Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-16
A BACHELORS ROMANCE.
BY ]. lincoln Randall.


So the Office of church warden at the
village church.
Now, within the borders of Paxton
lived six single women more or less
on the after side of 40 Hilton Hey
was on the after side of 40, too, pleas
ant to look upon, and blessed with
considerable portion of this worlds
goods. Coincidentally he had dined
with Mrs. Smurthwaite, widow; high
tead' with Miss Heeley golfed with
Miss Evans, audited charity accounts
for Mrs. Observation-Disclosures widow
lunched with Miss Flint and her small
nephew, and practiced duets for a vii
lage concert with Miss Lord.
Then arose cloud a trifle bigger
than mans hand-a girl with red
gold hair and blue eyes, the new lady
organist of Paxton church.
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 Heelev,
who had dropped in to tea with Mrs.
Stansfeld.
80 Miss Evans told me, returned
Mrs. Stansfeld. an be bound she
kept him talking at the gate for long
enough. With no one to fetch her in
and shake her!"
Miss Heeley rose to go. AS she
hurried down the lane she met Miss
Flint, who burst into a communication
without preliminary.
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. STAINS.
field that they stood at Brdget's gate
last night talking for long enough
with their heads together" gasped
Miss Heeley,
81 shall speak to the vicar" said
Miss Flint decidedly. Pm going to
Mrs. Smurthwaite's, and l shall ask
her whether she doesn't consider ii
our duty"
Good gracious" said Mrs Smurth-
waite, ON hearing the news 4 had
no idea"
Nor had any of u.s." interrupted
Miss Flint, until we saw for our
selves. 1t shows how easy it is to
warm viper in your bosom without
knowing it,"
Mrs. Smurthwaite Informed Miss
Lord the same evening that she was
no prude, ! Tt that When it came to
surreptitious kissing at dusk beneath |
laburnum tree the situation passed |
beyond her comprehension and ex-
perience. Which, was certainly cor
rect
The vicar had a sudden attack Of |
pleurisy. and the six took it as a per-
sonal Insult Miss Flint suggested |
that the quiet of sick room would be
conducive to consideration Of affairs,
end wished to write instead of wait
ing for an interview. Then Miss
Evans said, why not write to the
Girl?" And the idea took
It was not a aice letter It con
veyed scathing disapproval of what
the writer's termed shameless con
duct" and demanded that 1t should
be discontinued, if only for the sake
Of the villagers. who were as yet hap
PLY ignorant Of the ways of adventur-
esses.
Its one redeeming feature was that :,
II bore the signature of all the six |
They addressed 1t to Miss Joyce |
Chiltern, Lablrrnum Cottage" rosted |
it. and went their ways.
Joyce Chiltern was singing a little |
French song from sheer lighthearted.
ness WIN the postman arrived next
morning
The song ceased abruptly as Bridg.
cts soapy hand came round the parlor
door.
"A letter, my dear"
20, you dearrn cried Joyce, snatch.
ing it eagerly.
But her face fell when she saw the
She tore open the en-
velope and read.
A sudden wave Of color rushed to
ueT CITIZENS, lHen Sue turned Wnlte,
and the tears gathered in her eyes.
The pigs" she said-"the horrid,
hateful pigs"
Hilton Hey was standing before a
pier glass in his dining room.
Not bad, fancy" he said, survey
ing his reflection critically. Lots OF
fellows younger than an have gray I
hair. don't suppose she's more
than "a. though what would that
matter If she 10 That's where I'm
such fool I daren't show her the
least little bit that | care for fear
she'd snub me. Who the dickens Is
coming at this hour"
Miss Chitern to see you. sir"
Goodness" muttered Hilton Hey.
Joyce locked round nervousIy as
she entered the room, and Hilton Hey
marked her agitation. Il
Good morning." he said brightly