St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-04-08
A Bachelors
Romance. . .
:::s:sss:;:.:.:::,,:::t:::;:i:::::;:.s:;{::;
By j. LINCOLN RANDALL.

BY j. LINCOLN RANDALL. :,
<**<*<+<<<<<+<<+<++<++++1
Mr.. HILTON HEY was eligible.
IA every one knows what tina
means. He had lately taken an OLE
fashioned house near the village O
faxton. Also the Office of church war
aen at the village church.
Now, within the borders of Paxton
hved six single women more or less or
the after side of 40. Hilton Hey wa.
On the after side of 40, too, pleasan
to look upon, and blessed with a con.
siderable portion Of this worlds goods
Co1ncldentally he had dined with Mrs
smurthwaite, widow; high tead" will
Miss Heeley, golfed with Miss Evans
audited charity accounts for Mrs
stansfeld - likewise widow - lunched
with Miss Flint and her small nephew
and practiced duets for a village con-
cert with Miss Lord. ~
Then arose a@clOud a trifie bigger
than a mans hand-a girl with red
gold hair and blue eyes, the new lady
organist of Paxton church. s%$
The six went in for the unity which
Is strength, and reported Individually
ON the situation as soldiers who mark
the movements of the enemy.
He saw her home from the choir
practice last night" said Miss Heeley,
who had dropped in to tea with Mrs.
Stansfeld
$50 Miss Evans told me-" returned
Mrs. Stansfeld. "In be bound she
kept him talking at the gate for long
enough. With no one to fetch her in
and shake herr
Miss Heeley rose to 60. As she hur-
ried down the lane she met Miss Flint,
who burst into communication with
out preliminary. s
They're both in the church now!
She's practicing, and he's sitting in the
front pew. Miss Lord peeped in and
saw them!"
"And Miss Evans told Mrs. Stansfeld
that they stood at Bridget's gate last
night talking for long enough with
their heads together" gasped Miss
Heeley. II 4&&E@ rs 1853
Il shall speak to the vicar,' said
Miss Flint, decidedly Tim going to
Mrs. Smurthwaite's and shall ask her
whether she doesn't consider it our
duty" 81 &ESS - s.
"Good gracious!" said Mrs Smurth-
waite, on hearing the news. 81 had
no idea fs&
Nor had any of u.s." interrupted
Miss Flint, until we saw for ourselves.
It shows how easy it is to warm q
viper in your bosom without know
ing it,"
Mrs. Smurthwaite informed Miss
Lord the same evening that she was
NO prude, but that when it came to
surreptitious kissing at dusk beneath
a laburnum tree the situation passed
beyond her comprehension and expert
ence. Which was certainly correct.
The vicar had sudden attack Of
pleurisy, and the six took itas a per-
sonal insult. Miss Flint suggested
that the quiet of a sick room would be
conducive I'd a consideration Of af-
fairs, and wished to write instead OF
waiting for IN interview. Then Miss
Evans said: why not write to the
eirl?" And the idea took.
It was not a nice letter. It con-
veyed scathing disapproval OF what
the writer's termed Shameless con-
duct" and demanded that 1t should
be discontinued, II only for the sake
Of the villagers, who were IS yet hap
rilv ignorant OF the ways OF adj
venturesses. ,ssas@-sas= $3.50
Its one redeeming feature was that
T. bore the signature of all the elk.
They addressed it to Miss Joyce Chill
tern, Laburnum cottage, posted 1t
and went their ways.
Joyce Chiltern was singing little
French song from sheer light hearted
ness when the postman arrived next |
morning. Il
The song ceased abruptly az
Bridget's soapy hand came round the
parlor door.
IA letter, my dear.
20. you dear!" cried Joyce, snatch
ing 1t eagerly.
But her face fell when she saw the
handwriting. She tore open the en-
velope and read.
A sudden wave Of color rushed to her
cheeks: then she turned white, ana
the tears gathered in her eyes.
.arhe pigs!" she said-"the horrid.
hateful pigs!"
.
Hilton Hey was standing oelore =
,,,er glass in his dining room.
..Not bad, l fancy" he said, survey
,,o his reflection critically. Lots OF
eeiIows younger than EN- have gray
hair. | don't suppose shes more tnan
Sd though. What would that matter
8 .he To- That's where I'm such
, !. NJ daren't showsher the least Ut
~ hit that / care fdf fear she'd snub
ne who the dickens = coming ct
This hour?" g... ,,sssw45
..Miss Chiltern TO see you, 81.
..coodness!" muttered Hilton Hey:
1oyce looked round nervonsly as she
$3.50 the room, and Hilton Hey
..rrcd her agitation.
.f,ood morningy' hs said, brightly
.o,sinr out his hand. What : lovely