Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-02-15
WINNIE'S FORTUNE.

/ WlNNlE'S FORTUNE.
The handsome dining room in the. ay
berry mansion was all a glitter will
floods of gaslight and the general glow O.
the Gre-for Mr.. Mayberry was yer!
''queer," man according to his wife's op
inion, and this fancy of his to have mast,
ashy fires all oyer the splendid mansion be
fore the weather became cold enough was
one of his eccentric freaks,'' as Mrs. May
berry called it, with a curl of her lip, g
toss of the head and smile almost of con.
tempt 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 widower with his
handsome half-grown son for not very
undesirable encumbrance.
They were sitting around the handsome
table discussing their seven O'Clock din
ner, VI it'll the solemn butler and his sub
ordinate in silent, obsequious attention
these three Mayberrys, father, son and the
naughty well dressed lady who was wear
ing a decided frown of displeasure on her
face-a frown she had barely power to re-
strain from degenerating into verbal ex-
preston 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
lmpetuously
II declare Mr.. Mayberry, 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
named"
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine content
eddy.
81 told you didn't Marguerite, that it
was my intention to give an old-fash-
Toned dinner? And by that 1 meant,
and mean those to whom it will be
a cause Of thankfulness. AS to max
ing grand fuss, and seeing around
our table only the people to whom a
luxurious dinner is only an every day oc-
currance-I shall not do it. And as to the
guests on nay list being 'horrid' and com
mon, you are mistaken, my dear. None
of them have any worse failing than pow
erty. There is not common vulgar per-
son among the whole. ten names on that
paper"
She knew from experience that, kind and
indulgent as her husband was, there were
times when he suffered no appeal from his
decision ond fhic woo ono of tb<,co +;p,oc
I'VE will have dinner ordered for twelve
o'clock, as it used to be when I was a boy.
We will have roast turkey with cranberry
sauce and mashed potatoes and turnips.
boiled onions and celery, all on the table
once. For desert, pie, cheese and cider
and nothing more. Marguerite shall l
give the order to Lotion, or will you at
tend 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
a laughing stock before my servants, Mr..
| Mayberry. 1t will be as severe strain on
my endurance as 1 am capable of to be
1OlCCu w SlU hU d uClUlO WILL ouCu pCODlC do
the Hurds, and the Masons, and that Thy
IRA Green and her lame brother, and that
little old Wilmington and his grand-daugh-
ter, and"
Mr.. Mayberry interrupted gently:
''Old Mr.. Wilmington was a friend of
mine before he went to India. Since he
came home with his sons orphan daugh
ter he has lived in such obscurity-comfo
able, though plain, for Winnie earns
enough as daily governess, to support them
both cheaply-that regard him as more
worthy than ever-Ernest my boy, I sl4all
depend upon you to help entertain our
guests, and especially at the table. for
shall have no servants about to scare them
out of their appetites."
| And Mr.. Mayberry dismissed the sub
ject.
! X
"Would 1 like to go? Oh! grandpa, /
should! Will we go do you think p
The little wizened old man looked fond
ly at her over his steel-rimmed glasses.
$50 you'd like to accept MIR. Mayberry's
invitation to dinner, eh, Winnie? You
wouldn't be ashamed of your old-fashioned
grandfather, eh, among the fine folks OF
the family Remarkably fine folks 1 hear
for all can remember when Joe was boy
together with myself. Fine folks, Winnie
do you think we'd better go p
II would like to go grandpa. I don't
have many, for think contented, honest
labor is the honestest thing in the world
and the best discipline, but 1 do want to
go, can wear my black cashmere, ano
you'll be so proud of me-"
"Proud of you, indeed, my child, NJ
matter what you wear. Yes, we II CO."
And thus it happened that among the
ten guests that sat down at Josiah May
berry's hospitable, overlooking board thai
cold, blue skied day. Winnie Wilmington
and the little. old man were two-and two
to whom Ernest Mayberry paid more de
voted attention than even his father haf
asked and expected.
Of course it was grand successful ex
cepting the cold hauteur on Mrs. May
! berry's aristocratic face, and that Was
failure, because no one took the least no