The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
THE MAJORS CHOICE.

J
vile was much exercised in mlho
when Major Trixton bought the gfea'
| brown house across the park.
Year in and year out the house ila''
stood vacant. Summer suns had WOW
en- their threads Of light through ths1
closed blinds; winter SHOWS had piieu
their white drifts against the thresh-
old.
Some said the house was daIiip'
Others that it was haunted, yet others
shrewdly surmised that. it was 10 HUI
cation, and couldn't show cieau
! title.
But nobody knew anything for GER
tain and when Major Trixton bougn'
it. and an army ofdecorators, masons'
painters, and upholsters took posses-
sion Oh 1t, the interest and c1riBsia.
of PortviEle was at the eliminating
point.
That the major was bachelor was
very certain. That he was 40 years
old, if not older, appeared an incon-
trovertibie fact. That he was i'm
menseIy rich, rather eccentric, and
decidedly in want of wife, every
body in town knew before the title
deeds of the big house had been
twenty-four hours in possession of the
new owner.
eyes," the major had averred, Sc
riousIy, when facetiously challenged
on the subject by Mr.. Miles Rideau.
one of his most intimate friends, 81
do want wife. You may chaff about
it as much as you please, but it don't
alter the fact. But L wanta wife. not
a bundle of giggle and frizzles and
Paris millinery"
"I'll introduce you TO our first
young ladies'" said Mr.. Rideau,
cheerfully, "and then you can pick
and choose for yourself"
Major Trixton was silent.
ga regular old bachelor" said
Rideau to himself. "He'll never mar
ry. He wants perfection, and there's
| no girl living that can come up to his
standard"
The ladies, as matter of course,
were much interested in the bluff,
brown, elderly major. Miss Serena
Silver, whose grandfather had heen a
commodore, and whose genealogical
tree had more branches than a star
fish, picked out the last gray hair from
her tresses and plumed herself for
conquest. -s-ss
"He'll want lady of indisputable
birth and position" she thought.
Alice Wood, the pretty dressmak
er's assistant pinned an extra blush
rose in the front of her bonnet as she
tripped to and fro to her work past the
windows Of the brown house.
"The old story of King Cophetua
and the beggar maid is often repeat
ing ITSELF" she thought. "And | am
not quite a beggar."
While all the beauties in PortvilIe
frightened up their armor and pre-
pared to enter the list.
Major TriXton went into society,
and society was puzzled to know
what to make of him.
"TwelYe shirts ~ said Gertrude
May, holding up her hands in dis
may.
Twelve shirts !" echoed Mrs. Lacy
who was pretty widow on promo
tiOn.
"But, my dears," said Mrs. Hedge,
the mother Of two dimpIed, velvet
eyed brunettes, you must be mis-
taken -
"We're not, mamma," said Bertha
HE really did say so, mumsey."
declared Ida.
"You see, Mrs. Hedge" explained
Ermina Bruce. che has founded a
hospital, or poorhouse, or something
out West, and he wants box made
up to send to the poor people there,
And he has asked the young ladies
hereabOutst to contribute twelve shirts
lone each, don't you see? And they
must he made by their own hands,"
$50 ridiculous !" said Mrs. Hedge.
"But old bachelors always do have
their quips and cranks," said Mrs.
Lacy compacently as she remember
ed a garment of the late lamented
Lacy's wardrobe which she promised
herself to "dO up" and pass on to the
Western paupers as a piece of genuine
domestic manufacture
"Well, girls, you'll have to get
your workboxes," said Mrs. Hedge.
"If it was worsted work now, said
Ida.
"Or Kensington stitch" sighed
/ Bertha.
"But shirts! Who ever heard OF
shirts ~ said Gertrude. "However,
we must all try. A rich old bachelor