The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-06
The Bachelor Hlalds C0uTtShip
BY SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN.

stayed content through twenty-seven
years. She found it good to be young,
strong. beautiful, and as free as the air
she breathed
AT the end of the first week tele-
gram came from the Bachelor 1t read:
TOO busy to come down"
Much of the Maids second week
at the farm was spent in the hammock
She didn't stay away, though. She
was thinking hard. and she wanted it
STILL One couldn't keep from think
ing when ones very best man friend
was going to get himself married
such a dear, dear fellow. too; one
couldn't help from wondering if the
girl would prove the right girl.
At the weeks end another tele-
gram. 1t said: Very much Engaged"
The Maid got restless. 1t is, on,
very serious thing to get restless when
you are bordering on tWenty-eight and
| a woman. She deserted the hammock
and took to tramping the country over
long lonely walks.
The Bachelor came the last week in
May. He was as cordially glad to
see the Maid as a man very full of
himself, his own plans and his com
ing happiness, of which he talked at
| tiresome length. could be- The Maid
rose to the occasion with exaggerated
and their furnishings, floors and their
| Killings, servants and their failings.
The moons round Wavered on the
nil when the Bachelor said good-by.
He whistled as he went down the lane
and past the fragrant orchard.
The Maid couldn't deceive herself
she wanted a pillow. There was one
in the deserted hammock. 1t smelled
like smoke, and with something not
far from a sob she buried her face in
It's deeps. Down through the ages
pillow has been woman's Geth-
Semane.
The Maid sat up to find the MOON
mans grip an evil thing; the shadows
! were creepy, and, by some mysterious
| Alice-in- Wonderland process, the glow
| ing, sumptuous Bachelor Maids all over
| the land had shrunk and shriveled
From the little corners that didn't be-
| long to them they looked Out-pale,
| patient, hungry eyed. The Maid shiv-
| cred. She was having a bad half-hour.
And suddenly the Bachelor stood be-
| fore her. He said his train was late;
| the Maid said nothing.
Shall we go in?' his voice was So
! fictitious. He extended his hand; no
woman can get out of a hammock
! alone with any show of grace, and
said: THE dew is falling Isn't it
! just&a little mprudent-young people
| have rheumatism earlier than they
once did"
The Maid buried her face in the
| friendly hammock and laughed hys-
| terically The Bachelor fell to his
| knees.
It's beastly dull down here; it's got
| you nervous, dear. Come away with
| me, dear. 1 know just the place for
| honeymoon" he pleaded.
Silence.
Wont you-my beloved" The Bach
! elor's voice was past recognition.
Silence.
! The Bachelors face paled.
| You are-yOu are" came in a
| choked voice from the pillow.
A flash of triumph was in the Bach
elor's eyes. cat it again, as usual"
he said. in very humble tones. Say
yes, dearest; and I'll quit it,"
The Maid sat up.
isn't there anybody" she asked,
angrily.
"There's you. and you again-just
you in the whole wide world" more
humbly.
II ha-hate you-that is-I-I-
love-you- You dear. a-bom-ab-
ominable-thing, YOU" walled the
| Maid.
The Bachelor drew her up into his
arms
"And you have acted abominably!
! You know / always meant to say yes
! that is-if l were ever asked decentIy.
I wanted to say yes; 1 wanted to be
Woo-wooed in a beau utiful-old
fashioned wa-ay. II ha- te-hate-
new wa-ays."
The Bachelor, having wisdom
! straight from the gods, held her close
| and said nothing.