Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-31
A HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

All my life I have been-woll, not
exactly q woman hater, but o firm be-
lever in the idea that man is the lord Of
creation, and that woman is mo- al ab-
solute necessity. For many years it was
my proud boast hat | was able to dis
pense with feminine aid and yet live a
very enjoyable life, as, with clochwurk
regularity, I went from my bachelor
lodgings 20 business each morning, re-
turning in tho afternoon and spending
the evening ut tho club or ON place
of amusement. Tho idea Of having n
lady companion in my ramblcs mover
entered my head.
True, my landlady-good old soul
prepared my meals and cleaned my
rooms, but that was becauee l had not
time to do it myself, and a manGoryant
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, ut 4 pinch 1 have even
washed a pocket handkerchief.
1 desired to stand forth MS a living
example of the original Adam and q
proof of the superhuity 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 Il they
married, and them cut them dead.
All, me, those free bohemian days wero
happy ones, as year after year l pursued
my adopted course in spite Of the SON
tinual falling off Of my comrades. Then
came a time when my circle of acquaint-
ances had decreased SO considerably that
1 began to feel lonely. Bachelor chums
were more difficult to find than ever.
To loneliness succeeded melancholy, and
1 grew miserable and pessimistic.
One friend, to whom l laid bare my
woes, said:
lyon keep to yourself too much.
What you ought 10 do Is to lodge with
some family where there are two or
three grown up daughters. They would
wake you. up a 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
ut least contribute to my amusement.
So, after very serious consideration, l
decided to seek fresh apartments, with
light society thrown in
Now my troubles commenced.
could not make the direct inquiry,
"Have you any grown up daughters. -
so l generally viewed tho rooms, listen
ing to the landlady's vorbiage, settled
the rent, and then casually asked,
"Have you any children and tho re-
ply would be: Eyes, four 'hve,' or
six A" (as the case might be-; "thc
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 / made and
the many desultory conversations l lis.
tened 10 were all TO no purpose. No ono
appeared to possess grown up daughter
the eldest was always 10. Just wheI
l 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 loveliuess, faultlessly dressed, Gn'
with bright blue eyes and golden hair
Newly married, " thought l.. "Well
here at least the eldest won't be ten !
She invited me in, and then disap
peared. a middle aged lady entering
directly after. We proceeded to discus
terms. Then came the inevitable in
quiry as to children.
II have two grown up daughters, tn
younger Of whom opened tho door L
you"
At lastl Need I say that, within
week, 1 was installed in Myrtle Villa
The landlady, a widow, was a genial
homely woman, and the yonnges
daughter, Annie, aged %, l have al
ready described, but the other daughter
Julia, did not impress mo fayorably
She was neither good looking nor pleas
ing, and, without being exactly ba
tempered, always insisted upon hayin
her WI way.
now seemed to be in a new world
My boots bore a brilliant luster eac
morning without my aid, and my sliI
pers were laid ready for mo in the even
ing, and as for lending me a needle an
cotton-the idea -if Iwould only leav
them outside, they would only be to
happy.
/ no longer needed to seek relaxatio
at the club after the lGbors Of the day
Julia played the piano wen, her onl
accomplishment, while Annie sang di
vinely, and thus the evenings passed al
too quickly. Male acquaintance the
did not seem TO possess. Yet, stay, thor
was one-a Mr.. Malcolm, whose name
frequently heard mentioned, but as hi
calls were always made in the daytim
1 never saw him. l had rapidly passc
into that condition Of mind which raise
"A feeling Of jealousy ON his account, s
one day l questioned my landlady o
the subject.
"Oh, he's a very old friend Of our
Once we thought he would have pre-