Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-04-18
WINNIES FORTUNE.

The handsome ,dining-roo in the
Maybury mansion was all glitter with
floods Of gaslight and the genial glow
of the fre-for Mr.. Josiah Mayberry
was very "uueer man." according to
his wife's opinion, and this fancy of his
to have nasty, ashy fires all over the
splendid mansion before the weather
became cold enough was one of his
Eccentric freaks,' Mrs. Mayberry
called it, with curl of her lip, toss of
the head and a smile of contempt,
directed at the hale, hearty, honest
faced old gentleman who had married
her for her pretty face, ten years ago,
when he was an immensely rich wild
over with his handsome half grown son
for not undesirable encumbrance.
They were sitting around the hand
some table. discussing their seven
o'clock dinner, with the solemn butler
and his subordinate, in silent, obsequi-
Gus attention--these three Mayberrys,
father, son and the naughty, well
dressed lady who was wearing decided
frown of displeasure on her faee-a
frown she had barely power to restrain
from degenerating into verbal express
sion of anger while the servants were in
waiting, and which, as the door finally
closed on them, leaving the little party
alone over the wine and nuts, burst
forth impetuously:
CT declare, MIR. Mayberry, it is too
bad I have gone over the list of invi
tations 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 p a
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine con
tentedly.
81 told you, didn't I, Marguerite,
that It was my intention to give an old
fashioned dinner ? And by that I meant
and mean, to whom it will, indeed, be
cause for thankfulness. As to making
a grand fuss, and seeing around ou1
table only the people to whom luxu
rious dinner is an everyday occurrence
i shall not do it. And as 10 the guests
on my list being 'horrid and com
mon,' you are mistaken, my dear. None
of them have worse failing than pow
erty. There is not common, vulgar
person among the ten names on that
paper"
Mr.. Mayberry's good old face lighted
up warmly as he spoke, and Ernest
Mayberry's handsome face reflected the
satisfaction and pride he felt in his
fathers views.
Mrs. Mayberry flushed, but gaid moth.
ing.
She knew from experience that, kind
and indulgent as her husband was, there
were times when he suffered no appeal
t,1o n I,;c ~
those times.
sWe will have dinner ordered for
twelve o'clock, as it used to be when ]
was boy. We will have roast turkey,
with cranberry sauce, and mashed po-
tatoes and turnips, boiled onions and
celery, and all on the table at once
For dessert, pie, cheese and cider, and
nothing more. Marguerite, shall I give
the order to Lorton, or will you attend
to it?"
Mrs. Mayberry twisted her diamond
rings almost roughly.
sob, don't ask me to give such an
insane order to him I have no wish
to appear as 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 a
table with such people as the Hurds
and the Masons, and that Thyrza Green
and her lame brother, and that little old
Wilmington and his granddaughter,
and -
Mr.. Mayberry interrupted her, very
gently:
cold Mr.. Wilmington was a friend
OF mine long before lie went to India.
Since he came home with his sons or
phan daughter and lived in such obscu-
rity comfortable although plain, for
Winnie earns enough as daily governess
to support them both cheaply--I regard
him as more worthy than ever. Ernest,
my boy, [ shall depend upon you to
help entertain our guests, and especial
ly at table, for I shall have no servants
about to scare them out of their appe-
tites."
And MIR. Mayberry dismissed the
subject by arising from the table.