Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-09-05
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 Ilied their white
drifts against the threshold.
Some said the house was damp, others
that it was haunted, yet others shrewd]y
surmised that it was in litigation, and
couldn't show clean title.
But nobody knew anything for certain
and when Major Trixton bought it, and
All army of decorators, masops, painters
and upholsters took possession of it. the
interest and curiosity of Portyille was at
the eliminating point.
That the major was bachelor was very
certain. That he was forty years old, if
not older. appeared an incontrovertible
fact. That he was immensely rich. rather
eccentric, and decidedly in want of a
wife, everybody in town knew before the
title deeds of the big house had been
tw enty- four hours in the possession of the
new owner.
eyes, the major had averred, serious
ly, when facetiously challenged on the
subject by Mr.. Miles Rideau, one of his
most intimate friends. II do want a wife.
You may chaff about it as much as you
please but it don't alter the fact. But [
want wife, not bundle of giggle. and
frizzes and Paris millinery"
"I'n introduce you to our first young
ladies' said Mr.. Rideau. cheerfully, land
then you can pick and choose for your
SELF"
Major Trixon was silent.
"a regular old bachelor said Rideau
to himself "He'll never marry. He wants
perfection, and there's no girl living that
can ccme up to his standard.
The ladies, as matter of course, were
much interested in the bluff, brown, ell
derly major. Miss Serena Silver, whose
grandfather had been a commodore, and
whose genealogical tree had more branches
than a star-fsh, picked out the last gray
hair from her tresses and plumed herself
for conquest.
"He'll want a lady of undsputable birth
and position" she thought.
Alice Wood, the pretty dressmaker's as
sistant, 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 repeating itself. :"
she thought. sAnd Pm not quite beg
gar"
While all the beauties in Portville
frightened up their armor and prepared
to enter the lists, Major Trixon went into
society, and society was puzzled to know
what to make of him.
"Twelve shirts!' said Gertrude May.
holding up her hands in dismay.
"TWelve shirts !" echoed Mrs. Lacy,
who was pretty widow in promotion.
"But my dears,'' said Mrs. Hedge, the
mother of the two dimpled, velvet-eyed
brunettes, "you must be mistaken!"
"We're not. mamma" said Bertha.
"He really did so, mumsey," declared
Ida.
"You see, Mrs. Hedge" explained En-
NINA Bruce, che has founded a hospital
or poorhouse or something out West, and
be wants box made up to send to the
poor people there. And he had asked the
young ladies hereabouts to contribute
twelve shirts-one each. don't you see
And they must be made by their own
hands,
$50 ridiculous !" said Mrs Hedge.
but old bachelors always do have
their quips and cranks." said Mrs. Lacy,
complacently. as she remembered, gar
ment of the late lamented Lacy's ward
robe which she promised herself to ''do
up" and pass on to the Western paupers
as a piece of genuine manufacture.
swell girls, you'll have to get your
work boxes,'' said Mrs. Hedge.
s'Ie it was worsted work, now" said
Ida.
'Or Kensington stitch" sighed Bertha.
''Bnt shirts Who ever heard of
shirts ?'' said Gertrude. However, we
must all try. A rich old bachelor is worth
a few pinched fingers-eh, girls ?''
But Erminia Bruce, who had no liking
for plain needlework, looked with disgust
at the Wamsutta muslin. the card of but
tons. and the compact paper patterns on
the table.
81 haven't time for it, said she to her
self, "If I practice that sonata for Thurs
day evening musical. I'll put it out, and