The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-10
The Bachelors WOoma.
HY MATTE DYER BRirs

The Bachelors Wooing.
BY MATTE DYER BRrrs.
Rascom Brown was respectable ola oach-
o1or. Whether bachelor from choice OF ne.
cessitv history sayeth not; but 1t Is iact tna'
Bascom Brown continued from boyhooa un u
til he was "fair, fat, and fifty" in s1a1o o,
single blessedness, or wretcneohes'' % wv
And And he might have continued SO forever
had not Catc. in the shape of comcly HUT
widow. oyertaken him. This little WHO"
was Mr. Browns landlady, and her in. M.
was Mrs. Briggs. do not suppose oe ad.
Brown had ever read the famous pll -. y, t au
vice given to the redoubted SamiVel py tns
elder Weller: "Samivel, Samivel, beware u
Raseom Brown had boarded with MS =.
briggs for something like five years, anu ~
| all fhat time not word Of What haa Deeh
enid respecting the horrors OF poaralnS
house would apply to the home-hKe es1ap ISL
ment presided over by coy, comeiy Mis.
BRIGGS. Her household appointments were
of the neatest, her table the most apunoant,
and her boarders the most Respectable peopie
one could wish to know. o,ao,+
Mr.. Brown, by virtue Of beng the ofus Isa
boardcr and having been longest III tGe
house. was the privileged character ana MAN al
Standby of the little widows family. re
had the pleasantest room, the best seat ~ .le
table or BY the parlor freside, anu all MS nt.ls
nersonal tastes and comforts were iooAea
after by Mrs. Briggs with the utmost eAa'''
ness. uora,+od
in great degree his feeling any neea Oh ~ d
home of his own and somebody 10 loon
after him, and conspred to keep MN Dac a,c
lor. His habits were as regular as CLOCK
work, his wants moderate ana reaouy slau-
fed. What more could man desire!
But not always was he permitted 10 Pul-
sue the tenor of his way. chanse csliie
e'cr the spirit Of his DREAM" or iatfer u
change came over the Briggs establishment,
which banished his dreams entlreiy, anu
disturbed his virtuous slumbers beyond tne
power even of patient man TO endue LII
silence.
Mrs. Briggs admitted a new boarder.
Worse than that, she put hum III the very
next room to Mr.. Brown ana, worst OF Az
the young man was musical, ana hao Vio-
lin. >, =,
Now, am aware that this fact will tell
against my hero, nevertheless must write
It-.Mr. brOWI WttS HUI
Good music, if it were the best, he could
endure bad music was simply torture to
him, And this young mans music was the
yeiv worst, for which reason, perhaps, he
inflicted it on his suffering ncighbor ut the
most unreasonable hours.
Go 70 bed when he would, that violin was
poor Browns accompaniment. Get up early
or late, it was still the same, and If he drop
ped down for an after-dinner nap his dreams
were rutlcssly scattered by the terrible toot,
loot, squeak, squeak, of that horrible fiddle,
every passage winding up with an eXcrucla'
ting veil which would have been credltaDlc
10 tie united chorus Of all the cats IN the
neighborhood.
Human flesh and blood and nerves could
not endure forever. Mr.. Brown concluded
1T last that one of two things must be
either that obnoxious young man ana MS
| fiddle must find another place or he must.
And at length, in view of his long standing
in the house, he resolved to ask Mrs. Briggs
TO dismiss the new boarder, and allow him
| to remain in peace.
This, however, was delicate undertaking.
There was nothing in the world against the
Young man but his music, and though 2lr.
Brown decided there could not well he any
thing worse, he knew Mrs. Briggs's tender
heart would shrink from issuing an edlct
| against him. His own peace of mind and
repose of body depended upon the departure
of that unfortunate young man; so, one al
| ternoon, summoning up all his resolution,
Bascom Brown took himself and his mission
to the door Of the little widows cosy sitting
room and knocked for admittance.
A CHEEKY "comc in" babe him enter, and
in a moment more he was socially seated in
a chair comfortably near Mrs. Briggs, much
clatcd to find her alone and ready to listen.
~ hope you are well to-day" observed
the plump little nlatron, with thoughtful
care for his welfare.
"Yes-ah-quite well; but somewhat
ah-anXious over little matter, Mrs. Briggs
"Indecd! Is there anything can do fol
you:"
"My dear Mrs. Briggs, you are the only
one who can do anything for mel" exclaimed
Mr.. Brown, warmly.
The widow blrlsed, and edged her chair
step farther away.
at has been on my mind good while
| It is important, you see," went on MIR
Brown, "and had resolved to speak to 20,
to-day"
eyes? 90 observed Mrs. Briggs inquiringly
But having begun his task, MIR. Brow
found it not very easy to go on; he hesl
tated for words in which next to expires
himself. = ~~,-.-.----
"You see-all-I-Mrs. Briggs, your hous
is ve1y-ah-a very comfortable place u
board" ....
"rm sure I try to make 1t So" said tn
little widow. ....s
"Yes-but-but-now if we had the hous
to ourselves; noW--if-if.-"
eyes that would be pleasant" whispered
the little widow, turning red as rose.
| "Then-then-why shouldn't we have
so ?" cried Mr.. Brown, saying a little NOR
than he meant in bis eagerness.
"Why, am sure ] never meant to MARI,
again." sighed rosy Mrs. Briggs; but if yo'
really wish it, dear Mr.. Brown, IL dom
think will object"
And she dropped a plump little hand owe
on Mr. Browns.
Good gracious! The perspiration brok
out over Mr.. Browns forehead as he begal
to comprehend what the little widow imae
ined he meant. He took out his handker
chief to wipe it, and made nervous effort t.
explain.
"My dear Mrs. Briggs, IL am sure-I-
you honor ME highly-too highly-I-I-'
At this moment there came rap at TIL
door, and Mrs. Briggs sprang hastily up t
open it.
She held moments conversation with tn
person standing outside, and then turned Il
Mr.. Brown and said, sweetly:
"My dear, must 60 out moment.
you will wait here we will discuss this sub
;, ject when I return"
And with smile rs bright as May morn
ing she left poor Brown alone with his re
Elections.
He sprang up and began to pace the room
to try to see way out of his dilemma.
Mrs. Briggs had remained moment longe
> he cnltninlu would haye eYnlained matters