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

| A BACHELOh,S COURISHIPs
Richard Brown had lived a bachelo
for twenty years, and had declared hi
intention of combining in the state o
single b1essedness for the remainde
of his life, greatly to the satisfaction
of his relatives, the Hinkles will
| whom he resided !; for, be it known
Uncle Richard was worth a cool hal
/ million, and the Hinkles were his only
! living relations and unless, as Mrs
HinkIe said, some "nasty charity
came in for his property, who should
he leave it to but his own cousins o.
their children
Hopeful as poor humanity is of lon,
! gevity, Mr.. and Mrs. .Hink1e scarcely
| expected to survive their cousin, whC
| was their junior by ten years but Ad
| elaide, and Rose, and William, might
in all probability, be his heirs, and tC
| this end the parents labOred. Uncle
| Richard had the best room in the
house, the best chair, the most partic.
ular consideration. His wishes were
deferred to, and his advice taken on
! every occasion; and he actually came
/ to be loved for, with all his quaint
old-fashioned ways, and his habit o1
sitting utterly silent, as though he had
been deaf and dumb, he was lOVable
man. Matters progressed smoothly
enough until it was habit and not hy-
pocEisy which made Cousin Richard
actually master of the house.
He was very bligiDg-Wonderfu
so in most respects. He would attend
to anything for anybody match rib
bons which nobody else would escort
girls to a place of amusement go du-
tifu1ly to church wish their mamma
attend to marketing and The posting Of
letters, and thesgas metre, and the
turning off Of the water in frosty
weather. He was always ready to
search the house with q poker at the
dead of night, when any one ssheard
a nOise."
pie who wanted their teeth drawn, and
always appeared 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.
HeneYer saw any one home. He never
even spent the evening in their COM
pafy. He invariably shut himself up
in his own room, and had his tea there
when one of these individuals was re-
ported 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 carriage. As
a general thing, indeed, he always
chose a carriage where he need not be
intruded upon.
tEIt was lust as we'll, after alI,'' 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
himself, He argued that such duties
were Cousin Dicks, though he never
told him so. It would not have been
pleasant to provoke him, and if any
thing could have offended Bachelor
Brown mortally, it would have been
to insist upon his offering any gallant
attentions to the softer sex.
However, a day came which set the
household in commOtion.s
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited
to spend week with the Hinkles, and
Miss Dove, being stranger, was to
wait at the station, until some one
came for her in carriage.
The Hinkles resided some miles out
of town, and had not occupied their
residence for many months, so that the
people had not always been properly
directed by their neighbors.
It was decided that Mr.. Hinkle
should escort Miss Dove; but before
the day of the arrival, business called
that gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover
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 han
die reins. Miss Dove was to come at
nine, and what would she think of
them if no one came for her?
Indeed, !" said Mrs. HinkIe, ait
would be shocking treatment for the
dear girl. I must ask your Cousin
Richard"
"You never dare. ma" said Rose
aghast.
-''In such case, you know" said
Mrs. Hinkle.
"Of course not said Rose.
Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
ST fear he will not" she said, and
assumed an expression which would
have done credit to Joan of Arc, and
mounted the stairs to Cousin Richard s
study.
Are you busy, Richard ?" she said,
as she entered.
elor Brown.
FtYou see how i'll I am,'' said Mrs.
HinkIe I can hardly hold up my
head. much less drive, and Mr.. Hinkle
is away, and the boys too, and no one
can handle the reins, and"
ttyVell - said Bachelor Brown.
"And there is poor Miss Dove at the
station. with her trunk, by this time, :"
said Mrs. Hinkle, with a gasp.
"AhV' said Bachelor Brown; "what
Mrs. Hinkle felt she had not begun
vet. Bachelor Brown could not under
stand what she wanted.
"It's great favor-a great favor to
ask. I know she said but couldn't
Won lust for once, do it ?"
''Do what, Maria ?' said Bachelor
"Go for herr said Mrs. Hinkle.
''For Miss Dove ?''
eyes"
ooh. dear, no Z" said Cousin Richard.
"But-" began Mrs. Hinkle.
t'Maria," said the Bachelor Brown,
! "young Iadies-my little cousins ex-
cepted-are my abominatiOn. An af-
fected, conceited, absurd set of crea-
lures. I never had anything to do
with 'em, and never will. No doubt
she is capable of finding the way here;
they all appear to be. 1 shan't go for
her."
Mrs. Hinkle retreated.
''What will she think of us ?" she
'Don't cry" said Bachelor Brown,
( 'I'll see if any of the hands ct Oats
/ place can drive over for her,"
/ And out he went, but all the hands
on Oats place were busy with the hay,
which stood in danger from a coming
shower. Richard returned without
| the least success.