Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-02-21
CUPID'S JUDGMENT.

CUPID'S JUDGMENT.
Dear old grandma Wellington looked
over her goId-rimmed glasses at Jack.
with world of loving anxiety in her
blue eyes-sweet tranquil old eyes that
were as blue as when she was a girl of
sweet sixteen.
''Are you sure you have considered
the matter well-thoroughly, my boy?''
Her voice was sweet and quiet, and
she herself was the daintIest Imaginable
ideal of a darling old grandma; slim,
trim, always dressed in black silk and a
white Spanish lace half-handkerchief in
winter-time, and queens grey silk and
a dotted Swiss half-handkercAief in
summer, with puffs of grey hair, on
which lay a tiny little cap, and string
of solid gold beads around her neck.
And Jack, lounging on the sofa at the
opposite side of the 70 m, was her
special pet-handsome. happy Jack.
who never failed to make grandma do
exactly what he wished her TO do.
And Just at the present moment the
highest object of his ambition was to
reconcile grandma Wellington to his
engagement with Viva Morris. and In
return for his loyer-like enthusiasm on
the subject, grandma had land down the
sacgue she was knitting for little Florie,
the latest graud-baby. and looked over
her glasses and put the question:
'Are you sure you have considered
the matter well-thoroughly, my boy?'
Jack laughed.
81 have never considered it at all,
when 1T comes to that" he SAID.
Il have a firm conviction that such
things are settled by a destiny too high
for poor mortality to consider"
'Bnt poor mortality is expected to
suffer if experience proves destiny
made mistake" she said, with a little
laughing twinkle III her eyes.
Then grave troubled look spread ali
over her face.
She shook her head.
'It would break my heart. Jack, if
you didn't marry a wife every way
worthy of you"
"And you mean you consider my little
Viva Is unworthy.
"What do you call then good wife,
grandma?
Il mean one good enough for me,
you know-i fcst-class A l, no mistake.
His splendid blonde head lacy laZily
on his folded arms, and he looked with
a mlschlcvous glance at the Old lady,
who resumed her knitting serenely.
Il mean a sweet pretty goOd-temper-
ed girl, VINO will be content IN her hus-
bands love, and who can sett.e down
restfuily to quiet country life, and not
pine herself away, and torment her
husband for the follies of city dissipa-
tio1; girl who is sousible, economical,
not ashamed to do her own work
s'1f needs be, who will save what you
earn, and think herself happy, because
she is crowned with your love.
'And you do not believe Viva pos
sesses those qualifications"
"How could she, unless you take
exception to the first essentials?
'.She is sweet and pretty; but what'S
that by itself?
.'She is her mothers own Child. and
Grace Moore the grl, and Grace Nor
ris. the woman, was vain, extraVagant,
idle, and a spend thrift.
Like parent like child. if they look
alike as much as Viva and her mother.
IF You must get married, why don't
you marry Retta?
.'She's the stay and support of the
Morrises, and as good as gold.
Jack could not restrain little sign OF
disgust.
'.Marry Retta Storms?"
"Not If she were an angel,
81 don't ike her; grandma.
mo ma'am; love goes where 1t Is
sent, and it's little black-eyed Viva or
nobody. and L don't think it'll be no.
body"
Grandma laid her knitting down again,
and looked anxiously, thOughtfully, out
of the window at the gorgeous clusters
of wisteria blooms, twining around the
piazza trellis.
81 am sorry, Jack-soory-even II the
Morrses are your poor dear grandpa
relatives"
81 am afraid you are prejudiced, "
Jack said gently, in his irresistible
pleading way.
'.Viva is as industrious as little bee,
grandma.
'.She gives music lessons. and teaches
In the night-school at odd moments.
s.And spends every halfpenny she
earns on dress, and makes poor Retta
work over the ironing table to laundry
her Swiss suits and lawn wrappers.
.l've no patience with her.
You are preiudiced, grandma, he
reiterated convincingly.
II know Viva wears out all the old
garments there, and because she Is tasty
and stylish you accuse her of extrava-
gance.
Shed wear anything respectable to
save shilling, and l honor her for 1t.
''And it's more than Retta would do;
she'd stay ut home forever first.
Grandmother smiled-a bright sud
den sDcIle.
You've put brilliant idea in my Old
head, Jack.
81 shall make it my business to prove
the assertion you have made.
''You say Viva would do one thing.
81 say she wouldn't.
You say Retta would do one thing; L
am sure to the contrary.
I'll send them each a dress-respect-