The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-30

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ssI viii take care OF You. he said:: 5
flash OF Iightbing. d roar of shunier.. and
an attempt on the pars OF the horse to
rttll llaway, INTERRUPTED him. ma Z / Z,
Miss Dove turned pale tlISschelor
looked terrified. Hescasi q glance about
him. . Near the road was, eyparaonage,
connected with its church by y gsrden.
.Ill tell you what we will do" he
said; "we'l ask for shelter until the
storm is over. Aolergyman ought to be
Christian enough to take us in. )"
And driving to the gate, he assisted
Miss Dove to alight. As he did so, two
hired men rushed out and began to ut
tend to the horse, and an old lady and
gentleman appeared upon the steps.
$50 glad you're early enough to es-
cape the worst of the storm, y said the
gentleman.
''Do come in, said the old lady. 1--WE
were expecting you; for, onEauoh occa-
sions, people always keep their appoint
ments, rain or sunshine, L believe"
"What on earth does she mean?'' said
The bachelor. "But it's very kind of
them," t.,...i...
And so, while the old lady hurried
Miss Dove away to dry her things, he
sat with the old clergyman in the parlor.
''Do you feel at all nervous, sir?" said
the old gentleman, after pause.
mo, sir, thank you," said lbacllelor
Brown. ~ = b
"Most of men do, sir" said the cler-
gyman. ....
"Yes, sir; lightning is nervous sort
OF thing" said bachelor Brown.
81 did not allude to the storm"
''Indeed, STRIP ..,.t
but the approaching ceremony"
"Eb?" said Brown. ~
''In your note, you know, you told me
you were too nervous to stand before the
whole congregation in church, and pre-
ferred qniet wedding at my house."
said the old man.
Bachelor Brown started in astonish-
ment. The truth dawned upon him.
''You expected "a young couple?"
he said 1918 f&.,ieC'. 80 HIL.t
"Oh, you are quito young enough,
sir" said the innocent clergyman; ''and
l must say, the young lady appears
charming person."
Bachelor Brown felt himself blush.
''Should you think she'd make u good
wife?" he asked '~' a'.-
'Undoubtedly." said the clergyman.
"And you think man is-happier-
for-entering the nuptial state?" he said.
"No man can he happy without so do
ing, and it is every mans duty" said the
old gentleman, believing every word he
spoke.
'She is a dear little thing" thought
Mr.. Brown. "I never liked a girl SO
much. It's very awkward to explain. 1
wonder whether She
And just then Miss Dove entered the
room. looking angelic without her bonnet
to Mr.. Brown. Bachelor Brown drew
her aside.
Il have something to say to you, Miss
Dove" he said.
Dear me-" said Miss Dove.
"They have made mistake" said
Bachelor Brown. "They think we've
we are-are the people they expect-a
young couple, you know, about to"
"Oh, dear! do theyP" whispered Miss
Dove.
"Yes." said Bachelor Brown. "Now,
it would be very awkward to explain.
And like you so much. Couldn't you
like mo, too, and let him do it, eh?"
do what, Mr.. Brown" said Amanda.
Marry us" said Bachelor Brown.
"Of course not, said Amanda. What
would the Hinkles say?" ...l'.
They'd be delighted" said Richard,
growing boider. Then he put his arms
around her waist.
{ II don't know much about this sort OF
thing, but you are the only nice girl
ever saw. Please do. I'm not such
bad fellow. III bejgopd to you.n
II know you are good" said Amanda;
but" . a..l,.:t ut
"But. then, I'm not ugly, eh?' asked
Richard.
"Ah, no, not Mt ALL
"Well"
"It would be so odd''
"Well, said bachelor Bown, "that is
my fault, and they know I am odd, my
dear"
Four hours later, the Hinkles heard
the light wagon drive to the door, and
rushed out to meet Amanda.
1--WE have been 80 alarmed" said Mrs.
Hinkle.
''Snch n stormy" said Rose.
''Were you frightened?" asked Ade-
laide. But Amanda said nothing.
Uncle Richard, too, shrank back, as
though he were afraid of something.
''Tell them, Amanda" he said.
"No; you must tell them, Richard"