Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-03-12
UNCLE COTTLE'S WOOING

"Tm going to get married, Tim"
Uncle Cottle sat very upright in his
chair, and spoke with an air Of invinci-
bic decision.
what, again?" drawled his nephew,
YEARLY.
"Again, sir? When was I married be-
fore ?''
"But this isn't the first time you've
been going to do it. uncle; that's what
l meant" Tim explained. do I know
the favored lady?"
ITS Miss sybii Holt. Tim" said
Uncle Cottle, confidentially. THE most
Observation-Disclosures! l met her the
other evening at Mrs. Dynham's silver
wedding party, and she err quite
seemed to take to me. I'm older than
she is" he sighed, pensively, "but I
look a good ten years younger than I
am; don't you think so?"
Young Tim regarded him critically,
without hazarding an opinion. He was
past middle age and looked it; a full
bodied little gentleman, with short,
dumpy legs and a bland, moon-like face,
whose prevailing expression was of inn
perturbable simplicity.
Have you proposed"
"Why, 40, I've only seen her once. Be-
Sides" Uncle Cottle sighed again, I'm
so shy. you know, Tim-so internally
shy! The only time I eve managed
TO propose was when l wrote to that
widow-you remember. you helped me
with that 1o{fnr - op11 rho rnyays ~
swered. You didn't say" he added,
whether yon know Miss Holt?"
II don't remember ever to have met
her."
"Ah! If you had you couldn't forget
her. She's an aunt you'll be proud of,
my boy"
"But she may not appreciate the hon
or of obtaining me for a nephew"
IF she refuses me-, Tim-if I lose her
as I've lost all the others" cried Uncle
Cottle, wildly, II shall think there's a
curse on me, and I'll give in-lW never
love again. I'll live and die single!"
Young Tim hoped he would. Uncle
Cottle had been his guardian ever since
he was quite a boy, but since he came of
age, some six years ago, he had rather
reversed the position of affairs, and
looked upon Uncle Cottle with the jeal-
Gus eye of a sole proprietor who didn't
want anybody to NEEDLE with his BUSH
ness.
"Im his only relative" he complained
to his crony, Ted Merrows, as he sat at
breakfast next morning in the cham
bers they tenanted in common. Whats
his is mine. He's said so lots of times.
expect at least half; and if he has chill
dren,-there'll be no meat left on the
bone for mel"
They were both reading for the bar,
but Ted Merrows put aside his paper
for the moment, and placed all his in
tellect at the service of his friend.
whats the use of looking black
about it? He's been going to marry
often enough before" ~
But he's never seemed SO determined
as he is now. He's dyeing his hair and
c~ultivating a figure"
"Gone so far as that" exclaimed Ted.
"Then I'm afraid nothing will stop
him."
II shall try, anyhow" growled Tim.
IF I can't hit on anything better, I
shall tell him I've found out she's en-
gagged. I've stopped him twice like
that; he's SO nervous and afraid of
seeming presumptuous. That widow
was the most dangerous-three months
ago. really thought I'd lost him that
time. He was so bewitched he was
going to call at her house, only I per-
suaded him it wasn't etiquette, and that
he ought to write first and disclose his
sentiments, and ask permission to call.
I undertook to post the letter on my
way home here to the Temple, and I
put it in the fire. When he got no an
swer he wished he hadn't written-felt
he had been impertinent and she was Of
Tended"
Suppose he meets her and mentions
it?"
HE daren't; I know him too well.
He'd be SC ashamed and panic-stricken
he'd run away at the sight Of her"
"Well, you have been lucky SO far. but
it can't go on like this forever" OBJ
served Ted Merrows. stake my tip,
and make hay while the u Shines"
"How do you mean?"
"You are old enough to marry, and,
as your uncle's sole heir, you'd be val
liable article in the matrimonial mar
Let; but II he marries, you'll find your
self on the shelf among the damaged
goods and remnants. Dispose of your
self while you are still heir and the 1T
ting lord for an heiress. You can't
stop the old mar marrying, but you can
take care he doesn't spoil you by marry
ing first"
sBut I don't know anybody" remon-
strated Tim. sHow am / to ind IN
heiress. get introduced and engaged.
and marry her out of hand i'm"
'You might find one through the mat
rimonial journals"
Nonsense! Heiresses don't adver-
| tise."
"Don't they? All heiresses are not
In society; some Of them want to
| Qo there. n thew advertise. They