Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-01-16
c ! Storyette
CONFIRMATION OF A BACHELOR.

! l am not by nature a cruel or vic
lent man, and as l hear Master
Charles and his sister are going about
accusing me of being all this, | think
it is due to myself to write out true
account, from the beginning, of this
miserable affair My arm still aches
but will set down the facts while
they are yet fresh in my memory.
1t was on Nov. that l received the
| invitation. l have it before me as
| write. 1t is as follows:
''Mr J. Holt Leigh: Mr.. Stephen
Freshfield At home, Monday, Dec. 2
Dancing, 1920 Fancy dress"
My name and the words fancy
dress" were written, the rest was
printed.
would here mention that, at that
time, | entertained feelings of sincere
admiration for Mrs. Freshfeld's daugh-
ter, Dolly. She was more than ordi-
narily good-looking, and in addition,
thought, wef1-mannered and of a nice
disposition. ct only shows how one
may be deceived) Nothing is to be
gained by the cOncealment of the fact
that l aspired to her hand. A match
with her had seemed to me after ma
ture deliberation, eminently desirable,
though the balance of the advantage
would have rested with her. She, as
have said, was young and pretty
Her father was in business, and GER
tainly not wealthy. |, though just
past middle age, am we'll preserved
and have ample means. | am a bar
isterat-law, understand; I have never
practiced, l do nothing. In addi-
ton my family is, of course, of in
finitely better standing than hers. 1t
would, in fact, in the eyes of many of
my relatives have been mesalliance
had not yet, in so many words, dis
closed my intentions to her, but by
frequent visits at her house, and in
many little ways-entirely correct.
need scarcely say had shown I was
partial to her. Her attitude to me
was always respectful though it
lacked the warmth that I could have
why | had not actually proposed mat
rimony. There was nothing to be gain
ed by rushing matters, and l felt sure
that it would only be matter of time
before she reciprocated my feelings
of affection. Her father, on the other
hand, entertained a sincere regard for
me. Her mother was an invalid, and
one seldom saw her; but | felt that
she, too, liked me. The only other
member of the family was Miss Fresh
fields brother, Charlie. He was 10
years old, and this boy, for some rea-
son or other, took dislike 70 me- He
was boy of the most Objectionable
type, impish and rude. Miss Fresh
field, curiously, was attached to him.
Being boy, and the only one, he was
spoiled. One often sees it. | made
several attempts to become friends
with him for the sake of his sister, but
1t was no good. The vileness of his
character may be evidenced by the
fact that he would take a bride from
me on one day, and yet be as ir-
reconcilable as ever on the morrow.
In appearance he was like an ape.
Well, l spent some time in thinking
out what costume l should wear. l
finally decided on a clowns dress. Peo-
pie who know me will be surprised at
the choice. But there were reasons.
| specially wanted to please Miss
Freshfield at the dance. Herself be-
ing young, she was fond of fun of all
sorts and knew she thought me too
serious. She as much as said so one
day. Not that l am ashamed of being
serious; quite the contrary There
are, in my opinion, a great deal too
many wags and fools nowadays. But !
wanted to create a good impression on
Miss Freshf1eld that evening, for !
thought that if she seemed sufficiently
sympathetic l might disclose the state
Of my feelings to her, and l did not
see why should not give myself every
advantage. After all, for all I knew
there might be younger suitors
The dress was a truly wonderful
| creation. l went to the best costumer's
to have it made, and let them know
they were not to consider expense
out to do the thing we'll 1t was made
| entirely Of satins, not of cotton like
| the common clowns things. On the
chest part, which was red, there was q
| huge yellow donkey, and there were
| comic animals in other places. The
whole effect was entirely absurd as, Of
course, was intended, though l re
solved that it was the last time that
would submit to tomfoolery of this
kind. She would not find me sc
| tractable after marriage,
The night of the dance arrived.
/ drove up in brougham. An aggra
waiting incident at the start was thai
quite number of gamins sighted me