North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-09-01
Browns COurtShip.

continuing in the state Of single blessed
ness for the remainder ofhis life,-greatly
t. 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, unless, as Mrs.
Hinkle said, some "nasty charity" came
in for his property, who should he leave it
to but to his own cousins or their children?
Hopeful as poor humanity is of longev-
ity, Mr.. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely expected
to survive their cousin, who was their
junior by ten years; but Adelaide, and
Rose, and Charles, and William, might in
all probability be his heirs, and to this
end the parents labored. Uncle Richard
had the best roem in the house, the best
chair, the most particular consideration.
His wishes were deferred to, and his adj
vice taken on every occasion and he
actually came to be loved; for, with all
his quaint, old-fashioncd ways, and his
habit of sitting utterly silent, as though
he had been deaf and dumb, he was a
loveable man. Matters progressed smooth
ly enough until it was habit and not hy-
pocrisy which made Cousin Richard
actually master Of the house.
lie was very obliging-wonderfully so,
in most respects. lie would attend to
anything for anybody; match ribbons
when nobody else would; escort girls to
place Of amusem mt; 50 dutifully to
church with their mamma; attend to
marketing and the posting of letters, and
the gas'metre, and the turning off of the
water in frosty weather. He was always
ready to search the house with poker ut
the dead of the night, when any one
"heard noise."
lie went to the dentist with people who
wanted their teeth drawn, and always
seemed to have sugar-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.
He never saw any one home. He never
even spent the evening in their company.
He invariably shut himself up in his own
room, and had his tea there, when one OF
those individuals was reported to be in the
house; and, when travelling, had been
known in the train to shut his eyes tight
when young lady entered, and remain
with them closed until she left the car
riase. As general thing, indeed, he
always chose carriage where he need no
be intruded upon.
SIT was just as we'll, after ALL" sale
Mrs. Hinkle; but it was not quite 81
agreeable to Mr.. II. when he found th'
pleasant task Of "seeinS Miss Smith o.
Miss Jones home" imposed upon himself
He argued that such duties were Cousir
Dicks, though he never told him so. l
would not have been pleasant to provoke
him, and if anything could have offended
Bachelor Brown mortally, it would hav
been to insist upon his offering any gal
liant attentions to the softer sex.
i However day came at last which Sc
the household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited t
spend week with the Hinkles, and Mis-
Dove, being stranger, was to wait at tn
II station until some one came for her in
carriage.
The Hinkles resided some miles out c
, town, and had not occupied their residenc
/; for many months, SO that people had nc
! always been properly directed by the
neighbors.
= 1t was decided that Mr.. Hinklc sho,.l
ii, escort Miss Dove, but, before the day
the arrival, business called that gentlema
le to Sheffield. Moreover, Mrs. Hink.e ha
the influenza, and the two boys were
n boarding school. No one was to be four
NC to drive, and neither Rose nor Adelait
:, could handle the reins. Miss Dove was
come at nine, and what would she thir
of them if no one came for her?
"Indeed," said Mrs. Hinkle, sit wou
be shocking treatment for the dear girl.
$, must ask your cousin Richard"
"You never dare, ma" said Ro
Rt aghast.
"In such a case, you know" sa
ry Mrs. uinkle.
Ct "IIe'll not do it, said Adelaide.
''Of course not" said Rose.
Mrs. uinklo shook her head.
, II fear he will not" she said: an
\ assuming an expression which would ha
" done credit to Joan of Arc, mounted t
'f' stairs to Cousin Richard S study.
'r- "Are you busy, Richard ?" she aske
ses as she entered.
"Not at all sit down." said Bache
. Brown.
els "You see how i'll l am" said NJ
A'' IIinkle; IL can hardly hold up my he
hs' much less drive, and Mr.. Hinkle is aw
snt and the boys too, and no one can han
Di2 the reins. and
"Well," said Bachelor Brown.
sand there is poor Miss Dove at
station, with her trunk, by this tim
said Mrs. Hinkle, with gasp.
s. "Ah p said Bachelor Brown; ''wha
pity!''
Mrs. Hinkle felt she had not begun ,
an- Bachelor Brown could not underst;
what she wanted.
sits fayor,-a great favor to ask
~ know" she said /; shut couldn't you,
- for once, do it?''
ner ''Do what, Maria ~ asked Bach
Brown.
can ''Go for her" said Mrs. uinkle.
cot ktEnr Mi,s nnuo 0:i