Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-09
HANNHH'S CHOICE.
"No" =" said Miss Gilsey.


"But whyi" pleaded Mr. Glump.
"I don't know that I'm bound to an
swer."
"You are, after trifiing with a mans
affections like this"
"Well, then, don't like old bachelors"
So the old bachelor went upon his way
and travelled as usual for the house Of Tape
& Buttons. And Miss Hannah Gilsey fol-
lowed the humble occupation of binding
shoes as before. She did sometimes think
that Mr.. Glump was right, and that other
offers were NOT likely to be forthcoming In
a village where there were ten women to
one man. And as the years passed by and
she turned the corner Of 30 she once or
twice found herself wishing that she had
allowed Mr.. Glump some little hope, held
him as a second string to her bow at least,
until such time as she should find better
man ready to offer. But the young men,
one after the other, took fight from the
Point The minister married. The two
widowers selected second wives on the
principle set forth by the experienced Mr..
Glump, and no other wives died or seem
ed likely to die. The gentleman or lady
it was spiteful enough TO be the latter
who did the statistics for the Punkin Point
Republican set forth In long column
the slight probabilities Of more than one
tenth of the single ladies Of Punkin Point
ever being anything else.
Miss Gilssy read this article through.
She sat down and reflected. 1t seemed 20
be very true.
"There In her own street, Deacon Dut-
ton and 10 daughters, one daughter mar
ried; Mrs Smith and three daughters,
IA. ID s.H
his wife, two sisters of his own, two grown
daughters, none Of them engaged or mar
ried And 1 refused Mr.. Glamp, q man
with a nice bank account and q tender
heart, Just because he was an old bachelor,
and then never thought II had married
him he wouldn't have been an old baohe-
lor any longer"
Poor old bachelorl He sat at his win
dow that afternoon, having Just returned
from a commercial tour, smoking a bad
cigar and thinking dolefully enough Of his
present prospects There he had saved
money enough to live we'll on. He hated
boarding and always kept house, having
the lower floor az Widow Raokstt's, and
he never had any comfort and never any
pence. IL wasn't proper for him TO keep
any female servant, and black Jim did just
what he pleased.
His Ill success In the first offer he had
ever made In his life had deferred him
from committing himself second time.
II reckon III die bachelor" said Mr..
Glump 70 himself "Ah, dear me-"
Had his ears been sharp he might have
heard Cupid titter-Cupid, who, In the
shape of a small boy In very short trou-
sers and very large hat, was tying the
grass together across the path by which
the people were sure to go by to prayer
meeting, II they went at all. For this was
Wednesday, and the day was still bright
In that summer weather when the church
bells began TO ring for evening service.
Mr.. Glump had no thought Of going to
meeting. He was too cross He sat and
smoked. Soon along came Deacon Dutton,
tripped, said "Je-ru-sa- lem, tarnation"
and passed on. Soon followed Mr.. Prices
three sisters and two daughters, who trip
ped, squealed, stopped down and broke the
grass and passed on.
Out then came Cupid, still disguised as
the small boy, and tied more grass.
The wretched Mr.. Glump saw him but
had not at that instant sufficient amount
Of human kindness about him to lead him
to undo the mischief
The next figure was a youngish looking
lady, with a wonderful new bonnet on
She came trippingly up the lane, caught
her feet in the grass and fell fiat, with a
shrek
spite her usage of him his heart melted
He flew to the rescue. It was Miss Gilsey
AS soon as she saw who was coming TO
pick her up she tainted away. No one ever
swooned more completely. She had no
~ hn V.inlraH har on
where she was carried. A good armful
too, for the anxious Mr.. Glump
He put her on the sofa and brought
wine, and when she could not take it pre-
pared TO empty the water pitcher over her
In his alarm.
Thoughts of her new bonnet at once
brought Miss Gilsey to. She sat up, put
her hand to her head and said:
Where am If'
Beneath my roof, ma a'am," said Mr..
Glump. Are you hurti" ..
Il think I'm killed. I've most awful
crick in my neck. Perhaps it's broke"
IN catch little Muggins--I saw him
tie the grassland fay him alive" said
Mr.. Glump.
"Oh, don't, Mr.. Glump."
"The tender heart of woman pleading
even for her enemies" said Mr.. GluInp.
"If you insist ont, I'll spare him." .
II feel better" said Miss Gilsey. II
feel to thank Providence. But how I'M
proper Of me to be here, calling, as 1t were,
on "a gentleman.
"A miserable old bachelder Them
words struck deep"
I'VE all speak words we hadn't ought
er."
"I know 1t. I'm sorry to have to enter
tain lady in such a state of confusion.
But this is an old bachelder's fate ma am.
have nobody to do for me- Things are
always askew."
"Then why don't you marryi" asked
Miss Gilsey
"I tried to once" said Mr.. Glump, "and
she offered my devotion to remarked she
couldn't like an old bachelder."
"It's dreadful to see nice, handsome fur
nituro like this busted up and to soc ev-
erything askew, when you re provided so
we'll"
"The tender heart of woman there as
serts itself, " said Mr.. Glump.
"You ought really to marry"
"I know / ought, but, you see ladies
don't generally like old bachelders.
The tender heart OF woman asserted It
self still more strongly.
''I do, for one, " said Miss Gilsey. "If
ever / change my condition, IL will be be-
cause an old bachelor asks me"
"Then, ma am, behold one at your feet.