Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-07-28

JOHNS MISTAKE,

man you ever saw at thirty years OF
ago he was good looking and capable,
but as afraid of woman as though he
suspected them of an intention to cat
him. He might have had his pick Of
pretty girls, for he had comfortable
bank account to back his attractive looks
and steady habits; but girls were not
for him; be couldn't look ono IN tho face
when he met her, and in company bis
usual pleasant manner gave place to an
awkward diffidence that made him ap-
pear like country pumpkin.
His companions gradually married and
settled into homes of their own, but
John, after the death of his parents, re-
manned quietly in the old family mansion
on the hill his servants were all men
or boys except the housokeepcr, woman
who had lived to such an advanced age
among men that it is doubtful whether
she did not look upon herself as an old
bachelor in pctticoats.
Many were the invitations showered
upon the handsome landowner, hut he
went his way as carefully and cautiously
through life as though ho wero walking
on thinly frozen mill pond, surrounded
by placards marked danger"
People laughed at him girls who had
once tried modestly to encourage him
with smiles grew into contentcd, placid
matrons, and their daughters we're duly
informed of the proverbial bashfulness of
"Old John Ainsworth." Yes il really
came to that pass--"0ld John Aims
worth" And yet at fifty he was as fine
ly preserved man as ever lived :,
straight aud tall, with gray hair, blue
eyes and heavy white mustache be had
not changed an atom from, the kind
hearted John Of other days, always
helping the poor in his own unostenta-
tious manner. But though respected
by all he was loved by none.
Still, John was happy enough, in a
humdrum fashion, till death, having a
prior claim, stepped in and deprived him
of his housekeeper. Clarissa for she
had been faithful soul, and-a good
cook.
After that sad event John beoan 10
find n certain desolation in lifc and m
realize vaguely that bis comfortable.
well conducted home was broken up;
first one farm hand and tbcn another
tried the cooking Gll that imno,,on,
branch of the ostablisbment ,brao,onod
total collanse.
One was without n rival whoro on;o,
salad was concerned another co,ld frv
sansapes 10 the queens taste n th;rd
could noaob eposIbnt WIN on,m.r.,o9
John hinsworth could not iva eyclu.
siyely on eggs salad and sansaoes. h;s
digestive organs Mt bis time of 'l;fe
needed pamnorino. bcsidcs be conI
not endure the irregularitv-breakf,st
one morning AZ seven. tho newt nj half
mast ten Somehow The mainsnr;na he.
inc broken. all Tho wheels fell into d;s.
order and wberoas Tho Jailv ron,;,e or
domestic duties was onco adins,ed and
kent smoothly running bv com,otent
had !, noy so,,o,;,',os .,o..J H.
'''PP'" "'o
getner
John Ainsworth thought long and
deeply on the subject he had n horror
oC womon I'm, be now c,I, ia, bo ,,na,
"o'"'"' &c "0 w" 'o'. '"a' no ,"u''
"nke Sacrihce' anu sec u no couid So
cure the services OF some spinstor or
widow 10 direct his household for Time
nj least Bnt think M hard ma bo vould
h. ILL No., al, A. - 80,
no Ooa'' wv JUL " ''''' o"o 'u''a'''
person.
Now II happened that he had sta1nch
| friend in a former school obnm. one
Robert wilkins who had bean m.,r;sd
and settled there twenty Years and had
always kent IN n sor, II onc.s;ded int.
macy with his ba.bful friend OnIv |.
month had elansed sinco Ron hoI1.J
him to make n purchase in bor.eaesb
which resulted in his profit: and in his
;o.h;I;,, % Ill, h;o,soIe .ol;,,
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