The Two Bachelors.

PAET I

It was in the summer of 'Gl that Jack Ferrars and myself, then gay bachelors of thirty, weary with the business that had surged in upon us during the winter months, rented between us a small shoot in? in the Western Highlands, with the view of recruiting our wasted energies in a pastime of which we were both very fond. I admired Ferrars almost passionately. He was a fine, handsome fellow, with yellow hair and blonde mustache, and possessed the gentlemanly manners and easy flow of conversation which I esteemed above all things. But my attachment to Jack was no mere passing admiration of his brilliant parts aud fascinating man ners ; it dated as far back as the days when we were boys at school, and had gone on in an uninterrupted flow eversince, strengthened by the test of time. We had, moreover, numberless things in com mon, among the most important of which was —we were both confirmed bachelors ; in good truth, bachelors proud of the name —bachelors who never intended to bo anything but bachelors, and who took a peculiar pleasure in saying so, and in vowing allegiance to each other in a man ner that would have done credit to the Corsican brothers.

It was therefore with brilliant anticipa tions of the delight wo wore to experience in each other's society, that wo found our selves the occupants of a pretty villa, on the outskirts of a little outlandish place in the Highlands, far removed from all friends and acquaintances. With a sigh of relief, and a delighful feeling of free dom, we ■wheeled our chairs into the open bow window on the night of our arrival, and lighting cigars, sat down to enjoy the really beautiful scene before us. In the foreground lay our own smoothly-cut lawn and rectangular flower-beds, with the moonlight falling in pale, bright bars over the sleeping flowers; and beyond, the silver loch, whence wo could distinctly hear the light laugh of some late pleasure seekers, as they rowed slowly homewards ; while above the loch tho hills rose in dark majestic outline against the pale beauty of the sky. Jack, as apropos to the scene, had been repeating, as best he could, be tween tho whiffs of his cigar, Lord Byron's 'Lake Leman'; and an animated discussion, which had afterwards arisen on the merits and demerits of that much maligned poet, was suddenly interrupted by a burst of the finest music I had ever heard. It was a splendid soprano voice, accompanied by the guitar, singing tho old pathetic Scot tish song, 'Auld KobinGrcy.' The expres sion thrown into the voice was simply oxquißite.l When the mournful minor key was struck Jack snatched his cigar from his lips, leaned forward in a breathless listening attitude, as if afraid to lose a sin gle vibration, and did not move again until the song had ceased. 1 felt strangely affected myself. I had often listened to the same song before, but never with the soul-thrilling of to-night. As the last cadence died away, borne over the silver waters to the dark hills, it seemed to mo as if it were an angel's whisper over tho death-bed of a child.

The sounds proceeded from the open drawing-room windows of the villa next our own; and when at last they ceased Jack, resuming his cigar in the most pro saic fashion, remarked : 'By Jove ! that was good singing, Bob. This is better than a box at the opera ; eh, old fellow !'

It's the finest singing, without exception, I ever listened to,' I answered. ' I hope I won't meet tho tair possessor of such an exquisite voice.'

'What an absurd fellow you are! Why ?' asked Jack, blowing a long curl of smoke out of the window,

' Oh, because, if she's pretty, I feel as if I should fall in love with her.'

Jack winced at this betrayal of weak ness.' Pshaw! Harding, don't talk like an idiot. Ten to one she's an ugly old wretch, with sunken jaws, with powder enough on her face to last a lord chief justice's wig for six months.'

' I almost hope she is,' I returned, ' for then my heart won't run such a chance of being captured.'

'You're a consummate fool, Harding.' was the flattering encomium of my friend Ferrars.

' Sorry you think so, Jack,' I said; ' but a fool or no fool, if that's a pretty young girl, I would't give sixpence for your own chances of retaining your bachelor's notions much longer, Jack Ferrars.'

I leaned forward, smiling, to catch a glimpse of his expression in the dim light. A haughty curl was on his lips, and a look of scorn in his blue eyes, which disappeared with a ludicrous rapidity as soon as he observed I was rallying him.' 'Ah ! Bob, no fear of that,' he said; ' you and I are too jolly together to care about pretty girls, however fascinating— else we'd have been married long ago.' ' I begin to think so Jack,' I returned; ' and, upon my word, I often wonder how a fellow like you, upon whom scores of designing mammas have had their envious eyes, was never caught.'

' I was just going to make the same remark about you,' said Jack, with a laugh, as he stroked his handsome mustache.

'It seems to me we're a couple of extremely clever fellows,' I answered, rising.

•We're a couple of extremely lucky fellows, at any rate, to have safely escaped all the snares and fascinations laid for us,'returned Ferrars, shrugging

his broad shoulders and looking the personification of happy bachelorhood as he thus disburdened himself of his anti matrimonial notions. ' But what say you to a bit of supper, old boy ? It is getting late.'

I agreed, and we both descended to the dining-room. Mrs. Mason, the worthy housekeeper, had lit a fire in honor of our arrival, and the dying embers now cast a dark red glow on the walls, making a decidedly comfortable appearance not withstanding it was a fine autumn night. "When wc turned up the gas, a cosy little supper laid out lor two was displayed, and the wine and fruit we had been using at dinner still stood on the sideboard. Never were there two happier, jollier, or more amiable bachelors than Ferrars and I that night, as we sat chatting over our wulnuts and claret and laying out our schemes of enjoyment, until the small hours warned us that it was high time we were in the primary enjoyment of sleep. ' Good-night, Jack,' I said, as at last we separated for our respective rooms.

' Good morning, rather.' echoed Jack, an he shut hi,; door; ' and I hope tho ghost of Eobin Grey won't disturb your slumbers.'

A sharp rat-tat on my bedroom door, and the familiar ' Hallo, old boy !' of Jack outside, awoke me from one of the most delightful and refreshing sleeps I had enjoyed for a long time. To say the least of it, I felt fierce to be thus awakened. ' Confound you, Ferrars,' I shouted ; ' what do you want ? Be off!' ' Get up, old boy, gel up ; if you're not out of bed before I count ten. you shall have no breakfast. One-two-three' —

The threat was too awful to be an ticipated, and beforo he had completed tho given number, I had unlocked the door for him. He came in with a merry look in his blue eyes, and throwing him self down on the bod I had so unwillingly vacated, began kicking tho white counter pane with his dirty boots. ' Jack, man, look what you're doing,' I said, pointing to a mud-splatch on tho e'ean linen, ' Mrs. Mason will think I tumbled into bed last night in the disreputable condition of not knowing very well what I was about.' ' Just tell her I did it, Bob, and she'll bo delighted to put on a fresh counter pane, lam sure. But do you know what I was doing this morning while you were driving your pigs to market?' 'Feeding the chickens, probably,' I answered, feeling cross at Jack's good humour.

' Guess again,' said he laughing. '_M o ; if you don't choose to tell mc, my curiosity will wait,' I returned, as I arranged my necktie. * Well, then, I've been getting on good terms with Mrs Mason, and finding out who our friends of musical repute next door are.'

' The dickens you have !' I ejaculated, pausing in tho adjustment of my shirt studs. Jack nodded, his blue eyes fairly dancing with merriment, ' And the result of your inquiries is ' That the household consists of a Colonel Hallam, his wife and daughter.'

' Is that all you know about them ?' I asked, somewhat, disappointed at the meagreness of the detail, as I put the finishing touches to my toilet. 'You ungrateful scoundrel!' returned Jack. ' Why, the people only arrived here two days ago, and Mrs Mason herself only got the information this morning from the baker's boy at the door.'

' Ah! then it's sure to bo correct. But come, let's go down stairs and try if we can get a look at Colonel Hallam or his pretty daughter.' It was a glorious morning. The sun shine was dancing gleefully on the rippling surface of the loch, and the flowers were lifting their dewy heads and filling the breakfast-room with their fresh fragrance. A very tempting repast stood awaiting us on the table, and Jack's blue eyes looked not amiss behind the coffee-urn.

' Altogether this is very pleasant, Jack,' I remarked, as I took the cup be handed to me ; ' you look almost pretty enough to kiss, my dear.' ' Come, no chaff. Is your coffee sweet enough ?' ho returned affectionately, twirling the ends of his blonde mustache.

' Oh, it's there all right,' I said, alluding to the handsome appendage : ' I didn't make any mistake about that.' He turned his laughing eyes on me for an instant, and no sooner had they wandered to the window again, than he started uttering a long—whew ! I stood up too, following his eyes inquiringly, and there, over the low hedge that divided the gardens, I caught sight of a young girl in a fresh morning dress, engaged in cutting flowers and daintily arranging them into a bouquet. What we saw of her face under the broad-rimmed hat that shaded it was bright and beautiful. ' Good heavens' Miss Hallam,' said Jack.

'By Jove! Miss Hallam,' echoed I. And we both looked into each other's faces and laughed outright.

' What are you laughing at ?' usked Jack with the utmost inconsistency, as he sat down and resumed his breakfast.

' Just what you're laughing at,' I returned, breaking my egg. ' She's not old or ugly, either,' he re marked after a pai so.

'By Joye, she isn't!' I answered as I gulped a mouthful of my highly-sugared coffee.

* Are you sorry ?' ' No, are you glad ?'

' It doesn't matter a rap to me what she is, or is not.' ' You are a cynical old bachelor, Ferrars.'

' Allow me to return the compliment, Harding.'

' I rather meant you to keep it I think.' ' I decline it with thanks, as not suitable. I'm not cynical.'

'' When I wish to expatiate on the charms of a nice young lady, you get as sour as vinegar ; now, you know it's true ; so not a word in reply ; but hurry up, old boy—tempus fugit ;' and I pulled out my watch.

Wo were both in a hurry to be off to our sport, and soon all thoughts of Miss Hallam were forgotton in the bustle of arranging our shooting-gear. The wagon ette was brought round to the door, and two very happy heart-whole bachelors sprang lightly into it, and were bowled away down the gravel path, through the gate and out of sight. We had a pretty good day's sport on the moors, and return ed homo in the best of humor with our selves, and tired enough to enjoy thoroughly an after-dinner lounge in our drawing room, which we had converted, pro tern, into a smoking-room, and ornamented in every available place with meerschaums, tobacco and cigar-boxes. Upon this evening, Jack, who was a fair player on the pianoforte, was performing the ' Blue Bells of Scotland,' with much elaborate flourishing and crossing of hands, and I, as the audience, was stretched on three chairs at the window, lazily smoking my cigar in that sort of half-dreamy, comatose state that one feels in the en joyment of well-earned leisure and rest. I cannot say that I was altogether in rap tures over the ' Blue Bells,' but perhaps they helped to promote the pleasant tenor of ray thoughts as I lay with my eyes half closed, letting the smoke from my weed curl affectionately in the folds of Mrs. Mason's lace curtains. 'How jolly Fer rars and I are together,' I chuckled to myself; ' this little trip of ours is going to be altogether a success. Girls are well enough to meet occasionally, but they be come a bore. Now, suppose I had a wife with me here instead of Jack, she wouldn't be content unless she had the house filled with visitors and servants, and'—

Just at this interesting juncture of my ruminations, the flourishing and dashing at the piano stopped, and presently the chairs on which my legs were resting were pulled from under me, and I was left ignominiously sprawiingon the carpet,with Jack's face grinning down at me in evident enjoyment of my discomfiture. But my fall did not cause me to forget tbe thread of my meditations, and as I gathered up my elegant limbs, I remarked ; 'My wife would not have done that, Jack.'

' No; she would have kissed the poor, tired darling, and thrown a shawl gently over him, to keep him from catching cold,' said Jack in a tone of mock affection.

' Picture of domestic happiness!' I returned, laughing, as I readjusted the chairs. * Hark ! what is that ?'

The stillness of the night outside was broken by the same exquisite music we had listened to on the previous evening. In an instant our banter was hushed. It was a gay, lively air which I recognized as a selection from the ' Student's Frolic,' and the singer seemed even more at home in this style than in the pathetic. It made me feel as joyous as a bird in spring, and had I not been too lazy, I could have danced, in the very exuberance of my spirits. ' Jack, we must get an introduction to that little girl,' 1 cried enthusiastically, throwing my half-finished cigar out of the window.

But, to my surprise, Jack seemed in no mood to talk, and kept staring out of the window, taking no notice of my remark. Feeling aggrieved at not being met with the storm of opposition and contempt I expected for proposing such a thing, I went over and slightly shook him, at which he ran his fingers through his blonde ourls, and, looking up with an expression of inno cent surprise asked : ' What is it ?' ' Wouldn't you like an introduction to Miss Hallam ?' I repeated. ' Why, yes; of course, Harding; you needn't have shaken a fellow half out of his senses to ask that silly question,' and Jack readjusted his broad shoulders and relapsed into silence again. I tried to talk of Miss Hallam, music, literature, politics, but all to no purpose. He sat staring out of the window, as if the seven wonders of the world were visible on our path of moonlit lawn. Bather disgusted, I left him star-gazing and retired to bed ; but as I went up stairs I must own to a little curiosity as to the cause that had made my amiable and talkative friend suddenly so laconic and disagreeable.

PART 11.

The warm August days ripened into mellow September. Since the night of Jack's revelry, a change had certainly come over him, but as yet he left me un informed as to the cause. Sometimes his old gaiety would return, but it was sure to be followed by a fit of more sombre silence than before. I chaffed him about it often, but his testy replies invariably shut me up. .We never met Miss Hal lam, and the only time we saw her was in the morning among her flowers, or in the evening, when, after having ravished us with her music, she stepped out on the balcony, leaning on her father's arm, to enjoy the moonlight. On such occasions Jack seemed strangely affected, and would either break forth into voluminous praises of her grace and beauty, or sit

gazing mutely at the apparition. Such a state of affairs led me, naturally enough, to the conclusion that whatever might be the matter with Ferrars, the fair can tatrice had something to do with it.

One afternoon we resolved to have a row down the loch, and as I crossed the lawn, with an oar over each shoulder, I chanced to glance at Colonel Hallam's window, where the two ladies were seated sewing. The younger one was scanning me with a half-amused expression in her brown eyes ; and as Jack came sauntering down the gravel path, with a hand in each pocket, I quietly said: ' Miss Hallam's at the window.'

He looked in the direction I indicated, and, to my surprise, he immediately blushed up like a girl. ' Why, Jack, old fellow, what is the matter ?' I asked, with a smile I could not repress. Miss Hallam was viewing us with the aid of an opera-glass.

' Pshaw ! Harding, get on board quick, and row as well as you can,' he answered, throwing himself in the stern of the boat, in a position where the sunshine struck forcibly on his handsome face and auburn locks.

I bent as gracefully as I could to my oars —I had. been a fair oarsman at Cambridge—and soon the little craft was skimming far over the sunlit ripples.

As it was still early when we returned, we strolled down the road until it would be time to go in for dinner, when, turning a corner, we came suddenly upon Miss Hallam and her father, mounted on a couple of splendid grays. As she can tered past us with a smile, her beautiful face flushed with the exercise, I certainly thought I had never seen any one half so lovely. Her perfect form; the grace of every fold in her dark green riding-habit; the indescribable coils and twists of her brown hair, with the sunshine shading it to gold; the coquetish little felt hat, turned up on one side, with its dancing plume and streaming gossamer—com bined to make up a charming '■ tout ensemble,' which was altogether irresis tible. Jack had stared after her in open mouthed admiration for such an indecent length of time, that I was constrained to accuse him.

' Ferrars, you admire Miss Hallam,' I said.

He had his head bent, and was kicking the dead leaves with his feet as he walked. When he raised his blue eyes, they were filled with the expression of a passion I had never noticed in them before, and which fully corroborated the four words he uttered, as his eyes met mine: *I do love her!'

Strange as it may seem, I was thunder struck at the announcement. Much as I had noted the change in Ferrars, I had hesitated to ascribe it to the circumstance of his being in love. I protested and raged against such folly—falling in love with a hdy with whom he had never ex changed a single word. For answer, a passionate confession was poured into my astonished ears, in which he vowed he must and would win her. Matters were made considerably worse when we received our letters that evening, informing us of business engagements requiring our im mediate return to town. It would be im possible for us to remain more than three days longer. ' Humph ! your time is rather limited, Ferrars,' I said, with more sarcasm than sympathy. ' You'll be a pretty sharp fel low if you woo and win a handsome girl in three days.' Tbe next morning he came down to breakfast looking pale and haggard. I don't believe he had slept all night, but I made no inquiries, as I felt annoyed at this alarming impulse of my old friend, and was altogether out of temper with this adventure of his. He ate little or no breakfast, and looked so dejected that at last my sympathies were aroused, and I shouted cheerfully : ' Cheer up, old felloe, we'll manage it beautifully, and you'll go up to London the accepted suitor of Miss Hallam.'

Gradually he became more animated, and began to talk, and finally quite shocked me hy declaring that he was going to write and propose to Miss Hallam that very day. I considered him to be simply mad, but he had apparently thought it well over, and was determined what course to adopt.

• But, Jack, the thing is preposterous,' I argued; ' she knows nothing about you. Can you expect anything but a distinct refusal ?'

' And what would you recommend ?' he asked, curling his upper lip as he waited for my advice.

* Why, get introduced to her first, and wait at least until you know her a little be fore you make such a proposal,' I said. ' Have I not been waiting for the last two months ?' he answered. ' And do you forget that in two days I must leave this place ? There is no time for waiting now; it must be action, immediate and peremp tory !' ' And are you quite determined to do— this—this thing ?'

' Quite.' ' And will nothing .persuade you that it is an extremely foolish action, and one that will be certain to defeat all your wishes P'

'Under the circumstances, I consider it the bnly thing to be done.' I succumbed. In difficulties of a different nature he had generally proved a better diplomatist than I, and perchance his skill might extend to this department also.

' Well, if it must be action, as you say

t must, action let it be; you must ;your proposal,' I said, pulling out U writin % materials with alacrity, Jji placing- a chair for Jack at the desk; jj after a lull hour's scribbling down m scratching out, a clean copy was pejS which ran as follows :

Datl cl'Arroch Lodge. Sept. 22, 1__\ -\ Dear Miss Hallam : I regret that einw stances' have prevented me making wj acquaintance ere I address to you which 1 pray you will not think lightW from the' mere fact that I have neverapoW to you. Since I came here two months il you have excited my intense admitatioi which feeling has lately ripened into a flea and passionate 1 love. _..: ™ My business engagements now demajj my immediate return to London, but I'fS that I cannot j* "> without first learning W you my fate. I .make you now an honon^. offer of my han»i in marriage, and I besee^ you not to think Hghtly of it, as on y ot( decision must depend my life's happiness oj misery. If possible, an answer per to-da/i nost will very much oblige. Yours respect fully, JOffiT FeRRABS.:

' That will do,' I said, holding the sh& covered with Jack's neat handwriting arm's. length, ' Concise; to the ppin not too spoony; slightly formal; J under the circumstances it is better^ Jack folded the letter and address^: and with serious misgivings at my _$ which I dared not express, I

with him to the post-offi.ce. and saw M drop the missive into the box. We-'ij nothing all day but lounge about 1 |g house and garden, waiting anxiouslyffi the postman would bring the letteisji the evening. At length, the weary M passed, and the letter-carrier arrived M sure enough there it was, a little pii note, addressed John F-srrars, esqn* My heart beat as quickly as thrinj&| were my own happiness that was atstii as Jack broke the seal. I looked pij his shoulder, and what we both'-saw wij Wednesday Afternoon;!

Dear Mr. Ferrars: I accept the gti| honor you have done me. Before, howwjj meeting you, I would like you to see p^ and obtain his consent to our engagemeii Yours, sincerely, Eunice —Aiu_]< There is an old adage that says 'ttm] straDger than fiction,' and if ever I felt 11. force of it, it was as: I read that mi Contrary to all my expectations, Jack la actnally been accepted ! He bore his gia fortune with much more equanimity flm"| did, his only remark being r * Emuce-wltf pretty name!' "While I, with Strang mixed feelings, actually got up a 'brim|| The next difficulty was how or wnewj meet Colonel Hallam and obtain his coniat An idea seized me ; I ba>4 seen -theif colonel walk down the road a short « before. ' Stay you here,' I said fs|l and, putting on my hat, off I bolted. II not gone far when I espied the old COW leaning on a wire fence, watching some raj men digging a drain. Pretending wj interested in the same pursuit, I walkeM to him and made some remark regarding! work. Thereafter we got upon the * friendly terms, which ended, as I intra* it should, by his walking home with mi coming into the house to join us in a ram of whist. I conducted him into the diaiij room and went for Jack. He began_ top slightly nervous when he heard what Ito done, but I told him not to say anyta* the colonel about his daughter to-niffi only to make himself as agreeable al could. I then instructed Mrs. Mason ffl down the very best we had in the hone*! supper and went to entertain our interea| guest. We found him a charming J gentleman. At whist, he and dummy b Jack and me ; and possessing an lnexhao ble fund of humorous stones, the 0 passed so pleasantly that it was W« o'clock before he rose to go. _ # I A cordial invitation to visit him 1 extended to us, as we bade him good fflj in the hall, which was exactly whatjlwM* and meant we should have. Putting o» grave face, I said :

'Nothing would have given us gn pleasure had we been staying longer, we were to leave for London the dpjy to-morrow.'

* Then you must spend to-morrow evfOT with me,' was his hearty rejoinder. IW take no refusal.' And to this arrangement we agreed. • ' A thousand thanks to you* Bob; youl a capital fellow.' said Jack, gratefully m ing my hand as we separated for the xugW 'Ferrars !' ' Hollo !'

* Are you ready?' I was donning my dress suit prepare' to presenting myself in Colonel Halh drawing-room.

' Yes.'

' Come here, then.' He came in, evidently dressed for cbnqW and looking faultlessly handsome. IM veyed him critically. . There was not ! item amiss, from the neglige arrangement his auburn curls to the polish of his patei leathers. __ ___ -. - 'How do I look?' he asked, withal laugh and a satisfactory glance at m magnificent proportions in the mirror. 'Like a Polish prince,' I answers 'Miss Hallam may have many lovers, » I'll bet a new hat she never had a ben* looking fellow than you. Now, look.Mß you do exactly as I tell you and n°* one iota from the rule I.lay down. As* • Colonel Hallam, and say that you want to i him alone. When the first greetings J over you'll explain to him that Mr. Harcß is detained for a short time with i-M packing he had to finish,"fand that yon « not wait for him as you fhad something communicate to him—the colonel iff pitch into the subject nearest yow.JKJJ tell him of your business and social cow» tions, and don't neglect to impress him *» the fact that you're your mother's only w and heir to her fortune and estates, .m sort of things go a long way with we Having thus delivered my advice;'to J* I sent him off to push his MOtUM?

Evening Supplement, December 18, IS^S.