Middletown transcript., 1921-12-03
THE BACHELOR
Ey FLORENCE A. FRENCH.
g. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Sy


The affair began on the beach. Color
less stretches of barren sand make per
fectly splendid backgrounds for sun
shades, and when the sunshade il
| question is flaming cerise and tn
| beach is otherwise deserted, the effec
produced is startling. l might hav'
known would be pursued by alwomal
sooner or later, but l scarcely though
the frivolous sex would care to venture
| into this bleak and barren neck of the
| woods.
| l, Grey S. Payson, was anything but
| pleased at the prospect, for it looked
as if this designing creature were set
tied for comfortable morning in my
| favorite rocky retreat. Of course
| could not risk getting acquainted with
! her, and remaining longer on the beach
would most certainly mean getting ac
| guainted. Not that would be guilty
of bringing it about, but she would
| probably faint Or ask to borrow my
fountain pen Or need rescuing from
something or other. 'Tis the silly
ways Of all Daughters of Eve.
A deep pity stirred my being. The
Injustice Of it all! A ruined vacation,
and, the cauSe-a woman! l had q
swift vision of being forced to accom-
pany her on frequent rambles. helping
her by her nervous, clinging hands
over innumerable rocks and eXerting
ply manly strength in her behalf.
"Ye gods!" l exclaimed wrathfully,
when is bachelor safer"
Generous fathers and beaming moth
ers bent on dispOsing Of their bOn-bon
daughters, had haunted me. Forward
maidens had openly proposed to me,
yet, thus far. l had escaped the hor-
ribie clutches of matrimony.
l loved my wild. desolate bit of
northern coast, the barren fishing vii.
lage and it's simple fisher-fOlk. And
now a woman from another world had
invaded my paradise! l spent most
miserable morning avoiding her.
BY so doing l acquired an aching
head and 24-hOur crouch, to say moth
ing, of my splendidly bIistered feet.
Ploddhg wearily home l resolved to
meet the enemy and-ignore her. Hav-
ing resolved upon this procedure l
was eager to begin it, and it was
therefore with much delight that 1
CHANGED to come upon the annoying
person. calmly seated upon my golden
sands, gazing with vacant eyes upon
my foamy ocean, the cerise parasOl
most glaring evidence. Seating my.
self at. a distance, l lit my pipe
and turned my back on her. I'll show
her!
To my amaZement the enemy re-
manned ObliyiOuS to my presence.
chuckled. Her Indifference was too
good to be true, and l only hoped it
would last all morning.
1t did.
1t was noon when she arose grace
fully and slowly made her way down
the beach toward the village. caught
full glimpse Of the intruder, for she
lowered her sunshade. In fash it
1awned upon me that snappier at
tire would best become my manly
figure. ! had somewhat neglected my
person during my solitary watch by
the sea.
1t was therefore with great pride
that I made my appearance before
breakfast, bedecked in cool white flan-
nels
Then I resolved to be nice to her.
After all she was probably very or
binary person. l had made noun
tain out Of mole hill, and, by jingo,
she wasn't bad looking. 1t was then
I discovered that the lady had begun
the ignoring method herself. She
snubbed me openly. With eyes that
seemed TO look through me, yet saw
lae not, she passed me. I might have
been Il man of stone for all she seemed |
20 care. Daily we occupied the same
l. Grey S. Payson, bachelor of some |
Importance. was ignored by woman
with a cerise parasol!
A week dragged by. The intruder |
stayed on, and so did l. for why, pray, !
should this naughty person drive me
from my haven? She should not |
Her behavior puzzled me at first, so |
| shadowed her eagerly. ], too, could
play my cards and the last trick would
be mine!
Sunday dawned bright and glorious.
The glittering sands and water beck
uled to Inc, and likewise to a cerise
sunshade. / spied it peeking over a
BOULDER. l FASTENED eagerly, song
IN my lips. would approach the
lamsel, bow grayely, pass the time of
ay and depart. couldn't be too eau
ious. So. adjusting my nose glas-
IS, made boldly toward the flaming
,lOr.
hesitated at the sound Of voices.
ie was not alone. 1t was mascu-
lie voice. At that moment she ap-
AIRED, flush on her pretty face.
There he is, Reggie; the brute!"
was rudely grasped by tall, slim
ung man and shaken violently.
Let me eXplain!" muttered feebly. !.
'I'H teach you to annoy my wife!"
.undered Reggie, as he ratified my
.'th- again, "y0u fiirt!"
As I blindly groped my way back to
ne village, under darkenng skies, I