The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-22

Meanwhile Bachelor Brown drove to the sta
: tion 1t was long drive, over a bad road, bu
he kept on his way very cheerfully. He wal
extremely fond of children.
When, on reaching the station, he saw no sign
of her presence, he grew alarmed. -. If she had
: been lost through his neglect he never would
forgive himself. He ran his fingers through hi.
curly hair, and peeped into the ladies waiting
room. Only fine, fall grown young woman sat
there, and he retreated. The woman who waited
in the apartment came out Of her nook with a
courtesy as she saw him, and he addressed her:
"Have you seen little girl waiting for some
one 2" ~t'Hv'r
mo, SIR said the woman. "There were two
came down, but they are gone"
| ''Oh dear-oh dsarw said Bachelor Brown !:
81 hope there's no mistake. It's little Miss Dove,
and it the dear little soul has gone astray I'm
| tirely to blame Please make inquiries-there's
| q good woman"
AS he uttered these words, the full grown
young lady in the waiting-roa@ was seen to blush
violently and to arise.
I'm Amanda Dove" she sid, "and eject.
ed some one .rom Mr.. H;nkle's.
r-~chelor Brown stood aghast He had spoken
Of this lady as desr little thing His face, also,
turned scarlet.
II beg your Pardon, rna'am," he began; Tex.
pected to find c little girl wouldn't have used
| such explosions for the world-I-
" comprehend" said the young lady; don't
mind it in the least. i
"Is this Your trunk, ma am z" asked Bachelor
Brown, IN hurry.
Eyes, SIR said the lady looking down.
In a few moments the two were driving toward
the Hinkles country seat Never had Bachelor
Brown found himself SO close to any young lady,
save his cousins, before. He was wofully con-
fused, but somehow he liked it. How pretty
she is, he thought. How pink and white; how
golden her hair was. How the blue ribbons of
her bonnet set her off Then he began 10 wonder
what she thought of him. Wondering thus, he
forgot the road and suddenly found that he had
lost himself To add to the dilemma, the storm,
which had been threatening for hours, burst in
the very moment when Bachelor Brown found it
impossible to tell whether the left road or the
right led homeward: and the horse was afraid of
| lightning, and grew FESTIVE, Miss Amanda Dove
was afraid of lightning, also. She gave little
scream, and chung to Bachelor Browns coat
sleeve
Bachelor Brown loo ked down at her. 1t was
such a soft, plump hand. Her eyes were SO
round and so blue in her terror that he forgot
she was young lady.
I'm take care of you," he said flash of
lightning, a roar of thunder, and an attempt on
the part of the horse to run away, interrupted
him
Miss Dove turned pale. Bachelor Brown look
ed terrified. He cast glance about him. Near
the road was parsonage, connected with its
church by garden.
"Tll tell YOU what we'll do" he said; ''well
ask for shelter until the storm is over. cler-
! gyman ought to be christian enough to take us
4, in"
| And driving to the gate, he assisted Miss
Dove to alight. AS ne did so, two hired men
rushed ont and began to attend to the horse and
vehicle, and an old lady and gentleman appeared
upon the steps.
$50 glad you're early enough to escape the
worst of the Storm" said the gentleman.
"Do come in,' said the old lady. 1--WE were
expecting you-for on such occasions people
always keep their appointments, rain or sun
shine, I believe"
"What on earth does she mean ?" said the
bachelor. "But it's very kind of them," and SO,
while the old lady hurried Miss Dove away to
dry her things, he sat with the cid clergyman in
the parlor
"Do you feel at all nervous, sir ?" said the old
gentleman, after pause. ..... .tt.
"No, sir thank YOU" said Bachelor Brown.
"Most men do, SIR" said the clergyman.
Eyes, Lightning is nervous sort of thing"
said Bachelor Brown.
II did not alluds to the storm
"Indeed, sir" .s.... ..........
"But the approaching ceremony"
"Eh 2" said Brown.
"In your note, you know, you told me you
were TOO nervous to stand before the whole
congregation in church. and preferred quiet
wedding at my house." said the old man.
Bachelor Brown started in astonishment The
truth dawned upon him.
"You expected IA young coupled" he said.
"Oh, you are quite young enough, SIR" said
the innocent clergyman. "And must say the
young lady appears a charming person"
Bachelor Brown felt himself bllsh.
"Should you think she'd make q good wife ~
he asked
"Undoubtedly," said the clergyman.
"And you think a man is-happier-for-en.
tsring the nuptial state ~ he said.
''No man can be happy without so doing and
it is every mans duty" said the old gentleman,
believing every word he said.
"She is dear little thing" thought Mr.
Brown. II never liked girl 80 much. It's
very awkward to explain. l wonder whether
she--'
And just then Miss Dove entered the room.
looking angelic without her bonnet, to Mr..
Brown. Bachelor Brown drew her aside.
~ have something to Say to you, Miss Dove, )"
he said
"Desr me- said Miss Dove
They've made a mistake" said Bachelor
Brown. "They think ws-we-we arc people
they expect--a-a young couple, you know,
about To-
ooh, dear! do they = whispered Miss Dove.
EYES," said Bachelor Brown. "Now, it would
be very awkward to explain And like you so
much. Couldn't you like me, too, and let him
do it-eh!' frnrt
'Do what, Mr.. Brown" said Amanda
Marry us said Bachelor Brown
"Of course not" said Amanda. "What would
the Hinkles ssy!"