South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-07
Winnie's Fortune.

berry mansion was oil a glitter with
floods of gaslight md the genial glow
OF the fire e for MI. Mayberry was a
very queer man according to his
wife's opinion, and this fancy of his to
have nasty ashy fires all over the spleen.
did mansion before the weather became
cold enough was one OF his eccentric
freaks" Mrs. Mayberry called it, with
e curl OF her lips toss Of the head
and smile almost contempt, directed at
the hale, hearty. honest-faced old gen-
tieman who had married her for her
pretty face, ten years ago. when he
was an immensely rich widowcr with
his handsome half-grown son fer not
very undesirable encumbranee.
They were sitting around the hand.
some table discussing their seven o..
clock dinner. with the solemn butler
and his subordinate in silent. obseaui.
Gus attention-these three Mayberrys,
father, son and the naughty welldressed
lady who was wearing a decided frown
of disp!casure on her facc-a frown she
had barely power to restrain from de.
generating into verbal expression OF
anger, while the servants were in wait.
ing and which as the d Dor finally closed
ON them, leaving the little party alone
over the wine and nuts, burst forth in
petuously:
Il declare Dir. Mayberry. It is too
bad L 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"
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine con-
tentedly.
L told you didn't Marguerite. that
it was my intention TO give an old.fash.
ioned dinner? And by that l meant,
and mean. to whom it will be cause
for thankfuness. As to make grand
fuss, and seeing around our table only
the people to whom luxurious dinner
is only an everyday occurrence--I shall
not do it. And as to the guests on my
list being 'horrid' and common you are
mistaken, my dear. None ofthem have
any worse failing than poverty. There
is not a common vulgar person among
the whole ten names on that paper
Mrs Mayberry flushed but said moth.
ing.
She knew from experience that, kind
aud indulgent "a her husband was, there
were times when he suffered no appeal
from his decision. and this was one Of
those times.
we will have dinner ordered for
twelve o'clock, az it used TO be when
was boy. We will have roast turkey
with cranberry sauce and mashed pota
toes and turnips. boiled onions and cell
4 Ill Il. ~
| sert. pie. cheese and cider and nothing
more. Marguerite shall 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 him. have no wish to
appear as laughing stock before my
servants, Mr.. Maybcrry. 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 Thyzra Green and her
lame brother, and that little old Will
mington and his grand daughter, and
Mr.. Muyberry interrupted her gently
Old Mr.. Wilmington was friend OF
mino before he went to India. Since
he came home with his sons orphan
daughter and lived in such obscurity-
comfortable. though plain, for Winnie
earns enough as daily governess, to
support them both cheaply-and / re
gard him IA more worthy then ever -
Ernest my boy, / shall depenl upon
YOU to help entertain our guests. and
especially at the table. for / shall have
no servants about to scare them out OF
their appettes.'
And Mr.. Mayberry dismissed the
subject
Would like to 90? Oh grandpa. |
should Will we go do you think?'
The little wizened old man looked
fon lily at her over his steel-rimmel
glasses.
SO you'd like TO accept Mr.. May
bcrry's invitation to dinner. ell, Winnie
You wouldn't he ashamed OF your old
fashioned grandfather. ELI, among the
fine folks Of the family? Remarkably
fine folks ! hear, for all can remember
when Joe was bov together with my.
self. Fine folks, Winnie. aud you think
we'd better go2'
i would like to 90 grandpa don't
have many rccreations. don't want
many, for think contented honest
labor is the bonestest thing i'm The world.
and the best discipline. but DO want
TO 90. ! can wear my black cashmere,
and you'll be so proud OF me-.
Proud OF you. indeed. ny child. no
matter what You wear. Yes. we'll 90
And thus 10 happened that among
the ten guests that sat down at Josiah
Mayberry's hospitable. overlooking
board that cold. blue skied dav. Winnie
Wilmington and the little. old man were
two and two 90 whom Ernest Mav-
berry paid more devouted attention than
even his father had asked and expected.
Or course IT. was q grand success
all excepting the cold hauteur on Mrs.