Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-06-07
WINNTES FORTUNE.

| ry mansion was all glitter with floods Of gas
! light, and the genial glow of the tre-for Mr.
| Alayberry was n very queer man. according
to his wifes 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 smile. almost
contempt, directed at the hale, hearty, hon
| est-faced old gentleman who had married her
| for her pretty face ten years ago, when he
was an immensely rich widower with his
handsome half-grown son for not very un-
| desirable encumbrance.
They We're sitting around the handsome Ia
| BILE, discussing their seven o'clock dinner
with the solemn butler and his subordinate in
silent, obsequious attention-these three May
berrys, father. son and the naughty. we'll
| dressed lady who was wearing a decided
| frOwn of displeasure on her face-a frown
she had barely power to restrain from dcgcn-
| erating into u verbal expression 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:
Il declare Mr.. Mnyberry. 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 a
| horrid lot Of people as you have named"
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine contentedly.
II told you, didn't |, Marguerite that it
was my intention to give an old-fashioned
dinner And by that l meant, and mean. to
| whom it win indeed he cause for thanlfulness
| As to making grand fuss, and seeing around
our table only the people to whom luxuri-
GUS dinner is only an every day occurrence
| | shall not do it, And as to the guests ON my
list being 'horrid and common you are mis-
taken. my dear None of them have any
worse failing than poverty There is not
common vulgar person among the whole ten
names on that paper.
Mr.. Mayberrys good old face lighted up
warmly rs he spoke, and Earnest Maybcrrys
| handsome face reflected the satisfaction and
! pride which he felt in his fathers views.
Mrs. Mayberry flushed but said nothing.
| She knew from experience that, kind and in
| dulgent rs her husband was. there were times
when he suffered no appeal from his decision,
and this was one of those times.
I'VE will have dinner ordered for twelve
| o'clock as i used to be when was boy.
We will have roast turkey, with cranberry
sauce and mashed potatoes and turnips boil
ed onions and celery, all on the table at once.
For desert, pie, cheese and cider, and moth
ing more, Marguerite, shall give the ouier
to Lorton, or will you attend to ~
Mrs. Mayberry twisted her diamond rings
almost roughly.
"Oh, don't ask me to give such an insane
order to him 1 have no wish to appear a
laughing stock before my servants, Mr.. May
| berry. 1t will be as severe a strain on my en-
durnce as l am capable of, TO be forced to
sit at II table with such people the Hurds,
the NIasons, and that Thyrza Green and her
lame brother, and that little old Wilmington
and his grand d-daughter, and"
Mr.. MaybeTy interrupted her gently: old
| Mr. Wilmington was friend Of mine 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 goyemess to
support them both cheaply-I regard him
more worthy than ever. Ernest, my boy,
shall depend upon you to help enter
tain our guests, and especially at the table,
for l shall have no servants about to scare
them out of their appetites.' And Mr.. May
berry dismissed the subject.
Would l like to go: Oh, grandpa,
should VIII We go, do you think =
The little wizened old man looked fondly
at her over his steel-rmmed glasses.
so you'd like to accept Mr.. Maybery 5
invitation to dinner ell, Winnie You
wouldn't be ashamed of your old-fashioned
grandfather ell, among the fine folk of the
family? Remarkably fine folk, | hear, for
all l can remember when Joe WAS boy to-
gether with myself Fine folk Winnie, and
you think we'd better go :"
Il would like to go, grandpa, l don't have
many recreations-I don't want many for
think cOntented, honest labor is the honestest
thing in the world and the best discipline,
but / do want TO 60 l can wear my black
cashmere and you'll be proud Of me"
Proud of you, indeed my child, no matter
what you wear. Yes Wen 60
And thus it happened that among the ten
guests that sat down at Josiah AlayberTy'
hospitable, overlooking board that cold blue
skied day, Winnie Wilmington and the little
old man were two-and two to whom Ernest
Mayberry paid more devoted attention than
even his father had asked or expected.
OF course it was "A grand successful eN-
ceptng the cold hauteur on Mrs Mayberry'
aristocratic face, and that was failure, be-
cause no one took the least notice of it, SO
much more powerful were the influences OF
Mr.. Mayberry's and Ernests courteous, gen.
tlemanly attentions.
Il only hope you are satisfied Mrs. Josi
all said, with what was meant to be whitening
sarcasm, after the last guest was gone and she
stood moment before the fire. Il only hope
you are satished-particularl with the atten,
ton Ernest paid to that young woman-yery
unnecessary attention indeed"
Mr.. MaybeTy rubbed his hands together
briskly. Satisfied? Yes, thankful TO God
! l had it in my power TO make them forget
their poverty for one little hour, Did you see
little Jimmy Hurd's eyes glisten when Ernest
gave him the second triangle of pie Bless
the youngsters hearts, they won't want any
thing to eat for a week.
Il was speaking Of the young woman who
Mrs. Mayberry was icily severe, but hel
husband cut it short.
so you were-pretty little thing as ever
saw. ladylike, graceful little girl, witt
beautiful eyes enough to excuse the boy fol
admiring her"
saTbe nov You seem 10 haye forgotten