The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-28
A HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

lever i'll the idea that man is the lord of
creation, and that woman is not an alb
soluto necessity. For many years it was
my proud boast that was able to dis
pense with feminine aid and yet live Il
very enjoyable life, as, with clocllwork
regularity, | went from my bachelor
lodgings to business each morning, re-
turning i'll the afternoon and spending
the evening ut the club or some place
Of amusement. Tho idea of having Il
lady companion in my rambles never
entered my head.
True, my landlady-good old soul
prepared my meals and cleaned nv
rooms, but that was because L had not
time to do it myself, and n manservant
was beyond my means. But in all else I
dispensed with woman's aid Boot
cleaning, sewing buttons on, lighting
the fire, etc, were all done with my
own hantls-nay, at n pinch have even
washed Il pocket handkerchief.
1 desired to stand forth us n living
example of the original Adam and Il
proof of the superfluity of tho modern
Eve. But my misguided companions re-
fused to profit by my teachings or to fol-
low my example. One by one they fell
under female Influence, one by one they
married, and then-I cut them dead.
All, me, those free bohemian days were
happy ones, as year after year I pursued
my adopted course in spite of the con
tinual falling off of my comrades Then
camoa time when my circle of acquaint-
anccs had decreased so considerably that
began to feel lonely. Bachelor chums
were more difficult to find than ever.
To loneliness succeeded melancholy, and
grew miserable and pessimistic.
One friend to whom I laid bare nv
woes, said:
You keep to yourself too much.
What You ought to do is to lodge with
some family where there arc two or
three grown mp daughters. They would
wake you up a bit"
This, TO mo, the hitherto ideal advo-
cate of an Evcless Eden! And yct,
after the advice had been rendered sew
cral times, began to think that such
change might be beneficial Such Il
course need not involve the rendering
up of my tcncts; but, rs woman still
formed Il part of the world, she might
at least contribute to my amusement.
So, after very serious consideration, I
decided to seek fresh apartments, with
light society thrown in.
Now my troubles commenced. [
could not mako the direct inquiry,
Have you any grown up daughters. I"
So generally viewed the rooms, listen
ing to the landlady's verbiage, settled
the rent, and then casually asked,
Have you any childrcn:'' and tho re-
ply would be: Eyes, -four, five, or
six = las the case might be-: "the
eldest is 10 years old and the Youngest
two months. But they are as good as
gold and never make n bit Of noise. =
The numbcrlcss journeys L made and
the many dcsultory conversations 1 lis
toned TO were all to 10 purpose. No ono
appeared To possess grown up daughters
tho eldest was always 10. Just when
| was about to abandon my search, for
tunc-or WAS it fatc:-led ne To MYRTLE
Villa, Paradise gardens, Upper Dull
wich. The door was opened by vision
OF loneliness, faultlesSly dressed, and
with bright blue eyes and golden hair.
Newly married." thought l. well,
here ut least the eldest won't be ten -
She invited mo i'll, and then disap-
pcarcd, II middle aged lady entering
directly after We proceeded to discuss
terms. Then came the inevitable in
quiry rs To children.
Il have two grown up daughters, the
younger of whom opened the door to
you
AT last! Need | say that. within IL
week, l WAS installed in Myrtle Villa?
The landlady, Il widow. was genial,
homely woman, and the Youngest
daughter, Annie, aged 25, have al
ready described, but the other daughter,
Julia, did not impress me favorably
She was neither good looking nor pleas
ing, and, without being exactly bad
tempered, always insisted upon having
her own way.
now seemed to be III new world.
My boots bore brilliant luster each
morning without my aid, and my slip
perS We're laid ready forme i'll the even
ing, and rs for lending, me needle and
cotton-tho idea If would only leave
them outside, they would only be too
happy.
no longer needed to seek relaxation
ut the club after the labors of the day.
Julia played The piano well, her only
accomplishment, while Annie sang di-
vincly, and thus the evenings passed all
too quickly. Male acquaintance they
did no; seem 10 possess. Yet, stay, there
was one--a Mr.. Malcolm, whose name
frequently heard mentioned, but rs his
calls were always made in the daytime
never saw him. | had rapidly passed
into that condition of mind which raised
Il feeling of jealousy OH his account, SO
ono dnY | questioned my landladu ON