The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-17
Three BACHELORS COURT.
By EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
Lcsgptghl ls0l ~ Rgar L Wasosaa N ReLs Ressaeel
,sTales 81 zen TraveIors. serIos.


Of one Of the royal houses Of Eugland.
Through tho circumstances Of three
staid bachelors. none Of whom was ae-
qnainted With each Of the others, resid-
ing Ut three separate and adjoining
numbers, the other residents and the
tradesmen and Darket-boy frequGnten
Of the quiet spot gradually came to call
the neat little street "Three Bachelors'
Court"
This interesting appellat1on chung 70
the gnue tI1oroughlare so long as three
precise and prim bachelors came down
THE street each morning accompanied
by Tires precise and prfm little Old
ladies, who babe theiE respective bach.
elor companions each q stately good
morning as they passed 10 their places
Of labor in the city.
There was always an audience at tho
opposite and side windows TO witness
. these curious morning partings.
They we're 80 set and formal. they
each seemed to 80 possess the manner
Of challenge TO the others and to the
neiehborhood, that the street would
not have been Its itSeh ut all had not
the accustomed scene occurred each
morning, precisely as on tho preceding
day, drawing from oniookers their
habitual ouizzical, wondering and ai-
most sympathetic smiles.
Tho door OF No. Z always opened first.
The bachelor OF this house was q
sprightly, bright little fellow, and al
WAYS held clasped firmly under bis arm
a ponderous, leathern-bound book. He
would descend exactly three steps, turn
quickly, raise his hat in q courtly man
Iier 10 the little bland old lady in the
door, who would murmur: "Now, don't
oyerwork, Albert" whereupon the two
would cast hasty glance at numbers 8
and II. as tito say: =,
"lhls would be q very comfortable
street indeed, were they not in 1t
Then the gentleman would turn
towards Picadilly, and the little old
lady would come down to the street,
stand in fall view Tor o moment, rs II to
protest that she was not the same LITTLE
old lady who belonged at No. . or NO.
IL, when she would pass into her abode
apparently we'll satisfied with the un.
Outstanding Of her own views and feel
ings having been thus conveyed to those
who were in waiting for this bit oil pan
tomimic self assertion.
Almost Immediately the door OF No.
9would hesitantly open. A large silk
hat always at first slowly protruded.
This was followed by an olden boyish
face, set of with gold-bowcd glasses.
struggling hair and shoulders slightly
bent.
II the occupant OF No. 7 had not yet
disappeared, the hat, head and shoul-
ders were instantly Withdrawn. 1t the
coast was clear, q bland aud kindly face
came smilingly down the steps. Head
ana face at once described an inqniring
arc, as II to search for weather portents;
while pleasant voice would call from
the doorway:.
'.rd see you of, dear, but for Seven
and Eleven"
"Oh, bother Seven and EIeven!" al
ways came chirpingly and atlectionately
back from the street. Everybody
knows they're not US. Home early.
Goodbye"
Then the little old woman from No.
9would go through the morning scene
OF showing herself for bit.
She would even come out as far as the
curbing. She would look pleasantly up
and down the court; pick up any stray
leaves and litter from the steps aud
flip them into the roadway; give tho
door.knocker an extra touch with her
apon; glance uneasily and almost dis
dainiully at Nos. and IL; and finally,
as II now satisfied that all observers
were aware what house she lived in, re.
tire with peaceful and contented air
hehind her own door
The occupant OF No. II was usually
last TO leave for the city. lilo had
more brusque and assertive way OF dis
posing Of what had become an irksome
daily task.
He most frequently appeared back
first, as II in the act of closing series
OF formal bowings 10 the little old lady
who presided over his household,
lie made quicker work, too, OF got
ting around the corner, Strand way,
though he never disappeared from tho
court without abruptly turning with u
pleasant parting gesture to the dear
little old lady who always leaned far
out upon the steps OF No. II TO smile
and gesture back her loving parting, for
this bachelor was myself, and this was
my own and my good aunts way OF
letting Three Bachelors Court undor-
staud that We we're neither Of the other
couples who were go exasporatingly like
us and who lived so embarrassingly
near.
"some!line'll come OF It." Aunt prne
used to say in the safe way which elder
~ women have Of uttering prophecy.
Tried to show her that nothing in
the world was more unlikely.
tBut there were never two more mys-
terious couples in London"
"Seven aud Ninef"
"Seven and Nine"
mo" would reply with as merry
smile Us could muster to vanquish her
forebodings, unless it be at Nine and
Elevon!"
This would always quiet her tempora-
riIy; but, dear soul that she wasl it
never lett her wholly FREQ from anxiety.
No. Is was vacant Aunt Prue had
often suggested that we lease 1t, in order
TO emphasize our individuality. When
looked up the agent, l found him to
DO the same who had charge OF our
house. But No. 10 could not DO had.
It's owner was also the owner Of num-
bers 7, 8 and II, and might at any time
wish the place for his own use.
ale is traveller" tho agent said
choppily; ''aud can afford to let the
houae stand idle. When he leaves the
road, Ito wishes snug quarters for him
selfin the CITY,"
That was all the information to be
got. 1t added to the complications OF
the situation. What II this traveller
was another bachelor aud should