Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-21
THE BACHELORS STORY.

signs of relief. Though they all seemed
to be on the most friendly terms with
her, there was not another woman in the
Dona Ana. She wasn't young, she
wasn't very pretty, she wasn't even
plump. But the way she turned the
heads of men was something beyond be-
lief
OF course it was to be expected that
husbands would stray away occasionally,
beguiled by the wiles of youthful sirens,
but their return from such wanderings
was merely a question of time
But in their devotion to Donl Ana
they never tagged and in the breast OF
each mans wife ranked the conviction
that should she allow herself to die Dona
Ara would be entreated to fill her place,
which belief no doubt contributed great
~ to the longevity OF these ladies.
Very few had ever been malicious
enough to intimate that there was any
thing not strictly platouic in these
friendships of Dona Ana's. She was dis
erection itself, and among the men there
could not have been found one to
whisper word to the lady's discredit.
Indeed, now that she was going away,
it seemed to some of them that no one
could ever take her place in their hearts
As for Thomas Moston, he felt as if
there were forming in his life a great
hollow, into which everything was fall
ing. He had been one of Dona Ana's
earliest friends in the place and couldn't
see how he was to get along without her.
1t was with an almost youthful quick
ening of the pulses that he took out a
letter that he had read dozen times
already. 1t ran:
My Dear. King Friend: This Is my real
farewell TO you, for it is best that ! should
take it in this way. Even so, know
1t is late. | sit here writing you by the
light of the moon. and thinking think
ing, thinking am gong away. Can you
guess all that It means to me? Going
away, leaving this fair country where !
have passed so many HAPPY years; leav-
Ing you. who have done so much to make
them happy. DO you lemember-but no.
| shall not he so weak as TO recall the
past. 1t is better that we both forget;
better, perhaps, that go. But alas!
go to fresh cares, fresh worries, perhaps
TO poverty. and the future looks very dark
TO me.
But | would not have YOU sad on my
account. nor Your life Swallowed BIZ any
thought Of my difficulties. ] only wish
for you. now and always. all the happ-
4ess that YOU. the deal est and kindest
friend a woman ever had, so Hchlv de-
serve. DONA ANA.
Thomas hadn't felt for years so much
like weeping. His celderly heart was
perfect bundle of tenderness and COM
passion. He was sincerely solicitor.
about the poor little woman's future,
He feared it was going to be very haru
for her
Unfortunately things were very hard
for him, too, just now. Times in gem
eral were becoming alarming But he
must do something for her, even il he
had to borrow the money. He could
spare hundred dollars-yes, twO-as a
parting gift
Half The town had come to the station
to see DOna Ana off Now that they
were sure of her going the women were
quite affectionate and disposed to ignore
the cagerness of their husbands to have
a last word with her. She beamed uopn
them all with equal graciousness.
Thomas had expected. not unnaturallv.
to be signaled out for a special farewell,
but in this he was disappointed No one
would have dreamed that she had any
letter reason for remembering him than
| another. and it was with heavy heart
he turned after watching her ride away
lie suddenly ielt twenty years older.
1t didn't seem as if he could 90 home
with his wife just yet, and he turned
into the house of Il Jolly bachelor friend
where he found several of his acqunint
| anccs.
Hello, Thomas! Been to see Dona
Ana OFF,"
Yes" with an assumption of cheer,
tuInee~ "lcs. I'm afraid we're going
TO miss the little woman"
The bachelor ssmiled in q heart-wholc
fashion
"0t course we are. She knew how to
keep man interested. | never met her
| equal
We'll. I'm not sorry she's off" The
remark came from the youngest man in
| the room. when woman takes to
limiting that She needs money she be-
comes perfect nuisance"
| Percy. YOU don't mean that she asked
| You Tor money: cried the stout man ex-
citedlv.
Well not exactly, but she wrote me
such pathetic farewell letter that had
o do something
The stout man gave little gasp.
| Ni'tV YOU Il itlleT she didn't tell
YOU, too, did She, that-that YOU had
helped TO make life here so happy, and
all that
That's just what she said" laughed
Percy
| The bachelor roared
And did She write it by the light of
! the moon :"
she did. So you, too. got one?"
oh! yes got ore. sent her a hun
dred dollars. / couldn't spare more Jus.
| now
Il got bitten worse than that" said
Percy. Il sent her two hundred"
| And two hundred" said the stout
man sadly. And you, Thomas. didn't
| You get a letter."
Thomas uttetred Il groan, but no one
noticed him. The lean man. who had sat
| speeches. during these disclosure
sprang up as if beside himself.
! And Il gave her-Oh! it's Infamous
! its Infamous" he shrieked. "Sbe's
robbed me, She's fooled us all with her
innocent airs Confound her!"
1 "Ghf uppSp1se" .r;eJ 4bo ~,