Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-05-10
the BAcHElOR's DILEMMA.
How Mr.. VerIev Went to Meet His
Niece.

"And don't you know when you will pass
through this part of the country again, Mr.. YER
ley7"
"No, don't" said the old bachelor, decided
~.
de was something of q bear to answer so
crustily, when Barbara Smith stood in the door
way with the shadowy lashes dropping over the
soft brown eyes, and the roses deepening into
deep carmine on her rosy cheeks, until her Dress
was plain in comparison. Such pretty, big
eyed loving little Barbara as she was. In All the
the soft sigh that huttered from her lips as the
one-horse carriage drove away, was checked in
stantly. Barbara had no idea OF becoming
victim Of unrequited love, though she fancied
Mr.. Verley during his brief stay at her fathers
Mr. terley drove away through the rustling
green draperies of the summer lanes, whistEng
sadly as be drove.
Uf shall be in very good time for the 1880
train" he meditated to himself. "Punctuality
Is the soul of happiness, and never was one OF
the behind tribe thank Providence. Besides,
think it was becoming dangerous to remain In
that place any longer; for am thirty-nine to-
me to go making fool Of myself.
Fancy me getting married No you don't
Joseph Verley, my friend!"
AS he settled himself comfortably in the
y
subject again occurred to his mindiwith curious
"The letter Of my poor brothers executor
came just in time, or should certainly have
fooled away more time than would have been
sensible, or at least, profitable"
''Poor dear Harold don't see what an earth
possessed him to fall sick and die on the way
home from Venice, and leave his daughter |
what's more don't want to. am to meet her
at Speedville and take her home with me. OH
groaned Mr.. Yerley despairingly, "What am to
do with her there, I'd like to know. Isuppose
she's great creature with ringlets and ribbons
and has, just as like as not, an Italian lover,
talking sentiment to her-A creature that reads
Byron, and keeps an album and eats slate PEN
ellis and chalk. I'll send her to boarding school
that's what I'll do with my neice. Perhaps
she has graduated there, the school master can
suggest some means OF getting rid OF her. OF
course she'll have dozen large trunks. and
bonnet box, and parrot cage; that's the way
women travel Ibelieve. I'm glad / am out Of
the way of Barbara's Vaccinations now.
Mr.. Verley looked out Of the car window, in a
sort of calm desperation at the prospect be-
fore him.
~ suppose she'll want aSpiano and poodle
dog, and there's no knowledge what else. do
not see why Harold wanted to die and leave his
daughter to my care just now. Speedville sta
ten, twenty-seven miles farther wish it was
twenty seven hundred miles, that's what wish. "
And with vindictive statement in his mind
our nero tied a TeQ QAQQk0fCnleI over HIS nehut
and tried to lose himself in a series Of brief,
troublesome dreams, wherein the vision Of q TALL
nice young lady figured conspicuously.
"Are we here already?" he stammered, start
ing 70 his feet, as the conductor growled out
''Speedville stationl" and seizing valise and
travelling shawl, with the busting bewilderment
peculiar to people just aroused from sleep, he
alighted.
Speedville was rather large-sized village,
situated at the junction Of several railways, with
an imposing American Gothic structure for q
depot. Into the building Mr.. Verley walked,
looking Light and left for the young lady whose
guardianship he was to assume.
'Of course, he responded mentally, "Bhe II
be on the lookout for me women are proverbi-
ally curious"
But Harold Verleys daughter was not on the
lookout for her uncle. When the crowd incident
to the evening train had subsidized, and the peo-
pie had gone their different ways, the only re-
naming occupants Of the depot were Mr.. Verley,
lame old man who sold peanuts and apples,
and decent colored woman with bright Ma
dras turban on her head, who took caro- of the
building. Verley, after perplexed hesitation,
addressed himself to the colored woman, whe
was busy polishing the windows with piece Of
crumpled newspaper.
:. Ahem was to meet my niece here, and I
don't see her."
. Your niece, sir what is her name?
Verley."
20 yes sir she has been here these two
hours, bless her dear heart, she is asleep now"
ardoss answered him by bursting into the inner
apartment and bringing out what appeared to be
a compact bundle with pink face at one end
and mass Of trailing embroidery at the other.
Joseph Verley recoiled as far as the angle Of
the door would permit him.
Why-its baby"
ITO be sure it il" said the woman, "and As
nne little girl as ever saw, bless her sweet
blue eyes,"
"But isn't there nurse or some such person
hero, who could take care of hen 2"
There was a nurse brought her on, sir-a
queer looking thing, with yellow skin and hair
black as night, and gold hoops in her ears, but
she talked something about the next steamer-I
couldn't understand her lingo, strand went
right back to New York by the o'clock train"
Joseph Verley looked aghast, staring at the
rosy baby as it lay in the woman's arms, and
wondering which of his lucky stars he should
call OH to aid him in this unlooked-for emergen-
cy. full grown young lady niece would have
been bad enough-but baby
80 this is by niece" he muttered. And what
am going to do with her ?"
He turned suddenly to the woman.
What time does the next train leave for Will
field
In an hour, sir"
''Would you be kind enough to take care Of
the child till then l suppose l must take it
home with me, for can't very well drown 1t or
throw it under the car wheels"
Sir J" calculated the astonished stewardess
But MIR. Verley turned on his heels and strobe
prehend the disaster that had befallen him.
The train was at the depot when he returned,
and the woman awaited him with the sleeping
infant in her arms.
ASLEEP, eh commenced Mr.. Verley.
well, that's luck.
where's the nurse, sir ?" enquired the
woman.
The nurse what nurse ?"
nurse i"
Never once thought Of it I" calculated Jo-
seph, madly shifting his forehead. Here, give
the thing to me quick, the train is moving"
He had hardly time to spring on board, as the
locomotive gave an unearthly shriek while the
baby followed suit vigorously.
He staggered to his seat, holding the umbrella
and the child in one hand while ia the other his
valise swung backward and forward. There;
there bless it's little heart!" he exclaimed, imi-
tatlng the colored woman, I'VE won't cry, 30 we
won't"
But the baby evidently had an opinion of her
own upon the subject, and would cry in spite Of
various Establishments praoticed by the bewil-
dered uncle, such as shaking the umbrella,
swinging his watch and dancing it on both
knees.
People began to look around reproachfully
young men shrugged their shoulders and young
ladies' giggled.
"Hnshi hush there's darling" whispered
Mr.. Verley.
But still the baby went and walled and gnash-
ed its gums, for Of teeth it had but two Mr.
Nerey began to look around the car in search
OF some matrimonial dame of whom he could
seek counsel, but in vain. There we're only three
ladies' in the car, and they were young, with
round hats and dimpled cheeks.
LII -