The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-03-29
WINNIE'S FORTUNE.


The handsome dining-room in the
Mayberry mansion was all a-glitter with
floods ofgaslight and the genial glow of
the fire-for Mr.. Josiah Mayberry was a
very "aueer man." according to his
wife's opinion, and this fancy of his to
have nasty, ashy fres-an over the splen-
did mansion before the weather became
cold enough was one of his eccentric
freaks, Mrs. Mayberry called it, with a
curl of her lip, a toss of the head and a
smile, almost of contempt, directed at
the ba&e, hearty, honest-faeed old gentle
man who had married her for her pretty
face, ten years ago, when he was an i'm
mensely rich widower with his handsome
half grown son for q not undesirable en-
cumbrance. - ,,.-...
They. were. sitting around the hand
some table, discussing their seven O'Clock
dinner, with the solemn butler and his
subordinate, in silent, obsequious atten-
tion-these three Mayberrys, father, son
and the naughty, well dressed Lady who
was wearing decided frown of dis
pleasure on her face-a frown she had
barely power to restrain from degenerat-
inginto verbal expression of anger while
the servants were in waiting, and which,
as the door finally closed on them, leav-
ing the little party alone over the wine
and nuts, burst forth impetI.ously:
"I declare, Mr. Mayberry, it is too
bad 1 have gone over the list OF In
vitations You have made, and to think
there is not one-no not one-of our set
among them, and such horrid lot OF
people as you have named !"
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine con-
tentedly.
81 told, you, didn't I, Marguerite,
that it was my intention to give an old
fashioned dinner2 And by that meant,
and mean, to whom it will, indeed, be
cause for thankfulness. As to making a
granl fuss, and seeing around our table
only the people to whom luxurious
dinner is an everyday occurrence
shall not do it. And as to the guests on
my list being 'horrid and common,
you are mistaken, my dear. None OF
them have worse failing than poverty.
There is not common, vulgar person
among the ten names on that paper"
MI. Mayberry's good old face lighted
up warmly as he spoke, and Ernest May
berry's handsome face reflected the salts
faction and pride he felt in his fathers
views.
Mrs. Mayberry flushed, but said moth
ing. {
She knew from experience that, kind
and indulgent as her husband was, there
were times when he suffered no appeal
from his decision. And this was one OF
those times.
eve will have dinner ordered fol-
twelve O'Clock, as it used to be when !
was boy. We will have roast turkey,
with cranberry sauce, and mashed po.
totoes and turnips, boiled onions and
celery, and all on the table at once. For
dessert pie, cheese and cider, and moth
ing more, Marguerite, shall I give the
order to Lorton, or will you attend to
it?"
Mrs. Mayberry twisted her diamond
rings almost roughly.
"Oh, don't ask me to give such an In
sane order to himi / have no wish to
appear as q laughing stock before my
servants, Mr.. Mayberry. 1t will be as
severe strain on my endurance as am
capable of to be forced to sit at table
with such people as the Hurds and the
Masons, and that Thyrza Green and he,
lame brother, and that little old Whining
ton and his granddaughter, and y
Mr.. Mayberry interrupted her gently
cold Mr.. Wilmington was friend o
mine long before he went to India. Since
he came home with his sons orphan
daughter and lived in such obscurity-
comfortable although plain, for Winnie
earns enough as daily governess to sup
port them both cheaply-I regard him al
more worthy than ever. Ernest, my boy
l shall depend upon you to help enter
tain our guests, and especially at table
for I shall have no servants about tc
scare them out of their appetites.
And Mr.. Mayberry dismissed the sub
ject by arising from the table. .
y
"Would Iketo go? Oh, grandpa
should Will We go, do yen think p
The little, wizened old man looke'
fondly at her over his steel rimme(
glasses.
$50 you'd like to accept Mr.. Mayber
rvs invitation to dinner, eh, Winnie
You wouldn't be ashamed Of your old
fashioned grandfather, eh, among tn
the fine folk of the family? Remarkabl
fine folk, I hear, for all can remembe
when. Joe was boy together with my
self. Fine folk, Winnie, and you thin
we'd better go"
II would Like to go, grandpa. I don
have many recreations--I don't wan
many, for I think contented honest labo
is the grandest thing in the world, an
the best discipline-but, somehow,
can't tell why, but do want to go.
can wear my black osshmers, saa you
b. 40 preud cf ns,