The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-07
WINNIE's FORTUNE.

very "queer man." according to his
wife's opinion, and this fancy Of his to
have nasty, ashy fires all over the splen-
did mansion before the weather became
cold enough was one Of his "eccentric
freaks" Mrs. Mayberry called it, with
curl of her ii p, Q toss OF the head and
a smile, almost Of contempt, directed at
the hale, hearty, henest-laeed old gentle
man who had married her for her pretty
face, ten years ago, when he was an
immensely rich widower with his hand.
some half-grown son Tor q not undesir-
able encumbranee.
They were sitting around the hand
some table, discussing their seven
O'Clock dinner, with the solemn butler
and his subordinate, in silent, obsequous
atten tion, these three Mayberrys father,
son, and the naughty, wsll-dressed lady
who was wearing q decided iroWn OF
displeasure ON her face-a froWn she
had barely power to restrain from de-
generating into verbal expression OF
anger while the servants were ia walt
ing, and which, as the door finally closed
on them, leaving the little party alone
over the wine and nuts, burst forth i'm
| petuously;
81 declare, Mr.. Maybefry, it is too bad
have gone over the list Of Invitations
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 namedV
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine con-
| tentedly.
II told you, didn't 1, Marguerite, that
it was my intention to give an old
fashioned dinner? And by that l meant,
and mean, to whom it will, indeed, be
cause lor thankfulness. AS to making a
grand fuss, and seeing around our table
only the people to whom luxurious
| dinner is an everyday occurrence-l
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 a worse failing than poverty.
There is not a Common vulgar person
among the ten names on the paper.
Mr.. Mayberry's good old lace lighted
| up warmly as he spoke, and Ernest
May berry's handsome face ref acted the
| satisfaction and pride he felt in his
lather's views.
Mrs. Mayberry flushed, but said moth
| ing.
She knew from experience that, kind
and indulgeut as her husband was,
| there were times when he suffered NO
| appeal from his decision. And this was
one OF those times.
|
twelve o'clock, as it used to be when l
was boy. We will have roast turkey,
/ with cranberry sauce, and mashed p0-
| tatoes and turnips, boiled onions and
celery, and all ON the table at once. For
desert, pie, cheese and cider, and moth
ing more. Marguerite, shall give the
| order to Lorton, or will you attend to
itW
Mrs. Mayberry twisted her diamond
rings almost roughly.
| "Oh, DON'T ask me to give such an in
| sane order to himl have no wish TO
appear as Laughing stock before my
servants, Mr.. Mayberry. 1t will be as
severe strain on my endurance as l am
capable of TO be forced to sit at table
with such people as the Hurds and the
Masons, and that Thylza Green and her
lame brother, and that little old
and"-
Mr.. Mayberry interrupted her gent
sOld Mr.. Wilmington was friend OF
mine long before he went to India.
Since he came home with his sons
orphan daughter and lived in such OBJ
scurity-comfortable although plain, for
Winnie earns enough as dauy 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 especially at
| table, for shall nave no servants about
to scare them out of their Appetite"
And Mr.. Mayber dismissed the sub
ject By arising from the table,
"Would like to gog Oh, grandpa, 1
should! Will we 60, do yoA thinkW
hn wv
fondly at her over his steel trimmed
glasses.
$50 you'd like to accept Mr.. May
| berry's invitation to dinner, eh Winnie
You wouldn't be ashamed of your old
fashioned grandfather, eh, among the
fine folk Of the family? Remarkably fine
folk, lhear, for all l can remember When
Joe was boy together with myself.
Fine folk, Winnie, and you think we'd
better goW
Il would like to go, grandpa. I don't
have many recreations-I don't want
many, for think contented honest labor
is the grandest thing in the world and
the best discipline-but somehow l can't
tell why, but I" do want to go. l can
wear my black cashmere, and you'll be
SO proud Of me-"
"Proud of you, Indeed, my child, no
i udtU6I Wudb JVu WGola L Cos We IL RUs'
| And thus it happened that among the
ten guests that sat down at Josiah May
berry's hospitable, overlooking board
that cold blue-skied day, Winnie Will
mington and the little old man were
two-and two to whom Ernset Mayberry
paid more devoted attention than even
his father had asked and expected.
| OF course it was a grand successful
excepting the cold hateur on Mrs. May
berry's aristocratic face, and that was
a failure, because no one took the least
notice Of it, 80 much more powerful
were the influences OF Mr.. May yberry's
and Ernesps courteous, gentlemanlV at
tentions.
81 only hope your are satisfied" Mrs.
Josiah SAID, with what Was meant to be
whitening sarcasm, after the last guest
had gone, and she stood moment be-
fore lhe fire. ''I only hope you are salts
fed-particuiarly with the attention
Ernest paid to that young woman-Yery
unnecessary attention indeed"
MIR. Mayberry rubbed his hands to-
gether briskly.
ssSatisfedy Yes, thankful to God, l
had 1t In my power to make them forget
their poverty, it Tor only one little hour.
Did you see little Jimmy Hurd's eyes
glisten when Ernest gave him the