The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-11
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am by nature one OF the most easy
tempered creatures that ever lived
make allowances for everybody, and
take offense at nothing. But. as have
before remarked. there are limits TO my
endurance. ! laid Down Marians letter
and felt myself-justly felt myself-an
injured man.
am about TO make remark. 1t Is, OF
course. applicable to the very serious
matter now under notice, or l should
not allow IT to appear in this place.
Nothing. in my opinion. sets the odious
selfshness OF mankind In such a repul-
sively vivid light as the treatment, in all
classes OF society, which the single peo-
pie receive at the hands OF the married
people. When you have once shown your
self too considerate and self-denying to
add family OF your own TO an already
overcrowded population, you are vindic-
lively marked out by your married
friends, who have no similar considera-
ton and no similar self-denial, as the re-
cipient OF half their conjugal troubles,
and the born friend OF all their children.
Husbands and wives talk OF the cares OF
matrimonay. and bachelors and spinsters
hear them. Take my own case. / consid-
erately remain single. and my poor dear
brother. Philip, inconsiderately marrles.
What does he do when he dies? He leaves
his daughter TO me She is a sweet girl.
She is also dreadful responsibility.
Why lay her on my shoulders? Because
i am bound in the harmless character Of
a single man. TO relieve my married con-
sections OF all their own troubles. | do
my best with my brothers responsibility;
j marry my niece. with infinite fuss and
difficulty, to the man her father wanted
her TO marry. She and her husband dis
agree, and unpleasant consequences fol-
low. What does she do with those con-
sequences? She transfers them 10 me.
Why transfer them to me? Because am
bound. in the harmless character OF
single man, 10 relieve my married con-
nections OF all their own troubles. Poor
single people, Poor human nature,
IL is Guite unnecessary to say that Ma
rian's letter threatened me- Everybody
threatens me. All sorts OF horrors were
20 fall on my devoted head. II hesitated
90 turn Limmeridge House into an asy-
lum for my niece and her msfortunes., /
did hesitate. nevertheless
I have mentioned that my usual
course, hitherto, had been TO submit to
dear Marian. and save noise. But on this
occasion, the consequences involved In
her extremely inconsiderate proposal
were OF a nature TO make me pause. III
opened Limmeridge House as an asy-
lum TO Lady Clyde, what security had /
against Sir PercivaI Glyde's following her
here. in a state OF violent resentment
against me for harboring his wife? /
saw such a perfect labyrinth of troubles
involved in this proceeding. that / deter
mined to feel my ground. as II were.
wrote therefore. to dear Marian, to beg
tas she had no husband 10 lay claim to
herr that she would come here by her
self first, and talk the matter over with
me. II she could answer my objections to
my own perfect satisfaction, then / as
sured her that would receive our /
sweet Laura with the greatest pleasure |
but not otherwise.
i felt OF course, at the time that this |
temporizing on my part would probably |
end In bringing Marian here In a state OF
virtuous Indignation banging doors. But.
then, the other course OF proceeding
might end In bringing Sir Percival here
In state OF virtuous Indignation, bang
Ing doors also; and, of the two indigna-
tons and bangings, | preferred Marian's
because j was used 10 her According
ly / dispatched the letter by return of
post. II gained me time. at all events
and. oh. dear me! what a point that was
TO begin with.
When am totally prostrated (did I
mention that was totally prostrated by
Marian's IetterY. it always takes me
three days TO get up again. | was very
expected three days OF
quiet. OF course didn't get them
The third days post brought me a
most impertinent letter from a person
with whom l was totally unacquainted
he described himself as the acting party
ner OF our man OF business-our dear.
pig headed old Gilmore-and he informed
me that he had lately received. by the
post. letter addressed to him In Miss
haicombes handwriting. On opening the
envelope ne had discovered TO his aston
.shment that IL contained nothing but a
blank sheet OF notepaper. This circum- :
stance appeared TO him so suspicious (as
suggesting 20 his restless legal mind that {
the letter had been tampered With that q
ne had at once written TO Miss Hal
combe, and had received no answer hv J
return OF post. In this difficulty. instead J
OF acting like sensible man and letting
tnings take their proper course. his next $
Hosuro proceedings, on his own showing. !
was 10 poster me, by writing 10 inquire I
II 1 knew anything about IT, q
Wnat the deuce should / know about 9
~ why alarm me as well as himselfP
wrote back TO that effect Ii was one [
'f my keenest letters have produced c
lothing with sharper epistolary edge !
o ~ since i rendered his dismissal in
writing to that extremely Troublesome {
'erson, Mr.. Walter Hartrlght a
MY letter produced its effect. / heard
lothing more from the lawyer
Ihis, perhaps. was not altogether sur
'rising. But IL was certainly a remarla-
Die circumstance that no second letter \
cached me from Marian. and that no y
warning signs appeared OF her arrival
'er unexpected absence did me amazing d
1000. III was so very soothing and pleas- y
INT to infer Gas aid. OF course) that INV 4
narried connections had made II up
'gain Five days OF undisturbed tran n
utility, OF delicious single blessedness II
lutte restored me. On the sixth dav \
ell strong enough TO send for my pho- 1,
oegrapher' and set him at work again on
me presents tion copies Of my art treas "a
lres. with a view. as l have already men .
Iioned-to the Improvement OF taste in this -
oarbsrous neighborhod. had Just ais :
nisseo nim 10 his workshop. and had
lust begun coquetting with my coins WIEN
Louis suddenly made his appearance
with card In his hand.
Another Young PERSON." I said ct
won see her In my state OF hcaito
Young Persons disagree with me -,