The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-10
CUPID'S JUDGMENT.

CUPIDS JUDGMENT.
Dear old grandma Wellington looked
over her gold-rimmed glasses Mt Jack,
with world of loving anxiety in her
blue oycs-swcet tranquil old eyes that
were as blue us when she was girl of
sweet sixteen.
"Are you sure you have considered
the matter well-thoroughly, my boy2"
Her voice was sweet and quiet, and
she herself was the daintlcst Imaginable
ideal of darling old grandma; slim,
trim, always dressed in black silk and
white Spanish lace half-handkerchicf in
winter-time, and queens grey silk and
dotted Swiss half-handkerchief in
summer, with puffs of grey hair, on
which lay tiny little cap, and q string
Of solid gold beads around her neck.
And Jack, lounging on the sofa Mt the
opposite side of the 70 IN, was her
special pet-handsome. happy jack,
who never failed to make grandma do
exactly what he wished her 10 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 lover-ike enthusiasm on
the subject, grandma had laid down the
sacque she was knitting for little Florie,
the latest grand-baby. and looked over
her glasses and put the question::
"Are you sure you have considered
the matter well-thoroughly, my boy?'
Jack laughed.
II have never considered it at all,
when it comes to that" he said.
II have firm conviction that such
things are settled by destiny too high
for poor mortality to consider
"Bnt poor mortality is expected to
suffer ii experience proves destiny
made mistake" she said, with little
laughing twinkle III her eyes.
Then q grave troubled look spread all
over her face.
She shook her head.
cit would break my heart, Jack, if
you didn't marry wife every why
worthy of you."
'And you mean you consider my little
Viva IS unworthy.
"What DO you call then good wife, ,
grandma?
81 mean ono good enough for me,
you know-a tirst-class A l, no mistake. {"
His splendid blonde head lacy la4ily
on his folded arms, md he looked with
mischicvous glance at the old lady,
who resumed her knitting serenely.
II mean sweet pretty good-tenper-
cd girl, who will be content in her hus-
bands love, and who cnn sett.e down
restfully to a quiet country life, and not
pine herself away, and torment her
husband for the follies OF city dissipa-
tio1; girl who is sensible, economical,
not ashamed to do her own work.
eff needs be, who will savo what you
earn, and think herself happy. because
she is crowned with your love-"
''And you do not believe Viva pos
sesses those qllalihcations2'
'How could she, unless you tuke
exception to the first essentinls2
''SLe is sweet and pretty; but what'D
that by itself?
''She is her mothers own child, and
Grace Moore tho girl, and Grace Nor
rls, tho woman, was vain, eXtrayagant,
idle, and spend. thrift.
'E"Liko parent like child, if they look
alike rs much as Viva aud her mother.
IF you must get married, why don't
you marry Retta?
"She's the stay and support OF the
Morrises, and rs good as gold.
Jack could not restrain little sign of
disgust.
"Merry Retta Storms2"
''Not if she were an angell
81 don't like her; grandma.
"NO ma'am; love goes where it is
sent, and it's little black-eyed Viva or
nobody, and I don't think it'll be no.
body"
Grandma laid her knitting down again,
and looked anxiousIy, thoughtfully, out
OF the window ut the gorgeous clusters
of wisteria blooms, twining around the
piazza trellis.
II am sorry, Jack--soory--even If the
Morrises are your poor dear grandpa q
relatives" r.
II am afraid You aro prejudiced,' ~
Jack said gently, in his irresistible
pleading way.
Viva is as Industrious as q little bee,
grandma.
''Sho gives music lessons. and teaches
in the night-sohool at odd moments.
'And spends every halfpenny she
earns onIaress, and makes poor Retta
work over the ironing table to laundry
her Swiss suits and lawn wrappers.
''l've no patience with her.
Ia You are preiudiced, grandma" he
reiterated convincingly.
q II know Viva wears out all the old
I. garments there, and because she is tasty
and stylish you accuse her Of extrava.
gance. ~, ,.5,.,l~. l.,,, (,
"she'd wear anything respectable tc
saye 9 a. shilling, h and I honor her for it.