Jack Raymond, our hero, (if a bachelor may be called a hero), is past forty-five and not married. He has three rooms, bath and a man servant. Just now he is seated at his table in the library in his comfortable smoking jacket and ...

A Bachelor&apos;s Love Affair

Jack Raymond, our hero, (if a bachelor may be called a hero), is past forty-five and not married. He has three rooms, bath and a man servant. Just now he is seated at his table in the library in his comfortable smoking jacket and well-worn slippers, smoking his pipe, while old Bartlett, a model man servant, busies himself about the room. He is exceedingly satisfied with life. As he dreams over his books and pipe the doorbell rings and a messenger boy is ushered in. The telegram, addressed to Raymond, is signed by an old college chum, and reads: "New York, November 3, 1909. Mr. Jack Raymond, Boston. Mass. Am called to Europe on business and am sending my little baby girl, Bessie, for you to take care of during my absence. Fred." Raymond groans, rises and storms about the room, begging his faithful and quick-witted Bartlett to find some way out of the predicament. Sending a baby to him! How in the world will he take care of a baby; he doesn't know the first thing about them! But the ever genial Bartlett's face lightens. "A baby, coming here?" he says. "Why, what a novelty. Really, sir, I think that will be most agreeable." Raymond is finally won over and instructs Bartlett to get the cradle from the garret and gives him $5 to buy the little one some playthings. Everything is made ready for the baby and Bartlett and Raymond wait in expectant suspense. The "baby" arrives, carrying a suitcase, a winsome little lass of seventeen. Bartlett is happily embarrassed, while Raymond laughingly carries out the toys and cradle. The "baby," as Bartlett prophesied, turned out to be most agreeable. Her ever-busy hands soon revolutionize things about the house. Under girlish fingers the plainness of the rooms vanishes. The rooms become a lady's boudoir with bow-ribbons, dainty doilies and various nick-nacks. Numerous missing buttons on Uncle Jack's coats and shirts mysteriously, find their places again, while the socks with holes in them, which he had laid aside, go back to his wardrobe neatly mended. The touch effeminate even invades the crusty old bachelor's heart. He finds himself spending more time in making himself attractive. He lays aside the old smoking jacket for a smart new one, and eschews the more odoriferous pipe for the sweeter smelling Havana cigars. One morning Bachelor Jack stands at his window, breathing in the fresh, perfume laden air, when Bessie, blithe and sweet as the morning, steps in from the garden with a rose, which she pins in his coat. He looks into her eyes and tears dim his own. Then he takes the precious rose off and puts it tenderly away in his pocket next his heart. He is half persuaded to tell her of his love for her, but the touch of gray on his forehead reminds him that the winter of his life is too near. One fine morning Harry Raymond, Jack's nephew, returns from college to spend his summer vacation with his uncle. The two young people soon become fast friends, all unconscious of the love that is springing up between them. The summer days go by and as the time for school again approaches Harry confesses his love. The girl happily goes to his arms and tells him her love for him. Uncle Jack wanders out into the garden and finding them together in each other's arms, slips quietly back to the house, unselfishly content to let his own little dream fade away. In due time Harry brings his sweetheart to Uncle Jack, who gives them his blessing, besides a substantial check to "feather the nest." A short time later they leave and Jack returns to his pipe, his slippers, his books and his good man, Bartlett. Yet, on many a winter night, left alone in his library, he brings from a drawer in the table a faded rose, then he drops back in his chair dreaming.

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A Bachelor's Love Affair

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