Wilmington journal., 1872-01-12
BACHELOR BROWNS COURTSHIP.

Richard Brown had lived bachelor for
forty years, and declared his intention of
continuing in tho state of single blessed
ness for the remainder Of his life-greatly
20 the satisfaction OF his relatives, the Hin
kles, with whom he resided; for, be it
known, uncle Richard was worth a cool
half million, and the HinllleS were his
only living relations and, unless, as Mrs.
Hinklo said, some ''nasty charity" came in
for his property, who should he leave it to
but to his own cousins or their children?
Hopeful asEpoor humanity is or lonSevi-
ty, MI. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely, expected
to survive their cousin, who was their jun
iOr by ten years bat Adelaide, and Rose,
and Charles, ard William, might i'll all
probability be his heirs, and to this end the
parents labOred. Uncle Richard had the
best room in the house, the best chair, the
most particular consideration. His wishes
were all deferred to, and his advice taken
| on every occasion; and he actually came to
be loved for, with al his quaint, old fash
| iUned ways, and his habit Of sitting Utterly
| silent, as though lie. had been deaf and
| dumb, he was q lOycable man. Matters
| progressed smoothly enough until it was
| hab,t and not hypocrisy winch made COus-
in Richard actually master OF the house.
lie was very obliging-wonderfully 50, in
! most respects. he would attend to any
body for anybody; match ribbons when
nobody else would escort girls to Il place
of amusement; 60 dutlfilllV to church with
lIleir mamma; attend to marketing and
tie posing Of letters and the gas metre
aud the tur'ling off OF the water III frOstv
weather. lie was always ready to search
! the mouse Wi,ll poker at the dead OF the
/ night, Wien anyone ''heard noise >
lie went to the dentist with people who
wanted their teeth drawn, and always
seemed to have sugar plllms i'll his Packet
But one thing Cousin Richard would not
do and that WAS to exhibit the least SiGi
Of politennss to lad~-visitOrs.
lie never saw any one home lie never
even spent the evening in their company
He invariably shut himself up i'll his Owl
I3ain, and had his tea there, when one 0
these individuals was reported to be in the
house; and when travelling, had beer
known i'll the train to shut lis eyes tigh
when young lady entered, and remain
with them closed until she had left the car
riagc. As a general thing, indee |, h'
always chose a carriage where he need no
be intrudcd upon.
cit was lust as we'll, after ALL said MIS-
uinklc, but it was not quite so agreeable
to Nr. H. when he found the pleasant tasl
Of ''seeing Miss Smith or Miss Jones home
imposed upon himself. lie argued tina
such duties were cousin Dicks, though h
never told him so. 1t would not have beer
pleasant to provoke him, and if anythin:
could have offended Bachelor Brown MOI
tally, ii would have been to insist upon hi
offering any gallant attentions to the softe
sex.
However, day came at last which Sc
tho household in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been invited t
; spend week with the Hinkles, and Mis-
Dove being a stranger, was to wait at tn
station until some one came for her in
: carriage.
e The HinkIes resided some miles out [
: town, and had not occupied their 1esidenC
7 for many months, so that people had nc
1 always been properly directed by thei
b, ncighbors.
It 1t was decided that Mr.. Hinkle shoul
II escort Miss Dove, but before the day of th
arrival, business had called that gentlema
Il to Sheffield. Moreover, Mrs. uinkle ha
s the influenza, and the two boys were {
Is boarding school. No one was to be foun
1 to drive, and neither Rose nor Adelaid
could handle the reins. Hiss Dove was
u come at nine, and what would she think
II them if no one was to come for her?
"Indeed," said Mrs. Hinkle, {" it woUl
! be shocking treatment for the dear girl.
u must ask your cousin Richard"
= EYou never crre, ma" sa d ROs
- aghast.
, "In such care, you know - Sa
- Mrs. Hinkle.
+ "He'Il not do it, said Adelaide.
,ue u "Of course not, said Rose.
. Mrs. Hnkle shook her head.
/, 81 fear he will not" she said and a
- sCming an expression which would ha'
~ done credit to Joan Of Arc, mounted Il
p p stairs to Cousin Richards study.
80 -, - Are you busy, Richard" she asked,
" she entered.
d = g Not at all sit down." said Bachel
- Brown"
a. a. g You see how i'll l am," said Mrs. Iii
81 81 kle ''I can hardly hold up my head, mus
- less drive, and Mr.. Hinkle is away, and &
~ ~ boys too, and no one can handle the reir
~ and -"
:, "Well," said Bachelor Brown.
.. And there is poor Miss Dove at the ST
ton, with her trunk by this tine," sa
Mrs. Hinkle with a gasp.
'sAh - said Bachelor Brown 8 what
PITY
Mrs. Hinkle felt she had not begun y
e. Bachelor Brown could not understal
II, what she wanted.
he ''Its a favor-a great favor to ask,
know" she said; ''but couldn't you, il
he for once, do it 20
''Do what, Maria?" asked Bachel
a Brown.
IN 'tGo for her. said Mrs. Hinkle.