Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-25

huopohu uocu w PiouiSp elidt YOU
would marry before we did"
my dear madam, there is no ro-
nance whatever. How could |
ever find time to WOO wife. A
drummer is a nomadic savage" In
a graver tone he went on, shut /
have my ideal as other men and
women have"
please tell me of your ideal. ]
really take deep interesting in this
affair"
"0h, we'll, l don't know exactly
as to face and figure, it is hazy, but
Il young, loving, womanly girl
nothing strong-minded for me, l
detest the school-ma'am type
pshaw, what nonsense, here i am
thirty-fve! Still ! am resolved not
to marry until | find her."
The lady laughed. well ] shall
watch your course with interest at
Cottage City, Perhaps" she added
slyly, lit is the object of your visit. "
"Oh, by no means! have prom
lsed myself an outing here for a
number of years, narrowly escaped
coming last summer" And they
were lost in the crowd at the gang
way.
Abby went to a private villa and
after dinner attired in her pretty
blue flannel, went with a novel and
sun umbrella to the beach and sat
down in the white sand. How
pretty and graceful her figure looked
in the loose folds of her dress, de-
cidedly girlish. How her soul ex-
banded, her color came, her eyes
searching the far sea line darkened
with intense emotion, her whole be-
ing seemed swayed in unison with
the irresistible rhythm of the ocean.
She forgot she was Abigail Minerva
Bachelor, spinster, of the unalter-
able school-ma'am type, who had
always heretofore moved in mathe-
NAUTICAL squares. Her book was dis
regarded, her white hands folded in
her lap, her attitude full of listless
abandon, all the pent-up feeling of
years was in her and the glow was
beautiful. Two men strolled by,
she did not see them, but they turn
ed to look at her.
What an artistic, poetic face"
Where have | seen her?" unused
the other as he looked lingering.
Two days passed thus in a state
of exaltation, and then slowly her
interest came back to her social
surroundings. She made some ac-
quaintances, the lady she had no
ticed on the boat was at the same
villa, who in turn introduced num-
erous acquaintance to her, among
them her escort of the boat, Mr..
Charles Durham.
About ten days after we were
strolling along the moonlight sand
and accidently overheard the fol-
lowing protest;
but l know you detest the
school-ma'am type, l heard you tell
Mrs. Fairbank so, coming down on
the boat; the one you marry must
be young, womanly girl, etc, not
strong-minded."
ABBY, believe me | was fool
/ didn't know what wanted until
| met you, now it is all clear to me;
you are the only woman / shall
ever love. 1t almost takes away
my breath when | think how near
| came to missing you! If | had
come last summer, as | intended, l
should have gone to the grave
without you"
Shame compels us to retrace our
steps.
The old nurse said:
ats the strangest match | ever
knew of, nothing like what ] al
lowed Abigail would do for herself.
They say he's one O. them New
York drummers, and Abigail has
"a good ear for music, that's the only
attraction | can see. I've give up
prophesying what the future pard-
ner will be like"
Abby has a beautiful boy now
and such an elegant outfit as that
child has, was never seen. Grand
ma Bachelor said:
81 mistrust if the child lives, such
preparations ] never see"
But there is every indication that
the child will live, he is strong and
healthy and when his mother is not
rocL,or him, b;c thor 10