The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-08-10
A BACCALAUREATE.

NO, lnOIncr, no. III Is aDsolutel! uscies
= We may as well drop the subject"
My mother held her hands toward the fl
plump little hands covered with rings, Il
last coquetry of her 60 years.
''Jack," she replied sternly, "you are
headstrong as your father used to be. Whit
he was of your age, he would not listen to
word about marriage. Poor man! he niue
preferred his famous Bachelors club an
swore to remain faithful to its laws. Blu
mark my words. before you know it, you too
will be walking up to the altar, my friend, {
your father walked before you.'
"Oh, that's all very we'll" cried, ''but i
my fathers youth the girls were not full Q
notions like these of today; they were mod
estly educated girls, the extent of their an
btion being to read sonata, write correc
now
''Well, Jack, you are not complimentary, t
say the least" interrupted my mother. at il
your opinion then that the girls of my da!
were little more than simpletons"'
Il beg your pardon, mother dear. Bu
even you must admit that formerly the ed
ucation of young girls was much less preten
tons, and think more consistent. than thai
of our little buestockings, for when they left
boarding school they had only enough in.
struction to enable them to understand the
pages of a romance or follow conversation
| not enough to hlmiliate their mothers and
NOT infreouently their husbands as WELL From
their infancy they were prepared to fill the
roles of wives and mothers, and the happy
husband could sleep contentedly every night
in the assurance that the angel of the treside'
would superintend the desserts and darn his
socks conscientously."
"Jack. it seems strange that a woman of
the old school should be obliged to combat
your prejudices. But assure you, my dear
that in my time the majority of those
angels of the fireside, whose praises you
sing so loudly were very shallow girls. What
girl of spirit would be contented with the
secondary role that you men would like to
imposeupon her? No! no! it il not the learn
men: it is your own ignorance. Oh, it il
nothing more nor less than self conceit! II
YOU had not been AFFLICTED with laziness while
In college you would fear comparisons less"
ooh! oh mother, you're too badv
ssYou maintain then that Latin, Greek-a
college education, in shorts incompatible
with mOdesty, grace, sweetness and the
domestic qualities of womanw
81 do maintain it most emphatically."
"Very well. Go to Nine. Desjardins' with
of marriage. 1t is simply an unceremonious
call You will see the twins and can judge
for yourself, my son, since you have so slight
regard for my experience. You understand
that you are free to do exactly as you like-in
fact, you need come to me for no in
formation or advice on the subject. Go and
dress my son.
Marry IL baccalaureate. Heavens When
heard my mothers wish ! felt Il SILVER run
down my back. Look here, mamma, you
may as well be honest and say outright that
you are planning my death, and by what 4
means. Why not throw me overheard and
done with it?
The absurdity of proposing Il b. A. to me .
To me. A man 80 years of age; man of
sense | can honestly say-who would only
enter the road to Hymen with caution of a
Sioux Indian Alas Cruel mother, what
have done to you!
From the bottom of my heart l cursed
Nichy and its waters, Nichy with its shady
walks, Vichy and its promenade concerts.
where mothers in quest of sons-in-law meet
mothers in quest of daughters-in-law. Was it
not there under the shades of the park that
Mme Desjardins and my mother met after
years of separation! Was it not there that
they formed the first conspiracy against the
security of my bachelorhood:
Here we are at Nine Desjardins.'
"My dear friend, let me present my son."
!'Little jack
am annoyed by this exclamation. feel
that my appearance in the drawing room is
made ridiculous. This GOOD lady in green
satin knew me as a boy in the go!;ien days OF
black marks and whippings. 1t is very de-
lghtful, am sure and ought to be charmed,
but 30 unknown faces stare curiously at this
''little jack" with n respectable mustache,
whom Nine. Desjardins finds very ''much
changed" Great Scott! | should hope so, i'm
Is years! Confound her "reminiscences of
childhood, She might as well talk of my first
kits or inquire if | have brought my hoop.
Fortunately Nine. Desjardins adds few
words of gracious welcome which restore my
breath, and mother turns to introduce me to
the young ladies.
The Misses Desjardins are twins. blond |
and brunette. They are of the same stature
and dress alike, even to ribbons, but here the |
ceases.
Miss Martha. the brunette. is a beautiful. |
yes. very beautiful wOman-too beautiful |
for simple morals, Greek goddess a Pallas |
Athene. Her features are pure and cold: her |
rich black hair forms Il royal diadem about |
her head. Rose il less of a woman less i'm
posing. A real Greuze, this young girl be
witchingy pretty. with her little Partisan /
nose, her dimpled cheeks and her fair hair.
which looks as if powdered with gold. What |
a smile. What yoice-so sweet. so sweet. 1
A veritable child. whom one might still sus-
pect of playing with her dolls when one is
by, in spite Of her 10 years-and a child who
surely is no bachelor of arts.
Mamma had never mentioned the name of
he learned Miss Desjardins. but who could
lream of insulting this exquisite Miss Rose
wen by suspicion.
The other is the baccalaureate. | am sure
IF IL. Could she have appeared. draped like
statue in the salons of the first empire. she
would have struck wonder to all hearts Her
rich voice. vibrating contralto. must show
o advantage in sketching hexameters. can
appreciate her taste. Great scott, Greek
must lie becoming 10 this classic beauty. What
! thrill of admiration would run through an
audience n she murmured i'm the original
The Plants Of Iphigenia.''
n little informal dancing j. proposed. Of
er my arm 10 the little Greuze. 30 much the
worse for the Grecian goddess. the Pallas
Athene. Between two waltzes ! have an OPP
,ortunity 10 talk with INV charming little part
Ter. who glides about like fairy in a cloud
4 blue gauze: fan of pigeon feathers heats
gainst her delicate breast. like the wing of
love.
In quarter of an hour | feel that I am
uite competent 10 judge of Miss Rose. She
: bright. bat l take care 10 keep the CONVEX
alton on simple topics. She would find IL
ifficut 20 display much learning. She j. a