The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-20
MISS SIMMONS.

ter, while protesting something OF re-
gard for Frank Fairfield, had been partly
promised to Major Ginger, a grum old
martinez, with passion for Persian car
pets and majolica
That night letter was written to papa,
and this was the brief reply:
DEAR WTE-Recelved yours yesterday Stop
the thing NJ once Fairfelds salary is $50 per
week. Ginger talked matters over with me to-
night, and | told him he could have Hannah
Maria II he wanted her. Leave the place you
are at and go to Sproogles Hotel at -, No
dancing there's quiet place. Minister'S families
and such. Bathing. Let her battle as much rs
she likes. I'll bring Ginger down. No othe-
bcaux there; settle affairs. Don't let her 20
Watch her, then. Byby; your affectionato
husband, b. HoDHousB.
Accordingly, next day, the mother
and daughter left - hotel for the sea
side, the mother quite unaware that one
of the young men on the roof of the stage
was Frank Fairfield.
A few words had been exchanged be-
tween the two very early and Miss Hob
house had put into Mr.. Fairfeld's hand a
small bundle done up in paper
The seaside hotel was as quiet as it
had been described, the company as seri.
Gus. Nobody rode anywhere. People
only walked on the piazza. Twice a day
everybody tuinbled into the sea. Han
nah Maria, escorted by her mother to
the bathing house, followed everybody's
example, and on the very first day her
mother saw her meet and greet amid the
waves very robust young lady in very
large shade hat and a bright blue bathing
suit.
"Who was that?' she asked Hannah
Maria on their return, and Hannah
Maria had answered:
ooh, mai it was dear Miss Simmons,
with whom used to go to school,"
And so day by day Mrs. Hobhouse
basked in the sun, while Hannah Maria
sported in the waves hand.in-hand with
Miss Simmons, or greeted great pillows
Mrs. Hobhouse to Shrek. But, as she
wrote to her husband:
Even while l am frightened almost out of my
senses feel grateful, for l used to be more
frightened still when she waltzed with that
dreadful Frank Fairfield. Now her only friend
hor: and she gets no letters.
With this good news to welcome him
Mr.. Hobhouse came to the seaside, ac-
companied by Major Ginger, and arrived
at the hour which was devoted to bath
ing. Hannah Maria was in the sea, and
Mrs. Hobhouse sat watching her under
large white umbrella.
THAT one in the gray bathing dress
trimmed with red is Hannah Maria, and
the blue one is Miss Simmons" said Mrs.
Hobhouse. 'Bless us?'' what objects
bathing dresses do make of people" said
Mr.. Hobhouse.
"Some people like well-grown girls, -
said Mrs. Hobhouse.
'I've no doubt they have their adj
mirers," said the major. 81 adore deli
cate beauty, myself, and this Miss Sim
mons, did you say, appears to have g
moustache."
'Bless my heart, so he hasp' said Mr.
Hobhouse, selling the glass; did you
ever notice it, Matilda2'
mo, dear" said Mrs. Hobhouse
family.
Just then two figures crossed the sand
Jones, the boatman, who rowed people
out for fifty cents an hour, and a gentle
man in black with white neck-cloth.
Looks like clergyman, said Mrs.
Hobhouse.
Jones, walking slowly to the spot
where his boat lay, stepped into it; the
gentleman seated himself in the bow
and took little book from his pocket.
Of went the boat-it skirted the line OF
swimmers and went far out upon the
water. Then the gentleman lifted pail
of glasses to his nose and reconnoitered
At that moment Mrs. Simmons drew &
kerchief from some portion of her dres!
and waved it in the air. The boat al
once changed its course and few TOWARD
the rope to which Miss Simmons ant
Hannah Maria were apparently at
tached.
"Why, what on earthp cried Mrs
Hobhouse.
"That's rather forward person, that
Miss Simmons" said Hobhouse.
But Major Ginger, with his glass to his
eyes, suddenly started to his feet.
"a boat-heres another boat?-go out
Hobhouse-see to her-stop It'll" he cried
"Oh, what! are they drowning?" cried
Mrs. Hobhouse.
MOP cried old Ginger. "Nol Is
everybody blind? That isn't girl
that one you call Miss Simmons-thats 6
man. 1 tell you that's man. say
good gracious he's putting ring on hel
finger. Get boat Hobhouse; stop it
They're being marriedP'
Hobhouse seized the glass in time tc
see the flaps of two bathing hats over
lay, but though he rushed wildly about
- SNNiSAh ~ - pSAVj NhNAS "dp hOhO w w
had.
AS for Mrs. Hobhouso having clutchet
the glass wildly and uttered one shrek
she tainted away on the sand.
But it's no use making fuss, ma,
said Hanna Maria, as she attired herself
in the bathing house, amidst her moth
ers tears and reproaches. Frank lovet
me and loved Frank, and we are of age
chose to be happy on $50 week in
stead of miserable on the interest of hal
million. And though we shan't hav,
majolica and Persian rugs in our mite o
cottage, we shall be as glad to see you
as if we had, and don't you think If you
invited Aunt Abby on here, and dressed
her up good deal, she might do as well
for the Major as l would? She's nearer
his age"
A year from that day young Mrs. Fair
field opened her morning paper to fine
recorded in the column of marriages tina
of Major Ginger and her Aunt Abigail
Somehow the two had met; and the good
natured and still good-looking old maid
whose grand object in life had always
been villa on the Hudson and plenty
of old china, made Major Ginger Al
happy as Frank Fairfeld's wife mad,
him