Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-11-05

Z ,
'Let her get lost" said Bachelo
| Brown. s'No doubt she'd like it. AnC
as for her trunk, why can't girls trave
| with a portmanteau, as we do ?"
And Rose departed pouting. Sh'
| found Adelaide in an extremely merry
mood.
"Don't laugh" she said ; think o
''I am thinking of her." said Ade
laide land Cousin Dick shall go. III
| tell a fib."
"For shame - said Rose.
| cone ought to make some sacrifices
for friend, said Adela de. "I'u tel
him she's a child. He's always good
to children"
cit will never do, s" said Mrs. Hinkle
''he'n never forgive you"
But Adelaide ran up to her Cousins
| study, and burst in with an exceeding
| ly theatrical laugh.
''What mistake she said, "and SO
stupid in them all. You think Aman-
da is grown young lady, don't you?''
sFIsn'f she?'' asked the bachelor.
Gas if a child of nine years could
be, +" said Adelaide. "POor little thing
"Poor little thing, indeed" said the
old bachelor, hurrying on his coat and
hat. "BIess me, why didn't you men,
tion it ? Poor little soul 20
And in a few minutes the light Wag-
onette was driven down the road, and
the HinkIes stood looking after it.
"I'm half frightened" said Rose.
$50 am I, said Adelaide. "But it's
done, and cannot be helped now. I'll
manage to coax him to forgive me, and lSl
it wouldn't do to leave friend in such
a position you know, and I didn't say
she was child"
Meanwhile Bachelor Brown drove to
the station. It was a long drive over a
bad road, but he kept on his way very
cheerfully. He was 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 could never forgive
himself. He ran his fingers through
his curly hair, and peeped into the
ladies' Waiting-rOom. Only a very
fine, full 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 a little girl waiting
for some one ~
'sNo, sir,'' said the woman. "There
were two come down, but they are
gone"
ooh, dear oh, dear!'' said Bachelor
Brown; "I hope there is no mistake.
It's little Miss Dove, and if the dear
little girl has gone astray, I'm entirely
to blame. Please make inquiries
there's a good womanP'
As he uttered these words, the full
grown young lady was seen to blush
violently and arise.
''I'm Amanda Dove" she said, "and
1 expected some one from Mr.. Hink-
les"
Bachelor Brown stood aghast. He
had spoken of this lady as "dear lit
tie creature" F." and his face also turned
els this your trunk, ma'am ?' said
Bachelor Brown, in a hurry.
eyes, sir" said the lady looking
down
And in a few moments the two were
driving toward the Hinkle country
seat. Never had Bachelor Brown found
himself so close to any young lady,
save his cousins, before. He was wo-
fully confused, but somehow he liked
it. How pink and white, how golden
her hair was. How the blue ribbons
on her bonnet set it off. Then he be-
gan to 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 at the very moment when Bach
elor Brown found it impossible to tell
whether the left road or the right led
homeward and the horse was afraid
of lightning, and grew restiVe. Miss
Amanda Dove was afraid of lightning
also. She gave little scream, and
chung to Bachelor Browns coat sleeve.
: Bachelor Brown looked down at her.
It was such soft, plump hand. Her
eyes were so round and blue, in her
terror, that he forgot she was young
lady.
''f'lI take care of you," he said; a
flash of lightning, a roar of thunder, |
an attempt on the part of the horse to |
run away, interrupted him. Miss Dove |
turned pale. Bachelor Brown looked |
terrified. He cast a glance around him. /
Near the road was q parsonage, con- |
1ected with its church by garden.
''I'll tell you what We'll do" he said. |
Wen ask for shelter until the storm |
s over. A clergyman ought to be |
Christian enough to take us in.'
And driving to the gate, he asked |
Miss Dove to alight. AS he did so, two |
hired men rushed out, and began to at |
end to the horse and vehicle, and an
I'D lady and gentleman appeared upon
he steps.
$50 glad you're early enough to es-
APE the worst of the storm" said the
Gentleman.
''Do come in" said the old lady
We were expecting you; for on such
occasions, people always keep their ap-
rain or sunshine, l be-
ieve."
"What on earth does she mean 2''
aid Bachelor Brown. "But it's very
lind of them :" and so, while the old
ady hurried Miss Dove away to dry
Ter things, he sat with the old clergy
nan in the parlor.
sDo you feel at all nervous :" said
he old gentleman, after a pause.
'fNo, sir, thank you," said Bachelor
Brown
''AIost men do, SIR" said the clergy
nan.
F'Yes, lightning is a nervous sort of a
hing" said Bachelor Brown.
81 did not allude to the storm"
Indeed, sir"
"But to the approaching ceremony"
''Eh ?'' said Bachelor Brown.
s'In your note, you know, you told
ne that you were too nervous to stand
Up before the whole congregation in
,hurch, and preferred quiet wedding
1t my house." said the old man.
Bachelor Brown stared at him in as
The truth dawned upon
him.
'You expected a-young couple ?''
ne said.
''Oh, you are quite young enough,
jir," said the innocent clergyman. =
And I must say the young lady seems
very charming person"
baCn6lOT brown I0lG nluuSOII DluSu.
''Should you think she would make
good wife ?'' he asked.
Undoubtedly" said the clergyman.
"And you think a man is-happier-
'or-entering the nuptial state ?' he
inquired.
''No man can be happy without so
loing, and it is every mans duty"
iaid the old gentleman, believing every
word he said.
''She is a dear little thing" thought
Mr.. Brown to himself. ''I never liked
girl so much. It's very awkward to
explain. [ wonder whether"
And just then Miss Dove entered the
,oom, looking angelic without her bon
let, to Mr.. Brown. "I have something
% say to you, Miss Dove" he said.
'tDear me-" said Miss Dove.
''They've made a mistake" said
Bachelor Brown. "They think we've
we are-are people they expect. A
couple, you know, about
o"
''Oh, dear, do they 2'' whispered Miss
Dove
eyes," said Bachelor Brown. "Now
t would be very awkward for me to
and I 1ilra Won Tto1pl1 ]