The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-15
THE MAJORS CHOICE.

THE MAJORS CHOICE.
The fair feminine society of Portville
was much exercised in mind when
Major Trixton bought the great brown
house across the park.
Year In and year out that house had
stood vacant. Summer suns had woven
their threads OF light through the
closed blinds; winter SHOWS had piled
their white drifts against the threshold.
Some said the house was damp, others
that 1t was haunted, yet others slire Wdly
surmlsed that it was in litigat on, and
couldn't show clean title.
But nobody knew anything for cer-
tain, and when Major 1rixton bought
1t, and an army OF decorators, masons.
painters and upholsters took possession
OF IL, the interest and curiosity Of Port
Vile was at the eliminating point.
That the major was bachelor was
very certain. That he was forty years
old, II not older, appeared an incontro-
Vertlble fact. That he was immensely
rich, rather eccentric, and deciuedly in
want OF wife, everybody in town
knew before the title deeds Of the big
mousse had been twenty-tOur hours in
the possession Of the new owner.
es," the major had averred, seri-
ous.y, Wien face,iously CHALLENGED on
the subject by Mr.. Miles Rideau, one
OF his most intimate friends. II do
want a wife. You may chatf about it
as much as you please but it don't alter
the TACT. But 1 want a wife, not
bundle of glggle, and irizzes and P;,ris
miilinery.n
"I'll introduce you to our first
young ladies'" said Mr., Rideau. cheer
tuly, land then you can pick and
choose for yourself.''
"A l'';T regular ,s1i old Da.chelor," said Ri
deau to himself. "He'll never marry.
lie wants perfection, and there's no glri
living that can come up to his Standard
The ladies, as a matter OF course,
were much interested in the blu1t,
brown, elderly major. Miss Serena
Silver. whose grandfather had been
commodore. and whose genealogical
tree had more branches than a star-fish,
picked out the last gray lair from her
tresses and plumed herself for conquest.
..Hell want a lady of undisputable
birth and postion," she thought.
Alice Wood, the pretty dressmaker's
assistant, pinned all extra blush rose Ill
the frol.t OF her bonnet as she tripped
to and fro to ,.er work past the windows
OF the brown house.
s'The old story of King Cophetua
and the beggar maid is often repeating
itself,n she thought. "And Pm moi
quite beggar.
While all the beauties in PortvIllt
frightened up their armor and prepared
to enter the lists.
Major Trixon went into society, ant
society was puzzled to know what u
make of him.
."rwelve shirtsl" said Gertrude May
holding up her hands III dismay.
Twelve shirtsl'' echoed Mrs. Lacy
who was d pretty widow Oil promotion
t'By, my dears,' said Mrs. Hedge
the mother OF the two dimpled, velve
eyed brunettes, ''you must be NIL
takenl'
"We're not, mamma," said Bertha.
she really did 50, mumsey," a
clard Ida.
"You see, Mrs. Hedge" expiant
Ermina BRUCE, he HAS FOUNDED
hospital or poorhouse or something OF
West, and he wants box made up
send TO the poor people there. And
has asked the young ladies hereabol
TO contribute twelve slirts-one eac
don't you see? And they must
made by their own hands"
$50 ridiculousl'' said Msr. Hedge.
"But old bachelors always do ha
their quips and cranks," said M
Lacy, cOmplacently, as she remember
u garment Of the late lamente" Lac
wardrobe which she promised herself
''do up" and pass on to the West'
paupers as piece of genuine domes
manufacture.
"Well girls, you'll have to get y
Workboxes,' - said Mrs. Ledge.
eff 1t was Worsted work, now"
Ida.
''Or Kensington stich," sig
"But shirtsl Who ever heard
8 irts2n said Gertrude. "HOweyer
must all try. A rich old bachelt
worth few pinched tingers-eh, gir
But Erminia Bruce, who had no
ing for plain needleWOrk, looked
disgust at the Wamsutta muslin,
cud Of buttons, and the compact p
patterns on the table.
hprself, :'lf ! PRACTICE that sonati
#38 Tie Thursday evenings musical.
8 put it out, and the major VIII l
& know that didn't make it myself
S shirt, il,deell Why, he'll be expe
a us to scrub floors and make SOFT
next. The brown houae is very
but / mean TO Le lady of it withou
Of this odious drndgery.
sSSsSs8 So Miss Bruce, who was tall, Y
superb complexion, flashing black
and figure like Diana's own, roll
,,srisslfa obnoxious materials and c'
s.as n &wondetto little house around the c'
@Aiiy believed : pale, dove: e:eyed young w
caused the anaS in her first youth, sat
pbiIinne ,Ha 'nesg hsG SSe)a," said Miss Bruce,
iais capital andS shirt made. Very