The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-10-12
RICHARD BROWNS COURT
SHIP,

SHIP.
RICHARD Brown had lived a bach
elOr for forty years and declared his
intention Of continuing in the state of
single bleSSedneSS for the remainder
of his life-greatly to the satisfaction
of his relatives, the Uinkles, with
whom he resided, for be it known
Uncle Richard was worth a cool half
million, and the HinkleS were his
only living relations, and unless, as
Mrs. Uinkle said, some "naSty chari-
ty'' came in for his property, who
should he leave it to but his own
cousins or their children?
Hopeful as poor human nature is of
longevity, Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle scarce
ly expected to survive their cousin,
who was their junior by ten years, but
Adelaide, and Rose, and Charles and
William might in all probability be his
heirs, and to this end the parents la
bored. Uncle Richard had the best
room in the house, the best chair, the
most particular consideration. All his
wishes were deferred to and his advice
taken on every occasion, and he actlI-
ally came to be loved; for with all his
quaint, old-fashiOned ways, and his
habit of sitting as though he had been
deaf and dumb, he was loveable
man. Matters progressed smoothly
enough, until it was habit and not
hypocrisy which made Uncle Richard
master of the house.
He was very obliging-wOnderfully
50 in most respects. He would attend
to anything for anybody-match rib
bOns when pnbodX else could-escOrt
the girls to places Of amusement-gO
dutifully to church with their mamma
attend to marketing and the posting
of letters, and the gas meter, and the
turning off the water in frosty wealth
er. He was always ready to search
the house with poker at the dead of
night, when any one "heard a noise"
He went to the dentist with people
who wanted their teeth drawn, and he
always seemed to have sugar-plums in
his pocket. But one thing Uncle
Richard would not do, and that was to
exhibit the least sign of pOliteness to
visitors.
He never saw one home. He never
even spent the evening i'll their com
pany. 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 train
to shut his eyes tight when a young
lady entered, and remain with them
closed till she left the carriage. AS a
general thing, indeed, he always chose
a carriage where he need not be III
truded upon.
at was just as well, after all. y said
Mrs. Hinkle, but it was a peculiarly
not quite as agreeable to Mr.. H.,
when he found the pleasant task of
"seeing" Miss Jones imposed upon
himself. He argued that such duties
were Cousin Dicks, though he never
told him 50. 1t 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 at last which
set the whole house in commotion.
Miss Amanda Dove had been in
vited to spend week with the
Hinkles, and Miss Dove, being a
stranger, was to wait at the station
until some one came for her in a car
riage. - r
The Hinkles resided some miles out
of town, and had not occupied their
residence for many months, so that
people were not always properly di-
rected by the nelSDorS.
1t was decided that Mr.. Hinkle
should escort Miss Dove, but before
the day of her arrival dawned, bust
ness had called that gentleman tC
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 MOI
Adelaide could handle the reins. Miss
Dove was to come at nine, and what
would she think of them if no one
came for her?
"Indeed," said Mrs. Hinkle, "it
would be shocking treatment for the
dear girl. l must ask your cousin
Richard"
"You never dare, mamma" sale
Rose, aghast.
"In such case, you know" sale
Mrs. Hinkle.
"He'n not do il" said Adelaide.
"Of course not" said Rose.
Mrs. Hinkle shook her head.
81 fear he will not" she said, and
assuming an expression which woul(
have done credit to Joan of Arc
mounted the stairs to cousin Richard!
study.
care you busy Richard,' she asked
as she entered.
"Not at all-sit down." said Bache
lor Brown.
"You see how i'll am," said Mrs
Hinkle; 81 can hardly hold up m,
head much less drive, AMI Mr.. Hinkl'