The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-08-16
Mr.. NESTOYN'S
NOTE BOOK

Mr. Nesioyn notebook was stand
ing joke among all his fiends and ac-
quaintanees. Whatever happened, if
an old friend were mentioned, any good
thing said, in season and out Of season,
forth came the notebook, with the in
evitable remark:
II must just jot that down.
But although many had seen the out
side Of that book, to none had il been
permitted to look within.
Did / say to none? Well, on one
memorable occasion another pair of
eyes as well as Mr.. Nestoyn's had look
ed upon a page of that precious vol
ume- another hand had written one
word within. Aud this is how it came
about
Mr.. Nestoyn was a bachelor. He
was-he is one no longer. 1t is doubt
ful whether he keeps notebook now.
There was a tradition among his
friends that some years ago, when Dick
Nestoyn was quite young, some trouble
connected with a romance came into
his life. What actually happened none
knew exactly, except that the romance
had a disastrous ending, and the trouble
changed a bright, rather careless lad
into a strictly methodical man, with
very strong objection to the society of
women.
He lived a quiet, uneventful life in
welI-appointed house in riverside sub
urb
Methodical and monOtOnous each day
came and went, one day much the same
as another-an early rising, a lonely
breakfast, a short walk TO the station,
possibly chat with a friend in the
train on the rapid journey 10 London,
few hours of not very interesting
work at the Office, and then the return
to the lonely house.
And so Mr. Nestoyn's life went on,
the monotony slightly broken OCCASION
ally by his dining with some Of his
bachelor friends at their rooms, or by
giving a recherche little dinner at his
well ordered, though slightly prim sub
urban residence.
To these dinners only the unmarried
were invited, for if among the select
circles that Mr.. Nvstoyn honored with
his friendship any one took unto him
self wife, thenceforth that man was
Mr.. Nestoyn's friend no longer.
Acquaintance he might be, for Mr..
Nestoyn did not go to the length of not
returning a nod or holding few words
of conversation with former friend
who had married, but never again
would he be asked to partake of din
ner at the Willows, nor from thence
forth did Mr.. Nestoyn darken the doors
of that mans residence.
But to every rule there is an excep-
ton.
Just as Phil Marsden, Mr.. Nestoyn's
chief crony, was wondering what line
his friend would take when he Phil
Marsdenl should have worked up his
practice so as to feel justified in making
an offer of marriage to certain charm
ing widow, Jack Cranborne, apparently
the most determined bachelor of the
whole set, suddenly announced that hi:
banns were to be published at the par
ish church on the very next Sunday.
And all round the little eoterie weni
the whisper:
.'Now Dick Nestoyn will give W
Jack Cranborne-" ,"
But, strange TO say, Dick NestoyT
did not give up Jack GranbOrne wher
he had a wife.
He used to say, by way Of excuse
that Mrs. Cranborne was not like othe
women. Why he said or thought thi
no one could understand, the genera
opinion being that Jack Cranborne'
wife was very much like other women
So it came to pass thar many pleas
ant hour was spent by Mr.. Nestogn a
Riverside, the home Of Jack and N'iole
Cranborne.
One evening just as he was turninl
into the gate Of that snug little dwell
ing, be was accosted by Phil Marsden
who began in commiserating tone:
81 really grieve for you, Mr. Nestoyn
I suppose your visits to Riverside vii
be in allegiance for time"
"How so? ?n queried Nestoyne.
my dear fellow, surely you hav
heard that Mrs. Cranborne's sister
coming tomorrow to pay her Ion
visit?"
"Oh. ah! yes, have heard som'
thing about it, but in what way does
concern me?"
Well, you, as a professional woman
hater, can scarcely go constantly 10
house where a young and lively girl
STAYING; it would be horribly incoI
sistent."
Miss Elaine Montgomery may
neither young nor lively"
Possibly, no." returned the doeto
as he turned away with a ehuckle
the familiar way in which Nestoyn hs
pronounced the lady's name.
The very next day the two frienS
,,,.f g. fro,