The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-01
A BACHELORS
ENCUMBRANCE.

imprimis, my patcrnal patronymlc lc
was not q misnOmer. | am undeniably
particular )" | was particular from
my childhood. l grow up particular,
Tor these ideas grew with my growth,
and strengthened with thy strength. I"
would not till tho cOmfortahie ltstle
country estate left me because u far.
mer must sometimes wear ovcrai!s 80
arranged Primrose cottage as nicely
"a paint and elegant furniture could
render 1t, hired Dorcas Trim "a house.
Keeper and job Thrifty as gardener,
ana won't into town, entered jn,o tho
com misslCn and brokerage business,
and took rooms at E.sy's hotl
MY bu lncss was not wearing; | had
working partner, and my own capital
procured me tho greater share OF the
profits and an easy life. | had Is sister,
but she was married and had u colouy
OIL little encumtrances glowing up
around her, and iillipg nursery, hall
ana drawing room with their uDisc' !;
hence | wont less and less To E.!ui!'o 10
the encumbrances Increased aud grew
moro dcmOnstrntiVa OF the capacity
and strength Of juvenile luugs. Prtm-
rose cottage was tweuty miles from
town; and though pleasant enough for
q summers vacation, wncn | enter
ts'ned q party OF choice guests, yet OF
anIumns and wtptUrs, ninC Gosi OF
E ,sy's ho.el bad the rrctcr nee.
But for the j journey | SCI out upon
isst hutumn whereof am about to re-
late; for the story will show you by
What unlOoked-for means | took to my
self an umbrrDce for life.
a long time had my Old friand and
college chum, D!ak Avery, ben send
my me letters descriptive OF his Ia ,ry
u i,, y
you get the blues and Gysp.Usia, or
grow sick Gf business, comu cut for u
month through the glorious, great
West, and to my Montuna Eomc."
This had been Decks s:Nuu!ng invita-.
Gon ever since no rad lam i5rated to
MS present hCm,.
Providence directed me. h%1 then
dy pHps!a an.' would 80 TO Ma ana
So, with a full pocGct, aud uuencum-
bered. save by that horrible tyrant
whose throne was my gas.ronomic re-
gior, set my face toward the suttiug
suu.
How glad Dick was to SEQ me He
shook my hand 50 vigorously and asked
mo question: IN sucG rapid succe: sion
Ehnt | could scarcely draw g free
breath between answers. Then came
introduct,ons to his wife, Mrs. Nelly
Avery, whom | mover should have re-
cOgniZ4d a5 the slender wifo Dick
carried from the East with him; the
four children, and cousin of Mrs.
Avery, Miss Gertrude Bird, 81 pretty
=Ort of young creature with dark biua
tyGs and wealth Of brown hair. Miss
Btrd bad been West four years teach.
ing school, and whs now getting home
sick; 60 that 1t WAS only after much
persuasion that she consented to stay
Q month or two longer with the
Averys.
A bachelor stil, Paul." said Dick,
while Mrs. Avery and her pretty cous-
man, you ought to have been settled
down in life these ten years! You acd
! used to be about OF an age, | believe,
Paul, and I'm getting along we'll to
wart my forties. Tairty-elght last
.pring."
1t was certainly uncalled for-DIck's
mentioning ages ] tst then; but some
how Dick Avery was always blunt
kind Of a fellow.
!" Pm happy as king" he resumed,
taking his youngest soma fine fellow
whom he had "lteme bered mo by."
IN the bestowal Of his experimentation
his knee. "Nelly's proved q treasure
wasn't too much OF a fl ne lady to give
me out re to the borders of tho viii
dsrness, and have mapped out great
careers for the young ones.'
just then Gertrude B rd CANA into
the room and summoned us to supper.
Candidly, | don't remember the time
that Host Easy ever got up such
tempting meal. And then nv npDstite
so cOntllcted with the tyrant that had
held it in allegiance
Upon the whole, it was decidedly
pleasant. After supper, Dick proposed
having some music. I'VE always have
a little sing OF evenings" said he, land
tonight [ propose Aud Lang Syns.'
Come, Gertie." Miss Bird sat down to
the piano and Aud Lang Syue" was
followed by a dozen other melodies :;
and then Dick read chapter in the
Bible and we ell retired for the night.
And must say that such calm sleep
and quiet dreams never visited m in
my handsomely furnished bed.cham-
Der u. Easy's hotel as came to me there
In tho plain littlo bed in which Law
K wn TO rest that first night in Mon
.ana.
But | have not time here to recount
sll the events Of that month In Dick
Avery's home. Suffice 1t that each
was o type Of rest. And al tn 8 time the
.yrant, dyspepsia, had been growing
[eebler in his sway, till finally he Gu
tirciy "bd lcatcd the throne. And then
[ began to think OF coming hone, and
then WAS it that my circumference came
to me after this Wiso.
"Paul," said d ok, one day. coming
to me with serious face from long
talk with Gertrude Bird, "how would
you like company to the East? Ger
trude Is thoroughly homesick and longs
to sec her mother again and though
we shall loso half the sunshine Of cur
home, / cannot urge her To stay an.
other month. Your going back offers
such q capital cbanco for nor to travel
In company that Gerties dcputcd mo
10 ask you If s'te'll be any enc um br anoc
to YOU"
50 what was left for M, Paul Par
t!cular, bachelor, who had nuvor" tax.
en- charge" Of Il lady on ~ journey in
oil my life, bat TO protest to Dick
Avery, his vile aod TO iss Gertrude
Bird tnat II Moud afford mo sinccrest
pleasure 10 act rs escort from Montaoa
hlS n fn ,,t Il