The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-30
aBAOEKEnOR REiOaVm's ,CtSURTsHIP.

j. = ~ i. d.
.aBAOEKELOR RGioaVm,s CtSuRTsHIP.
:; :; liiiehs.tsai a Brown had lived d bachelor
for forty years, and declared his inten-
tionsof continuing in tae state of single
blessedness the remainder of hia life
greatly to the satisfaction Of his relatives,
the Hipkles, with whom he resided; for,
be 1T known, Uncle Richard was worth q
cool half million, and unless, as Mrs.
Hinkle said, some ''nasty charity" came
in for his property, whom should he
leayeit TO but his two own cousins or
their children? . ,e,.o ..s
Hopeful as poor human nature is of
longevity, Mr.. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely
expected to survive their cousin, who
was their jnnior by ten years, but Ade-
might in oil probability be his heirs, and
Richard had the best room, the best
chair, the most particular consideration.
His wishes were deferred to and his ad-
vice taken on every occasion, and he no.
tuaiiy came to be loved: for with all his
quaint, old fashioned ways, and his habit
of sitting as utterly silent as though he
had been deaf and dumb, he was Iowa
bic man. Matters progressed smoothly
enough until 1t was habit and not by
pocrisy which made Cousin Richard mas
ter of che house, III =,
He was very obliging-wonderfully so
in most respects. He would attend to
anything for ,anybody-match ribbons
when nobody else could escort the girls
to places of amusements-g dutifully
to church with their mamma--attendt to
marketing and the posting Of letters, and
the gas-meter, and the turning Off Of the
water in frosty weather. He was always
ready to search the house with the poker
at, the dead of night. when any one
.theard o noise.n r.
He went to the dentist with people who
wanted their teeth drawn, and always
seemed to have gar-plums in his
pocket. But one thing Cousin Richard
would not do. and that was, to exhibit
the least sign Of politeness to lady
visitors. ~ >uiG7A.i0f." !
He never saw one home He never
even spent The evening in their compa-
ny. He invariably shut himself up in
his own room and had his tea there when
one of these individuals was reported to
be in the house; and, when travelling,
had been knownTjn o train to shut his
eyes tight when o young lady entered,
remain with them closed until she left
the carriage. AS general thing, indeed,
he always. chooses o carriage where he
would not beintrnded upon: Wy
|t SIT was just as well, after all, said
Mrs. Hinkie, but it was popularity not
quite as agreeable to Mr.. H., when he
Smith or Miss j ones home, imposed upon
himself. He urged that such duties were
Cousin Dicks, though he never told him
so. It would not be SO pleasant to pro-
woke him, and If ything could have
offended Bachelor Brown mortally, it
would have been to insist upon his Of
fering any gallant attentions to the softer
sex.
However, day came at last which set
the whole household in commotion.
Mise Amanda Dove had been invited
to spend O week with the Hinkles, and
Miss Dove, being Q stranger, was to wait
at the station until some one came for
her in carriage.
The Hinkles resided some miles out of
town, and had not occupied their resi-
dence for many months, SO that people
were not always properly directed by the
neighbors. '.7"
It was decided that Mr.. Hinkle should
escort Miss Dove, but before the day of
her arrival dawned, business had called
that gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover
Mrs. H inkle had the influenza, and the
two boys were at boarding-scho No
one was to be found to drive, and neither
Rose nor Adelaide could handle the
reins. Miss Dove was to come at 8, and
what would she think of them if no one
came for her?
"Indeed," said Mrs. Hinkle, ''it would
be shocking treatment for the dear girl.
must ask your Cousin Richard"
"You never dare, ma" said Miss Hin
|kle, aghast.
''In such case, you know" said
Mrs. H inkle.
"He' II not do it," said Adelaide.
"Of course not" said Rose.
Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
"I fear he will not" she said, aud
assum ing an expression which would
have done credit to Joan of Arc.
|m on nted the stairs to Cousin Richard S
stud y.
Are you busy, Richard?" she asked,
as he entered.
"Not at all--sit down." said bachelor
Brown.