Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-28
WINIFRED'S FLOTSAM.

DdU ndI0T tnhl guy ANcilii 1T
the age Of seven and twenty, wa 5
still a bachelor and heart whole.
Until this summer he had never
been rich enough TO support wife;
it was almost more than he could
do to take care of himself, so he
did not feel justified in paying at.
tentions to any lady seriously.
Although he was industrious aud
talented, clients were few and far
between-were almost unknown
to the deserving young lawyer
until he did not SO sorely need
them. One week--such is the
perversity of fate-after be got
news that an uncle had died and
left him his sole heir, and found
that he was sure OF an income of
nearly two thousand year, then
the world suddenly realized that
young Averill was a promising
young lawyer
Having a good income and
prospects of plenty of remunera-
tive business, Guy Averill began
to think seriously of matrimony,
and rather eagerly accepted an in-
vitation to accompany his chum,
Cassius Barclay, to the little town
of New Myrtle, where said chums
fiancee lived. For this fianoee,
Helen Tremaine, had two sisters.
and Mrs. Averill agreed with
Cassius Barclay that there were
not three such girls in the world
as the three Tremaines. Mrs.
Averill had met then in the win
ter at Washington and afterward
had spent six weeks at their
house; hence Guys invitation,
though he had never seen one of
the family. He knew them all by
description. Helen was nor pref
ty, but domestic, accomplished
and charming; the next one, Win
fired, was a great rider, swimmer,
skater, archer-in fact lawfully
fast" though magnificently beau
tiful; SO Guy felt strong pre-
sentiment that while he would
like Helen, and tolerate Winifred
for her sake, he would be very
sure to fall captive to the charms
of nineteen-year-old Marcia, the
gentle, fair, lovable girl whose pic
ture he had so much admired.
When he first saw Marcia he
was little disappointed; her pic
ture fattered her; but he soon for
got that in contemplation Of her
graceful figure, her gentle voice
and her quiet, WOmanly ways.
He loved to see woman all wO-
manly, thought a needle and not
a pen should be her tool, believed
that fireside was woman's sphere.
and so and so on; all of which
conditions Marcia filled.
"Your sister rides beautifully"
exclaimed Guy, few hours after
his arrival at Mrs. Tremaine's.
eyes," answered Marcia, sweet
ly. "She ought to; spends hours
on her horse" T
"Do you ride ?"
mot much. I don't care for
such violent exercise. In fact, |
don't have much time for it. l
have good deal of sewing to do,
and
Marcia hesitated, and shook out
her work rather OStentatiously.
II didn't know you had any lit
tie folks in the house." said Guy,
his attention thus drawn to the
small apron in her hand.
"Oh, we haven't! This is for
some of our poor Sunday school
children. When am at loss for
employment / always know where
to turn, in manufacturing town
like this, where there is so much
suffering"
"Do your sisters aid you 2"
"Helen can't; her trousseau
keeps her busy now; and Wini-
fred-well, I'd laugh to see her
doing such work.
as what ?" asked Winifred,
who had just entered.
"Sewing or embroidering," re-
piled Marcia, not quite truthfully;
but GUY. not knowing the differ
ence betu cen embroidery and
plain sewing, was none the wiser
"What is absurdly known, as
fancy work l utterly abominate !!
1t seems to me great waste OF
time to pass hours and hours in
making hideous tides aud mats,
or high art curtains out Of ticking
andSuch stuff"
Don't you ever sew"
"Not if / can avoid it; certainly
not for amusement"
mot for the poor?"
"The poor?"
eyes, as Miss Marcia does"
"O-h! No, / don't work for the
pooI-as Maacia Does" was Wioi-
fred's contemptuous reply.
And Guy was disguised. How
was he to know that the little