Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-03-25
SELECTED STORY
MR., BROWNS COURTSHIP.

IOTGy years, anu ucoid1Su ANS ihtetitioA "
continuing in the state of single blessedness
for the remainder Of his life, greatly to the
satisfaction of his relatives. the Hinkles,
with whom he resided for. be it known,
Uncle Richard was worth a cool half million
and unless, as Mr.. Hinkle said, some ''nas-
ty charity" came in for his property, whom
could ne leave it to but to his two own
cousins, or their children.
Hopeful as poor human nature is Of Ion.
gevity, Mr.. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely ex-
pected to survive their cousin, who was
their Junior by ten years, but Adelaide and
Rose, and Charles and William might, il
all probability, be his heirs, and SO thei,
parents labored. He had the best room in
the house, the best chair, the most p%articu.
lar consideration. His wishes were defer.
red to, and his advice taken on every occa-
sion, 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 a love-
able man. Matters progressed smoothly
until it was a habit, and not hypocrisy
which made Uncle Richard master of the
house.
He was very obliging-wonderfully so in
most respects. He would attend to anything
for anybody-match ribbons when nobody
else could-escort girls to places Of amuse-
ment-go dutifully to church with the man.
mas-attend to marketing and the posting
of letters, and the gas metre, and the turn.
ing off Of the water in frosty weather. He
was ready to search the house with a poker
at the dead hour of night. when one heard
a noise.' He went to the dentist with peo-
pie who wanted their teeth drawn, and al
ways seemed to have sugar plumbs in his
pocket. But one thing Uncle Richard
would not do, and that was, to exhibit the
least sign Of politeness to lady visitors. He
never saw one home. He never even spent
the evening in their company. He invari-
ably shut himself up in bis own room when
one Of these individuals was reported in the
house; and when travelling, had been known
in a train to shut his eyes tight when a
young lady entered. and remained with
them closed until she left the carriage. As
a general thing, indeed, he always chose a
carriage WHERE ne ueeu uot po u3o ~
on.
1t was just as well after ALL said Mrs.
Hinkle, but it was a popularity not quite
as agreeable to Mr.. H., when he found the
pleasant task Of seeing Miss Smith or Miss
Jones home imposed on him. He urged that
such duties we're cousin Dicks, though he
never told him so. 1t would not have been
pleasant to provoke him, and if anything
could have offended Bachelor Brown NOR
tally, it would have been to insist upon his
offering any gallant attentions to the softer
sex.
However, a day came at last which set
the whole household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited to
spend a week with the Hlnkles, and Dove
being a stranger, was to wait at the station
until som one came for her in a carriage.
The Hinkles resided some way out OF
town, and had not occupied their residence
for many months, so that people were not
always properly directed by neighbors:
1t was decided that Mr.. Hinkle should
escort Miss Dove, but before the day of her
arrival dawned, business had called that
gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover Mrs.
Hinkle had the influenza, and the two boys
were at boarding school. No one else was
to be found to drive, and neither Rose nor
Adelaide could handle reins. Miss ID. was
to come at nine, and what would she think
Of them if no one came for her?
Indeed said Mrs. Hinkle, 1T would
be shocking treatment for the dear girl. |
must ask Cousin Richard
you would never dare, said Rose,
aghast.
He'll not do it, said Adelaide,
OF course not said Rose.
Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
Il fear he will not she said, and, as
Stunning an expression which would have
done credit to Joan of Arc, mounted the
stairs to cousin Richards study.
Are you busy, Richard? she asked az
she entered.
Not at all-sit down. said Bachelor
Brown.
sYou see how ill I am said Mrs. Hin
kle +; I can hardly hold my head up, much
less drive, and Mr.. Hinkle is away, and thu
boys too, and no one can handle the relns
and,
'WellY said Bachelor Brown.
And there is poor Miss Dove at the sta
,;on with her trunk BY this time,' sale
Mrs. Hinkle, with a gasp.
'Ah!' said Mr.. Brown; 'What a pity.
Bachelor Brown could not understand
what she wanted;
It's a favor-a great favor to ask
know she said, but couldn't you just TO-
once, do it?