doll, all pink and
white. with blue eyes, little brown curls
penciisd on the forehead and white
Grill about the neck, but'as | put it into
the hands of Bachelor Barton he gazed
npon it with rapture.
-'.Miss Nancy's very sell" he said, "as
she an,ueared at twenty-five. There are
no such women now" He paused, and
with low bow, added, "With tho ex-