The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-12-24
BACHELOR BROWNS COURT.
SHIP.

ton of continuing III the state of sin
| gle-blessedness for tho remainder oi
his life. greatly to the satisfaction OF
his relatives, the Hinkles, with whom
he resided, for be it known, Uncle
Richard was worth cool half mill
ion, and the Hinliles were his only liy-
ing relations and, unless, rs 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 lon
gevity, Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely
expected to survive their cousin, who
was their Junior by ten years but Adj
elaide, 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
room in the house, the best chair, the
most particular consideration. His
wishes were deferred to, and his ad-
vice taken on every occasion and he
actually came to be loved for, with
all his quaint, old-fashioned ways, and
his habit of sitting utterly silent as
though he had been deaf and dumb,
he was u loveable man. Matters pro-
gressed smoothly enough until it was
habit and not hypocrisy, which made
Cousin Richard actually master of the
house.
He was very obliging wonderfully
so, in most respects. He would at-
tend to anything for anybody match
ribbons when nobody else would es-
cort girls to place of amusement; go
dutifully to church with their mamma:
attend to marketing aad the posting of
letters and the gas metre, and the
turning of the water in frosty wealth
or. He was always ready to search
the house with poker ut the dead of
night when any one "heard n noise. !"
He went to the dentist with people
who wanted their teeth drawn. and al
ways 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 anyone home. He
never spent the evening in their COM
pany. He invariably shut himself up
IN his own room, and had his ten there
when one of these individuals was re-
ported to be III the house and, when
travelling, had been known in the train
TO shut his eyes tight when n young
lady entered, and remain with them
closed until she left the carriage. As
general thing, indeed, he always
chose a crrriage where he need not be
intruded upon.
at will be just as well, after all, .
said Mrs. Hinkle but it was notquite
$50 agreeable TO Mr. IL. when he found
the pleasant task of "seeing Miss
Smith or Miss Jones home" imposed
upon himself. He argued that such
duties were Cousin Dicks, though he
never told him so. Ii would not have
been pleasant to provoke him, and il
lanythiEg could have offended Bache-
lor Brown mortally, it would have
been to insist upon his offering an !,
gallant attentions to the softer sex.
However day came at last which
set the household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited
to spend week with the Hinkles, and
Miss Dove, being stranger, was to
wait Mt the station until some one came
for her IN a carriage.
The Hinkles resided some miles out
of town, and had not occupied their
residence for many months, so that
people had not always been properly
directed by their neighbors.
I4 ,woo 1a.sda1 3hof Ar uinb1a
should escort Miss Dove, but, before
the day of the arrival, business called
that gentleman to Sheffield. More
over, Mrs. Hinkle had the influenza,
and the two boys were at boarding
school. No one was to be found to
drive, and neither Rose nor Adelaide
could handle the reins. Miss Dove
was to come at nine, and what would
she think of them if no one came for
her?
Indeed" said Mrs. Hinkle, sit
would be shocking treatment for the
dear girl. / must ask your cousin
| Richard.
"You never dare, ma" said Rose,
aghast.
I'm such case, you know" said
Mrs. Hinkle.
j HELL not do it," said Adelaide.
i .'Of course not" said Rose.
j Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
''I fear he will not" she said and
assuming an expression which would
have done credit 10 Joan of Arc
|, mounted the stairs to Cousin Richard'l
study.
J, Are you busy, Richard?' she ask
ed, as she entered.
ssNot at all sit down." replied
|, Bachelor Brown.
!, "You see how i'll I am" said Mrs
Hinkle II can hardly hold up m,
J head, much less drive, and Mr.. Hin
8 kle is away, and the boys too, and n,
one can handle the reins, and
r "Well, said Bachelor Brown.
"And there is poor Miss Dove a
the station, and with her trunk, b.
/ this time," said Mrs. Hinkle with
: gasp.
ssAhp said Bachelor Brown wha
: q pity r
Mrs. Hinkle felt she had not begu,
q yet. Bachelor Brown could not Ill
!. derstand what she wanted.
: tIt's favor, IA great favor to ask,
know she said "but couldn't you
: Just for once, do it?'
J ''Do what, Maria p asked Bacht
!. lor Brown.
g s.Go for her." said Mrs. Hinkle.
d "For Miss Dove p
g eyes"
xf0I ;, - CT. ~