Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-12-31
Two Bachelor Girls


They we're great friends, and each
had vowed solemnly to the other that
they would never surrender their lib.
erty to man. I'VE will live together
in a nice little suite of rooms" they
said. why should we need a man to
make our lives complete?" "Shall
you be called old Malds'?" a friend
asked them. They Indignantly re-
Piled: why. no. we will be bache.
lor girls"
30 they both entered college with
the intention of teaching school some
day. They never tired of their favor.
ite subject Of conversation, and many
were the plans and projects they dis
cnseed. In imagination the four
aainty rooms they were to occupy to.
gother in the future were furnished
over and over again, and their spare
moments we're spent in working on
sofa cushions and other pretty trines
dear 70 woman's heart.
The summer came and the girls
were to part for three months. and
With their arms about each other they
retoieed that in one short year they
would be free to begin a life toget er.
Nov don't you go and get engaged. ."
said Isabelle as they bade each other
good-by, and then they both laughed
as II It we're a huge joke.
Isabelle went to Bar Harbor with
her mother, and Catherine spent her
vacation in a little village in Vermont
For awhile the girls wrote frequent.
u and fully to each other, but soon
Catherine noticed her friends letters
were short and unsatisfactory. 81
suppose Isabelle is in the whirl OF Sc
ciety. AS she doesn't write to ms
about how she spends her time l shall
not tell her Of anything that I am dc
Ing" sighed Catherine. as though g.
excuse herself for her hastily writteh
notes.
The summer wore itself away am
autumn came, and the girls returned
to college and greeted each othe
warmly but with constraint "Why
Catherine, how well you lookl Di'
you have a good timer" inquired Iss
belle. 81 enjoyed myself very much.
was the answer, in rather a veal
voice. "And you, dear?" Isabel.
with a rosy face and downcast eye
assured her friend that her summa
had been very pleasant one.
No further allusion to the past
to the life of the future was made h
either, and they soon settled dow
into the monotonous round OF schot
duties. Although roommates sill
they avoided each other to such a Z,
gree that 1t was remarked n the oil
er students, and many we.e the COZ
lectures put forth ON the subject.
"she knows It! Oh, dearl o..
thought Catherine. "She- Ignores me
more and more each day" 81 viii
have to tell her." sighed Isabelle
what will she think of mel"
One evening in October the twn
girls, separated by the entire Length
of the room, were preparing their les
SONS for the following day, Catherin
would steal a furtive glance from he
book to Isabelle's face only to find
Isabelle gazing f1xedly at her. The
they would both glance quickly dow
with heightened color and rapid
beating hearts.
The little Dresden clock on H.
mantel chimed the halfhour after
and Isabelle closed the book she ha
been holding upside down and with
Arm resolve to do or die, flung he
self on the couch and buried her pre-
~ head in the dainty cushions. Gait
crime, hurriedly thrusting a mucl
worn letter into her pocket, earnest
besought the weeping girl to tell ht
the cause OF this sudden outburs
Thus urged, Isabelle began in 10
pleading tones: "Can you ever 70
give met have broken my VOWS
you-ail those lovely things we mac
oh, dear; you needn't finish tn
pillow. wish had stayed at hon
but then l wouldn't have"
Tell me all about it, dear" Cat
crime begged, as she softly patted Is.
bellies hand.
"Well, while at the shore this SUI
mer l met a young mana lawyer
Ae Is Just lovely, SOL liked him ar
he liked me. At first. Cathy, on
considered him as brother, l reall
did. and have broken my vow
you. Oh, dear! He is so kind an
good that / don't believe you coul
have helped liking him If you kne'
him as well as l do. Therel" and
saying she hid her face in the cusl
ions again. not seeing Catherine
Joyful countenance.
Look up, Isabelle! Don't cry.
have a confession to make also. | me
a college professor last July whom
thought / regarded only as a FRIEND
but when he told me how much h.
loved me / had to confess that | re
turned his affections"
Isabelle had been listening with a.
expression of amazement, and nov
she threw her arms impetuousl. !.
around GATHERINGS neck, exclaiminl
"It is simply charming! How hagp
am! l wish you could see Dick. r.
is just lovely, and"
mot any nicer than Lawrence.
said Catherine, with little show @
spirit, and then they embraced e g.
other again in true school girl fasa
ion. and we will leave them eompar
ing the merits Of their respective low
ers and discussing the disposal Of ,h'
many pretty articles they had mad,
for the adornment of their suite.
| LOUISE HAWKINS.