The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-07
A HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

exactly q woman hater, but a firm be-
lever i'll the idea that man is the lord Of
creation, and that woman is not an alb
solute necessity. For many years it was
my proud boast that I was able to dis
pense with feminine aid and yet live a
very enjoyable life, as, with clockwork
regularity, I went from my bachelor
lodgings to business each morning, re-
turning in the afternoon and spending
the evening at the club or some place
Of amusement. The idea Of having q
lady companion in my rambles never
entered my head.
True, my landlady-good old soul
prepared my meals and cleaned my
rooms, but that was because I had not
time to do it myself, and q manservant
was beyond my means. But in all else l
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 l have even
washed a pocket handkerchief.
I desired to stand forth as a living
example of the original Adam and a
proof of the superfuity of the modern
Eve. But my misguided companions re-
fused to profit by my teachings or to fol-
low my example. One by n 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 l pursued
my adopted course in spite Of the con
tinual falling off of my comrades. Then
came q time when my circle of acquaint-
ances had decreased o considerably that
I began to feel lonely. Bachelor chums
We're more difficult to find than ever.
To loneliness succeeded melancholy, and
grew miserable and pessimistic.
One friend, to whom l 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
three grown up daughters. They would
wake you up q bit.
This, to me, the hitherto ideal advo-
cate Of an Eveless Eden! And yet,
after the advice had been rendered sew
eral times, l began to think that such
a change might be beneficial. Such a
course need not involve the rendering
up Of my tenets; but, as woman still
formed a 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 n o make the direct inquiry,
Have you any grown up daughters. y
So I 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 Gas the case might be-; 1.-THE
eldest is 10 years old and the youngest
two months. But they are as good as
gold and never make a bit Of noise"
The numberless journeys l made and
the many desultory conversations l lis,
tened to were all to no purpose. No one
appeared to possess grown up daughters
the eldest wis always 10. Just whel
was about to abandon my search, for
tune-or was it fate;-led me to Myrtle
Villa, Paradise gardens, Upper Dull
witch. The door was opened by a vision
OF loneliness, faultlessly dressed, anC
with bright blue eyes and golden hair
"Newly married." thought l. "Well
here at least the eldest won't be ten!
h invited me in, INT then disap
peared, a middle aged lady e~nterin.
directly after. We proceeded to discus
terms. Then came the inevitable in
qulry as to children:
Il have two grown up daughters, tn
younger Of whom opened the door t
you"
At last! Need I say that, within
week, l was installed in Myrtle Villa
The landlady, a widow, was a genial
,hOmely woman, and the younges
daughter, Annie, aged %, I have al
ready described, but the other daughter
Julia, did 10 impress me favorably
She was neither good looking nor pleas
ing, and, without being exactly ba
tempered, always insisted upon havin
her own way.
now seemed to be in a new WORLD
My boots bore a brilliant luster eac
morning without my aid, and my slil
pers were laid ready for me in the ever
ing, and as for lending me a needle an
cotton-the idea If Iwould only leay
them outside, they would only be t.
happy.
no longer needed to seek ~relaxatio
at the club after the labors Of the da,
Julia played the piano well, her on.
accomplishment, while Annie sang d
vinely, and thus the evenings passed a
too quickly. Male acquaintance tn.
did not seem to possess. Yet, stay, the
was one-a Mr.. Malcolm, whose name
frequently heard mentioned, but as h
calls were always made in the daytin
I never saw him. l had rapidly pass
into that condition Of mind which rails
feeling Of jealousy on his account,
u day l questioned nv landlady
the subject.
"Oh, ae's u very old friend Of %,
Once we thought ne would have pr