The Worthington advance., 1898-02-10
4 BACHELOR is much given to reflec

| fully. l have worshiped at the shrine
of femininity. but always in the gen.
eral rather than the particular. Ny
drifting away from gentle attention to
the fair sex has been gradual, if at
all. There still remains pleasure in
speaking those soft and gentle words
which bring the blush of pleasure to
fair cheeks and the sparkle of self-sat-
isfaction to timid and downcast eyes.
There is still Joy in measuring the
| accomplishments of the latest belle, to
kindly overlook her faults or excuse
them, and to choose for her husband
from among my friends. Somehow,
however, there has come crustiness
and spirit of pessimism which is a
bar to the consideration of any young
lady in connection with any future in
which might have share.
That was until tonight.
This evening dined with happy
couple, not long since married. In nv
goodness of heart I had picked them
out one for the other and brought
them together. He and I had spent
our school days as comrades, and in
q
same rod had corrected us for part
nership truancy, and we had together
often paid the penalty for the despoil-
ment of neighbor's watermelon patch.
had tried his constancy and friendship
and found them true. I met her in the
south. was off for vaca ton, making
the journey lazily on a palatial Mis-
slssippi river steamboat. She came
aboard at little landing, chaperoned
by big, good-natured, careless broth
er and attended by colored maid. I
was attracted by the freshness of her
beauty, and we became good friends.
When l came back north told Fred of
her, and my eulogy aroused his inter-
est. The next spring we went south
together, met Marian at her home and
Cupid scored another victory. Nor was
the little rascal laggard. Fred tar
rled for two months, and within the
year they were married. I am their
best friend, and tonight I dined with
them. At the parting Marian quietly
asked: Frank, why haven't you ever
married %
mat query aroused a new senti-
ment-gave new cause for reflection.
1 wandered slowly to my bachelor
apartments, filled and lighted my pipe,
elevated my feet few inches more than
was customary and seriously repeated
the question in my mind.
Yes, why haven't married? It was
an homes: question, propounded in a
spirit of friendship, and I would have
an answer for Marian the next time we
met.
AS the smoke slowly curls toward
the ceiling see the shadow of face
"a tender, youthful countenance-and
| Hood of memory from early days
comes to me. Let's see-yes, was 12
years old then, just beginning to realize
| that there was difference between pet
| ticoats and trousers, and to feel the
| pangs of bashfulness. Rose was. if nv
memory does not deceive me, pretty
| girl. Her name might have been chosen
for the color of her cheeks, they were
so bright, and her chestnut hair re-
fused to be confined by any method of
control. She was the first in every game
at school, tall for her years, supple. and
full of energy. I never joined the circle
OF which she was part n or passed her
home in getting to mine if could help
| it. It seemed to me she was sacred.
and l shrank from profaning her with
the accidental touch of my hand or
| glance which could be avoided. Ireallv
thought I loved her. I was happy for
days if she gave me a glance, and
blushed with confusion if she smiled at
me. Once bribed my brother to drop
| q note, a tender avowal of passion, at
[ her fathers gate, but an elder sister
found it, and I was glad when we moved
away from that village. That wes as
near as came to marrying Rose. "a.
My pipe had gone out, and as re-
lighted it a new face appears amid the
smoke. 1t is Irene. I knew her at
once, for there is no mistaking those
black, lustrous eyes, that open, frank
countenance nor the firm determination.
of that full chin. How we became sweet
hearts cannot tell, but think the fire
had long smoldered and was famed to
flame when she gave me half her apple
one recess. Anyway, in our boyish and
| 6AAAS1A " oy ., VIC 4o'eo. LII LILY luluu Sue
could do no wrong, and still believe
she never did. But she had Celtic tenn
per, and one day transgressed beyond
forgiveness in some way, and that is
why I never married Irene. -
! The vision of little southern viii
lage comes to me, and with it the re-
membrance of multitude of girl
friends: some fair, others only fair.
Prominent among them is the face of
Dollie petite and faxen-haired. She
was the embodiment of many graces
and was of a charming personality.
Whatever she did she did well, and prin-