Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-12-17
4 MODERN CINDERELLA

The Hon. Marmakuke Gervoise was
man with two very decided ideas-ont
was that any young lady on whom he
might propose to confer the name OF
Gervoise ought to think herself very
lucky girl, indeed; and the other was
that she ought to have magnifcen,
fortune TO counterbalance in some
measure the immense advantages which
would accrue to her from such union
He was not, by any means, a bad fellow
in fact, men generally said "Gervoise
was a deuced good fellow-so good-tem-
pered, you know, and always ready to
lend hand" And they were right in
saying SO for he had learned that a good
tempered man, who is willing to be USE
full to his friends in little matters, is
generally welcome, and everybody is
only too glad to make use of him, in
stead of undergoing any trouble them
selves. But he had one disadvantage
he was exceedingly poor Still he was
TO be met everywhere in town and coun-
try, and in the latter particularly ladies
gave him O hearty welcome. "Mr.
Gervoise was SO jolly and so useful.
get on without him." Besides, he was
undoubtedly man of good family; and,
even If queer stories had occasionally
been whispered about him, how many
people are there whose lives would en-
dure rigid cross-examination? Only
mothers with daughters whom they
We're DESTROYS of placing in socie5y
looked askance at him, and warned their
girls mot to give any encouragement to
that Mr.. Gervoise." The rest of the
world was glad TO see him, or was utter
1y indifferent TO him; and, as he shot
well, played good game of billiards,
was great IN the art of arranging picnics
and water parties, and had a good tenor
voice and some knowledge of music,
10th men and women found him good
companion indoors and out, and pro-
nouuced him, an acquisition.
At the time of our story there was q
very large gathering OF guests in the
fine old house known as Biudon Court
the property of Thomas Fudgelow,
Esq, an honest-hearted and hospitable
manufacturer who had married very
charming, beautiful and well bred wife
and who was never SO happy as when
entertaining IS many pleasant people
as his picturesque, but somewhat ram
bling house would hold. Among the
number OF his guests at this particular
time was the Hon. Marmaduke Ger
voise. He found the house a very
pleasant one TO stay IN, and made him
self useful IN many ways to the owner,
putting him up TO many q wrinkle in
the matter of inviting and enfertaing
his guests, and managing to make all
things run smoothly and pleasantly
when difficulties cropped up, as they
occasionally did. But he had another,
AID far more particular reason, for
wishing to be at Blndon Court on this
special occasion. Miss Muriel Merrie-
wether was very lovely, very young, very
charming in manner and very highly
accomplished, and report said that she
had 100000 a year, absolutely her
own. Moreover, she was an orphan, she
was q great friend of Mrs. Fudgelow's
and she had promised to spend this
October at Bindon Court, SO that the
Hon. Marmaduke condescended to i'm
agine that he might be induced to think
seriously about her. At any rate, the
shooting at Bindon was first rate, and if
the young lady did not prove so attract
i've as he hoped, he would at least have
some sport.
TO Bindon, therefore, he went, and
he at once set himself energetically to
carry the lovely Muriel and her fortune
by assault. It must be remembered
that he was favorite with women, that
he wan fine, manly, handsome fellow
enough, and one who would hardly fail
to make an impression on any girl,
whose heart he had determined to win.
Miss Merriewether was not girl easily
won, however. She had set up for her
self standard of manly excellence far
beyond that required by the average
young lady. II may be that her wealth
had already made her suspicious of
men and their purposes; but it is certain
that the standard included high in
tegrity, resolute purpose, noble aim in
life, and other things of which Geryoise
had not the faintest conception. It
need not DO supposed from this that
Miss Muriel was a dull, heavy, solemn
young weman-far from it. She was as
bright and joyous, as full of vivacitY
and Intelligence as any girl Of her age
might wish TO be: but her vivacity was
tempered by her own perfect honesty OF
thought, and her Acknowledgement of
the responsibilities of life.
Utterly unconscious of the character
of the girl whose affection he proposed
TO himself in his idle, careless, conf
dent way TO win, Gervoise commenced
the siege without suspicion that fail
ure could possibly await him, and that
very confidence stood him in good