Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-07-10
MRS. CHANDELIERS LITTLE PLOT.
rom the Home Circle.

Robert Baldwin had attained the age
q thirty Eve without falling q vic
tim 10 the wiles of the opposite sex
In plain English, he was still a bachel-
~ This certainly did not happen
from necessity, for there was more than
ono of the young ladies whom he met
n society, whenever he could be in.
Juced TO go into company who would
o,odly have assumed the name of Mrs.
Baldwin. Nor again was ii because he
could not afford to marry. He had a
rood income from his business and could
Afford to support a wife IN excellent
style. II was for neither OF these rea-
sons, therefore, that he thus led a single
life.
The secret of it was, that he was in
ordihately bashful. The presence OF
one Of the opposite sex threw him into
atremor, and quite bound up his fac
Mites, so that he was unable TO act him
self, or converse, except liz monosyl-
tables. II certainly did seem rather
ridiculous in a grown man, but such,
nevertheless, was the fact.
Mr.. Baldwin made his home at the
house of his sister, Mrs. Chandler. She
had been long DESTROYS of her brothers
marriage, feeling that he would be hap
pier. if he could be induced to unite
himself with a genial companion, and
had from time to time formed various
little schemes for bringing about this
consummation, so devoutly to be wished,
but all had been frustrated by the in.
superable dillidence of her brother.
II was not that Robert Baldwin was
opposed to marriage, in theory. On
the contrary, he had once or twice been
attracted towards particular ladies, but
he had never dared to breach the all
important subject, and so, of course,
nothing came of it. He began to feel
that he should always remain a bach
elor.
At this juncture, a new scheme oc-
Cured to his sister.
II is said hat like is cured by like,
and she resolved to oppose bashfulness
by bashfulness. The young lady whom
she fixed upon to help in her plot, was
some ten years younger than her broth
er, Julia Ross, by name. She proposed
to receive a visit from her, and the fol-
lowing letter of instructions which she
wrote, will make the reader acquainted
with her scheme:
"Dear Julia When we met, last
spring, / had some conversation with
you on the subject of my brother, and |
minated the wish that he might take
q fancy to you, as, / assure you, ! know
Of no ono whom i should be more glad
TO welcome as my sister-in-law. You
have not seen my brother, but can as.
sure you that he is not only amiable and
good. tempered, but considered very
good looking, while his ample income
would enable him to furnish o wife
with every comfort, not to say luxury.
] feel sure You would like him, and I
think he would like you. / want youto
come and pass a month with me, during
which you will have ample time to make
his acquaintance, and produce an i'm
preston.
but / won't deny there are difficult
ties in the way. My brother is strange
", ri~diculously bashful, and the sight of
a woman agitates him, and makes him
tmid and distract, so that he cannot act
himself. don't believe he would look
you in the face for a week, unless You
fall in with my plans, and follow my
directions. They are briefly these. We
must oppose b~ashfulness by bashfulness.
DE is bashful-you must be more so.
IL he is agitated by the sight ola woman,
you must DO even more timid at the
sighto of a man. Your apparent diffidence
will embolden him, and for the first
time in his life he will be able to act
himself in the presence OF tho opposite
sex. | have great hopes Of what it will
lead to. Now, what do you say? VIII
You JOIN me in my little plot? II so,
come next week, and we will see what
We can do.
Ever your friend,
MARIA CHANDLER"
To this letter Mrs. Chandler received
tue following reply:
Dear Maria Your little plot
charms me. l am training myself TO
exhibit the most shrinking diiiidence,
hope to be perfect in my part 10y
wednesday next, when you may expect
me- Ever yours
JULIA Ross"
This letter was read with satisfaction
Now to prepare my brother"
thought Mrs. Chandler. She opened
the subject to him that very evening.
Robert" she said, ''you have heard
me speak of Julia Ross?"
Yes; | think SO" he said, with hest
%tation.
She is a very charming young lady"
is she, indeed? ?"
Il have invited her to come and
spend a month with me-"
Whenr" asked her brother, nery-
ously.
! expect her by tho middle of next
week.
IL think | will go to the hotel and
board, while she il here"
Why should you?"
y might be in the way"
.Nonsensel | count upon You to help
entertain her."
Il couldn't think of il. You know
now am affected in the presence of
ladies'"
Yes, | know you are difidsnt, but
Then 1t will be different with her"
Why should it be?" asked Robert, in
some curiosity.
Because Julia is more bashful than
you are"
More bashful than III" repeated her
brother with interest. lyon don't
mean that"
Yes do. The fact is Julia is pain
iuiiy bashful. Really, il she knew you
were here. / can't answer for her ac-
eepting my invitation. i hope You viii
take S0map offoa If har and fry 10 cIlrp Il