Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-10-23
u BidH't Wsfk.
Mr.. Wetherby's Scheme to Marry
a Young Heiress.


ct, apparently absorbed in restless
thought. Finally, he took up an
open letter from the table, and for
the third time perused its contents,
which were as follows:
DEAR GUST drop you hasty line to
catch the six O'Clock mail. Minna Gray
is with us, and l want you 10 come up
without delay and see what you can do in
the way of winning an heiress. She is just
from boarding school-a simple, unsophis-
ticated girl Of eighteen-and il you enter
the field at once, / don't see why, with
your advantages, you should not succeed
in making an impression. IL uncle can't
spare you from the office before Saturday,
at least come up then, and stay till Mon
day. In quiet country house good
deal can be done in that time. Eve spoke
of you to Minna-judiciously Of course
and am sure she is already interested in
you. She will be with us week or so
longer, and will then leave with her fami-
ly for their Western home; so you see,
there is no time to be lost. shall GER
tainly expect You on Saturday, If not be-
fore. Don't disappoint.
Your devoted sister.
AGNUs MERRow.
Hum All, well, | may as well
go up and see what she's like J mus
ed Mr.. Agustus Wetheby, giving a
doubtful shrug of the shoulders.
odd man still living; but won't OBJ
iect to that, il he'd do the handsome
thing by me that he did with his
other daughters husband. In fact,
it would be handy to have him go
on making money for q few years
longer It isn't every day that a
fellow can pick up al heiress-pret
ty, too 1 think I've heard Morrow
say. Cousin of his, Ell? Conve-
lent to have sisters marry fellows
with rich young cousins. Yes, |
think I may as well try it on
On the following Saturday, ac-
cordingly, a blonde young gentle
man, faultlessly attired, and with q
calmly satisfied and rather supercil-
ious air, boarded the five O'Clock
train for two hours ride to Yer
don station.
He found but two seats unoccu-
pied-one next to fat old lady
with a ticket conspicuously secured
on the front of her shawl with three
pins, and the other adjoining
handsome, well grown young lady
who was seated alone at window
With a sachel beside her. Affecting
not to observe the first seat, and
even ignoring the friendly tug at his
coat tail of the fat lady, Mr.. Weth-
erby passed on, and paused with a
half wistful, half apologize glance
at the second vacant seat. The
young lady observing this, prompt
ly removed her shawl and sachel
and made room for him
Thank you'll | hope / am not in
commoding YOU said Mr.. Wether-
by, with his most graceful and win
ming manner.
Not at ALL she answered, raising
a pair of bright, frank, brown eyes
to his face.
And then they sat for few mo-
ments silent as the train started.
The breeze, with its inevitable Gin
ders and dust, came in strongly at
the window, and, Of course, the
young lady tried TO close it, could
not. and, equally of course, Mr..
Wetherby offered to do it for her
Then they naturally got to talking,
the young lady manifesting no shy
ness or stiffness, and as Mr.. Weth-
erby looked at her smiling red lips
and laughing eyes, and noticed her
easy, selfpossessed manner, he con
graduated himself upon having such
companion for the amusement oil
his brief journey. She was alone,
too, which encouraged him to as
sumo a little protective gallantry.
Have you far to go?' he inquired
when he had conveniently arranged
his sachel and umbrella at his feet.
Would you call it far to Prince
- e.