Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-05
A HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

All my life | have been-well, mo-
exactly a woman hater, but firm be
lever In the idea that man Is the lore
Of creation, and that woman Is not az
absolute necessity For many years II
was my proud boast that was able Il
dispense with feminine aid and yet live
avery enjoyable life, as, with clockworl
regularity, went from my bachelor
lodgings to business each morning, re-
turning in the afternoon, and spend
ing the evening at the club or some
place Of amusement. The idea OF hav'
ing a lady companion in my ramblei
never entered my head.
True, my landlady (good old soull,
prepared my meals and cleaned my
rooms, but that was because | had not
time to do it myself and a lnan-serv.
ant was beyond my means. But in all
else | dispensed with woman's aid.
Boot cleaning, sewing buttons on,
lighting the fire, etc, were all done
with my own hands-nay, at a pinch,
have even washed pocket handker-
chief.
desired TO stand forth as living
example Of the original Adam, and .
proof Of the superhuity Of the modern
Eve But my misguided companions
refused to profit by my teachings or to
follow my example. One by one they
fell under female influence, one by one
they married, and then-I cut them
dead. All, mel Those free bohemian
days were happy ones, rs year after
year pursued my adopted course, In
spite OF the continual falling of of
my comrades. Then came time when
my circle Of acquaintance had de-
creased so considerably that began
to feel lonely. Bachelor chums were
more difficult to find than ever. To
loneliness succeeded melancholy, and
I grew miserable and pessimistic.
One friend, to whom laid bare my
woes, said:
"You keep to yourself too much.
What you ought to do is to lodge with
some family where there are two or
Tires grown-up daughters. They
would wake you up "a bit
This, to me, tn hitherto ideal adj
vocate of an Eveless Eden! And yet,
after the advice had been rendered
several times, began to think that
such change might be beneficial.
Such course need not involve the rem
dering up Of my tencts; but, as woman
still formed I. part OF the eorld, she
might Mt lehk contribute to my
amusement So, after very serious
consideration, | decided to seek fresh
apartments. with light society thrown
in.
Now my troubles commenced.
could not make the direct inquiry:
"llave you any grown up daughtersg
So generally viewed the rooms, listen
ing to the landlady's verbiage, settled
the rent, and then casually Asked
"Have you any children?' and the re-
ply would be: "Yes, four five or
six" (as the case might bc); 'the
eldest Is ten years old and the young
est two months. But they are as good
as gold, and never make bit of
noise"
The numberless journeys | made
and the many desultory conversations
| listened to were all to no purpose.
No one appeared to possess grown-up
daughters-the eldest was always ten.
Just when was about to abandon my
search fortuue-or was 1t fate?-led
me to Myrtle Villa, Paradise Gardens,
Upper Dulwich. The door was opened
by n vision Of loveliness, faultlessly
dressed, and with bright blue eyes
and golden hair. Newly married."
thought |. well, here at least, the
oldest won't be tent" She invited me
in and then disappeared; middle
aged Lady entering directly after, we
proceeded to discuss terms. Then
came the inevitable inquiry as to chill
drcn,
II have two grown-up daughters,
the younger Of whom opened the door
to you"
At last Need say that within
week was installed In Myrtle Villa?
The landlady IA widow was genial,
homcly woman and the youngest
daughter, Annie, aged twenty-five, | !
have already described, but the other
Julia, did not impress me IA
vorably. She was neither good looking
nor pleasing, and, without being ex-
actly bad-tempered, always insisted
upon having her own way.
now seemed to be in new world.
My boots bore a brilliant luster each
morning without my aid. and my slip.
pers were laid ready for me In the |
evening, and, as for lending me a nee |
die and cotton idca!-if | would |
only leave them outside they would |
only be too happy.
no longer needed to seek relaxa-
ton at the club after the labors of the
day. Julia played the piano well cher
only accomplishments, while Annie
sang divlnely, and thus the evenings
passed altogether too quickly. Male
they did not seem to
possess-yet stay, there was one.-a
Mr. Malcolm xvhoea po,,,a froc,.sxl.