Year: 1868

Bachelor Brown had lived bachelor
for forty years, and had declared his in
tentions of continuing in the state Of single
blessedness for the remainder of his life
greatly to the satisfaction of his relatives,
the Hinkles, with whom he resided, for be
it known Uncle Richard was worth a cool
half million, and the Hinkles were his on
ly living relations, and unless, as Mrs.
Hinkle said. some "nasty charity" came
in for his property, who should he leave it
to bat to his own cousins or their chill
dren.s


Hopeful as poor human nature is Of
longevity, Mr.. and Mrs. Hinkle scarcely
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 labored Uucla
Richard had the best room in the house,
the best chair, and the most particular con-
sideration. His wishes were deferred to
and his advice taken on every occasion,
and ne actually came to be loved, for,
with all his quaint, old fashioned ways,
and his habit of sitting as utterly silent as
though he had been deaf and dumb, he
was loveable man. Matters progressed
smoothly enough until it was habit and
pot hypocrisy which made Uncle Richard
actually master of the house.


He was very obliging--wondorfull SO
in most respects. He would attend to any
thing for anybody-match ribbons when
nobody else could-escort the girls to pla-
ces of amusement-go dutifully to church
with their mamma-attend to marketing
and the posting of letters, and the gas me-
ter, and the turning off Of the water in
frosty weather. He was always ready to
search the house with a poker at the dead
Of night, when any one ''heard noise"


He went to the dentist with people who
wanted their teeth drawn, and always
seemed to have sugar plums in his pocket
But one thing Cousin Richard would not
do, and that was to exhibit the least sign
of politeness to lady visitors.


He never saw any home. He never
even spent the evening in their company
He invariably shut himself up in his own
room and had his tea there when one of
these individuals was reported to be in the
house, and, when travelling, had been
known in train to shut his eyes tight
when young lady entered, and remained
with them closed until she left the carriage.
As a general thing, indeed, he always
chose a carriage where lie need not be in
truded upon.


1T was just as well after all +" said Mrs.
Hinkle, but it was popularity not quite
agreeable to Mr.. FL. when he found the
pleasant task of seeing Miss Smith or
Miss Jones home,' imposed upon himself
He argued that such duties were cousin
Dicks, though he never told him so. II
would not have been pleasant to provoke
him, and if anything could have offended
Bachelor Brown mortally, it would have
been to insist upon his Offering any gallant
attentions to the softer sex,


However, day came at last which set
the house in eommotion.


Miss Amanda Dove had been invited to
spend week with the Hinkles, and Miss
Dove being stranger, was to wait at the
station until some one came for her in q
carriage.


The Hinkles resided some miles out of
town, and had not occupied the residence
Tor many months, SO that people were not
always properly directed by the neighbors.


Il was decided that Mr.. Hinkle should
escort Miss Dove, but before the day of
her arrival dawned business had called that
gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover Mrs.
Hinkle had the influenza, and the two bows
were at boarding school. No one was
to be found to drive, and neither Rose nor
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, sit would
be shocking treatment for the dear girl.
must ask your cousin Richard"


fpu never dare, ma, said Rose a.
ghast