The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
Ny Bachelor Friend



proposition whatever. Hint TO him TO try
any new scheme of life; endeavor to make
him acknowledge any fact. subscribe to
any theory do. be. or suffer anything, in
short, outside of his actual and present
inclinations or prejudices-"he could't see
it."
George" said to him one day, you
ought to get married. Here you are. a
bachelor. slipping into the thirties. with u
snug fortune, and not a relative living
nearer or dearer than your second cousin.
the widow. -Four capital reasons for ma
trimony, my boy"
Cant see it in the least, Charles"
grumbled George.
Further discussion was useless.
About three months after this. ] made
up my mind TO go to Europe. ] also made
ap my mind to ask George Telford 10 so
with me. ! knew he needed stirring up.
He was getting so mentally or psychology
cally blind that he couldn't see anything
reasonable to speak Of l found him lunch
ing. modify. in his bachelor apartment
dining-room
George" said ]. I've resolved posi-
lively at last to go to Europe. BY the by
my dear fellow, what a grand thing it
would be il you Pcome along. We'd have
O glorious time, We wouldn't do the or
binary, used-up great routes of travel but
wander about like real Bohemians only
better provided with the coin of the
realm" And / went on for about ten
minutes in this strain. When at last
stopped to breathe. George. who had lis
tened in an distracted, nonchalant manner
mumb,ed:
Cant see 1t, at all. my young friend"
Whenever George called me his young
friend, he meant to be ironical q being
Just eight months his Junior, and / knew
there was no further attempt TO be made
upon him. So i went alone.
George was not much of a correspondent
He couldn't see ii to any great extent But
I now and then got short note from him
generally n growl.
At length. after nine months residence
In Paris. the very morning | was about TO
ieave it. en- route for the land of sphirxes,
ieas. turbans. dogs. pyramids. and other
wonders of nature and art, / received let
ter from Telford, containing the following
characteristic passage:
My old friend Caitrup insists that go
up in the country with him to spend the
holidays. IT is somewhere in Canada
There are lot of sisters and cousins and
a pet sister named Fannie ] suppose i
shall have to go, though don't see why
tidpptu tptSllt IN my pocket, 10
laugh over more leisurely on the road and
in another hour was rafting over the rails
TO Marseilles.
After nearly year-no, il was Just eight |
months-spent chiefly in getting a good |
coat OF bronze on every visible part of my |
person. I returned to Paris to bleach.
Soon after getting into my old quarters. |
strolled into one of the most fashionable /
hotels to look for American physiognomies. ,
IL &c Ill 1rx,z Co.
larry extraordinary, perhaps, that the
mere meeting with fellow-countryman
abroad, after a longish absence without
news. even though you never saw or heard
OF him before, gives you special thrill i
of pleasure. Not forty PAGES had taken
before / came upon gentleman the sight
of whom. there and then. caused a SEN
sation OF genuine joy. II was George Tel
ford
We rushed at each other-the first shock
being over. MY dear fellow Delight
ed" Lucky chance" etc. But. George"
said 1. you couldn't see a trip TO Europe |
in the least
"Ah--yes-the fact is-oh. hang it! nev-
er mind that now. I'll explain it all TO
you tomorrow. Come and dine with-with
me tomorrow. my boy?''
Why not today, old fellow?"
Il have a particular engagement today"
stamrnered George. looking as IL he had
gone into the wrong room by mistake. and
just come out of it hastily.
mo impertinence. / hope?" said T. jo-
cosely. with a lady?''
'N-yes. with n lady. I might as well
tell you at once. and stand the fire. it is
And SO II has come TO this cried /,
after all these years of obstinate blind
ness! You. who sullenly refused to see
the pleasure of accompanying your next
friend to Europe-you who Indignantly
secuted marriage as a visible object in
life"
He smiled pleasantly, and THAT will
do FOR the present Charlie" said he. Il
confess / am just little sensitive yet on
that subject. Come. let me present you
TO Mrs. Telford, and first, beg TO inform
you that her maiden name was Caltrup"
Hold ont" interrupted |. Don't think
ne discourteous or quisical, but really, for
he dramatic effect of the thing. George,
"a rather not know too much about her
i'll you've told me your story; and, II you
please, we'll adjourn the introduction till
ifter the narrative"
Certainly. We've only been married
hree weeks
"Ah, That makes IL bad would say
lifhcult.'
mot at all. my dear fellow. Come
ound an hour before dinner time I'll un-
BOSOM myself to you before she makes her
appearance"
At five minutes before the next day
vas in Telfcrds salon. He mad very
suite of rooms. and was evil 1
emily doing the bridal tour in grand style
.fter glass OF sherry. he began:
You know that letter | wrote you. Well
hat very evening Caltrup came around TO
ee me and insisted upon carrying me up
o the homestead. ] could not see why
iould leave the comfort of the city in e
winter for the dreary country. But-to
aake long story short went,
The entire family met us at the door.
shall not enter into 4 special description
I each member. but coniine myself TO
hose who had a direct influence upon my {
ew life. There was Clara Caltrup. a {
uno-like maiden OF eighteen. given to TO- :
lantic literature and a serious filtration j
Nth a youthful cousin Harry, OF whom
1ore anon. Thea there was Fannie. year {
lder, with radiant face, mirthfnl blue /,
yes. and q great tendency TO tease peo- I
lie. Finally. there was the cousin Harry.
larry was immensely smitten with Miss :
lara. and jealous as a concentrated ex-
act Of 0thcllo.
"In the evening we had games. There D
as a slight seasoning OF dances aud when. '
18th considerable trepidation, / ventured :
approach the queenly Clara, / first be- II
anne aware. by the glowering eye of Sir
larry. OF his suffering from the green =
sed monster
When | retired that night ! could not \.
clip confessing TO myself that family re- ~
mons were not. at least this particular one
as not. so absolutely disagreeable TO look -,
after all. And then. suddenly, iiaboli- -
Al idea struck me. A perfectly iDeXpIica- =,
IL idea considering nv lffa and ,nini.ne