The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-11-18
A BACHELOR's COURT
SHIP, a.,f

I P =
cdness for the remainder Of bis
life, greatly to the satisfaction Of
his relatives, the Hinkles with
whom he resided for, be it known,
Uncle Richard was worth a cool
half million, and the Hinkles were
his only living relations; and IN
less, Ms Mrs. Hinkle said, Rome
"nasty charity" came in for bis
property, who should BIO leave il
to but bis own cousins or their
children2 e,s s1,aq
Hopeful as poor..humanity is Of
longevity, Mr, and Mrs. Hinklc
scarcely expected to survive their
cousin, who was their junior by
ten years; but Adelaide, and Rose,
and William, might, ip all proba.
bility, be his hers, and,to this end
the parents labored. Uncle Rich
ard had the best room in the house,
the best chair, the most particu-
lar consideration. His wishes
were deferred 10, and his advice
taken on every OCCASION and he
actually came TO be loved; for,
with all his quaint. old fashioned
ways, and his habit of sitting ut.
terly silent as though he had been
deaf and dumb, he was q lovable
man. Matters progressed,s d,smooth.
ly enough untilit was habit and
not hypocrisy which made Cousin
Richard actually master of the
honso. .sa
lie was very obliging-woDder.
fully so in most respects. He
would attend to anything for any.
body; match ribbons which nobo-
dy else would; escort girls TO q
place of amusement; go dutifully to
church with their mamma; attend
toJ marketing and tho posting Of
letters, and the gas metre, and the
turning off of the water in frosty
weather. lie was always ready to
search the house with poker at
the dead of night, when any one
"beard noise" Oh
He went to the dentist with the
people who wanted their teeth
drawn, and always appeared to
have sugar plums in his pocket
But one thing Cousin Richard
would not do, and that was to ex
hibit the least sign Of politeness TO
lady visitors. tEoirl wa .
He never saw any one homo.
He never even spent the evening
in their company. He invariably
shut himself up in his room, and
had his tea there when one OF
these individuals was reported to
bo in the house; and when travel.
ing, had been known in tho train
TO shut his eyes tight when young
lady entered, and remain with them
closed until she left the carriage.
Asa general thing, indeed, be al
ways chose a carriage where he
need not be intruded upon. a7l.
ut was just as well, after ALL
said Mrs. Hinkle; but it was not
quito so agreeable to Mr. FL. when
ho found.t thepleasant task of "see.
ing Miss Smith or Miss Jones home
imposed upon himself. Heargued
that such duties were Cousin Dicks,
though he never told him so. 1t
would not have been pleasant to
provoke him, and if anything
could have offended Bachelor
Brown mortally, 1t would have
been to insist upon his Offering
any gallant attentions to the softer
sex. ..... ........- ..... -
However, n day came which set
the household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been in i.
vitcd to spend week with the
Hinkles, and Miss Dove, being a
stranger, was to wait at the station
until somc ono came for her in q
carriage. .... .
The Hinkles resided some miles
ont Of town, andihad not occupied
their residence for many months,
so that the people had not always
been properly directed by their
neighbors, ,.. r..
1t was decided that Mr.. Hinkle
should escort Miss Dove; but be-.
lore the day Of the arrival, busi-
ness called that gentleman to Shelf
field. Moreover Mrs. Hinkle had
the influenza, and tho two boys
were at boarding school. No one
was to be found TO drive, and
neither Rose nor Adelaide could
handle reins. Miss Dove was 10
come at nine, and what would she
think OF them If no one came for
her? Ih8 .'''
"Indeed," said Mrs. Hinkle, 1T
would bo shocking treatment for
the dear girl, l must ask your
Cousin Richard"
you never dare, ma" said Rose
aghast.
I'm such a case, you know"
said Mrs. Hinklo. .'"'
"He'll not do it," said Adelaide,
"Of course not" said Rose,
Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
IL fear he will not" she said,
and assumed an expression which
would have done credit to Joan OF
Arc, and mounted tho stairs to
Cousin Richards study.
"Are you busy, Richard?" she
said as she entered.
mot at all; cit down" said Bach.
elor Brown.
You ace how i'll l am" said
Mrs. HinkIe; l can hardly hold up
my head, much less drive, and Mr..
Hinklo is away, and the boys too,
and no one can handle the reins,
and"
WELL" said Bachelor Brown.
"Aud there is poor Miss Dove at
A. o,.,;o. ,,.kk L., trnnlr hu