The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-04-08
Select Story.
Bachelor Browns COurtshiD.

n"ehtiUi utVHHo VOuTtSuiD. J.
Richard Brown had lived a bachelor
for forty years, aud declared his iuten.
tlon OF continuing in the state of single
blessedness for the remainder of his
life, greatly to the satisfaction Of his
relatives, the Hiukles, with whom he
resided for, be it known, Uncle Rich
ard was worth cool half million, aud
the Hinkles were his only living rela.
tions aud, unless, as Mrs. Hinkle said,
some nasty charity" came in 70. his
property, who should he leave il to but
to his own cousins or their children
Hopeful us poor humanity is Of Ion
geyity, Mr., aud Mrs. Hinkle scarcely
expected to survive their cousin who
was their junior by ten years but AIDE.
lAide, and Rose, aud Charles, aud vii.
liam, might in all probability be his
heirs, and to this end the parents labor.
ed Uncle Richard had the best room
ia the house, the best chair, the most
particular consideration. His wishes
were deferred to, aud his advice taken
90 every occasion and he actually came
to be loved; for, with all his quaint,
old. fashioned ways, aud his habit Of
sitting utterly silent, ms though he had
been deaf and dumb, he was loveable
man. Matters progressed smoothly
euoughuntl it was habit and not bypo.
crlsy which made Cousin Rich rd actual.
ly master Of the house.
He was very obliging,--wonderfully
so, in most respects. He would attend
Ia anything for anybody match ribbons
when nobody else would escort girls to
place OF amusement; go dutifully to
church with their mamma attend to
marketing and the posting of letters,
aud the gas metre, and the turning off
Of the water in frosty weather. He
was always ready to search the house
with poker at the dead Of the night,
when any one "heard 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, aud that was to exhibit
the least Sigu. of politeuess to lady visi.
tors.
lie never saw any one home. He
never even spent the evening in their
company. lie 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 aud,
when travelling, had been known in the
train to shut his eyes tight when
young lady entered, and remain with
them closed until she lett the carriage.
As general thing, indeed, he always
chose carriage where he need not be
intruded upon,
at was just rs vel, after ALL" said
Mrs. Hinkle; but it was not quite SO
agreeable to Mr.. II. when he found the
pleasant task Of ''seeing Miss Smith or
Miss Jones home" imposed upon him
self, He argued that such duties were
Cousin Dicks, though he never told
him 80. 1t would not have been pleas.
ant to provoke him, and if anything
could have offended Bachelor Brown
mortally, it would have been to insist
upon his offering any gallant attentions
to the softer eek.
However day came at hast which
set the household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited
to spend week with the IIinkles, and
Miss Dove, being stranger, was to
wait at the station until some one came
Tor her in a carriage
The Hinkles resided some miles out
OF town, and had not occupied their
residence for many months, so that peo.
pie had not always been properly direct.
ed by their ncighbors.
ltwas decided that Mr.. Hinkle should
escort Miss Dove, but, before the day OF
the arrival, business had called that
gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover, Mrs.
liinkle had the influenza, and the two
boys were at boarding school. No one
wai to be found to drive, and neither
lose 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, dit
would We shocking treatment for the
dear girl, | must ask your cousin
Richard"
You never dare, ma" said Rose,
aghast.
n 4