Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-08-20
A Lady Manager.

y - ~No, eeAd Will w lIlC C&DCIU VI
garden stretching on all sides.
L had been employed in panel
painting one of the large bed rooms
for some weeks and my curiosity and
interest had been excited by the fact
! that the master of the house, Mr.. Jo-
seph Randall, was tall, handsome
man of less than fifty years, while
she was certainly twenty years older,
and very feeble old woman.
Yet never were any young couple
more seemingly devoted than this
oddly contrasted pair; and /, living
| in the house with constant occupation
there, certainly had good opportuni-
ty for witnessing matrimonial differ
ences, had any existed.
When my work was done, | return
ed to my own home, and several
months later, by quite an accident,
not necessary to record here, / learn
ed the story of Mr.. Randall's mar
riage.
From early boyhood he was a
"ne' ne'er-do-well." Money ran through
his fingers like sand, and after his fa-
ther, his grandfather and his uncle
had started him in business, only to
end in failure, the family decided
that he never would be good for any
thing.
He was a very handsome man, with
a college education, the instincts and
manner of a gentleman, and kindly
in feeling; but he was good natured,
truthful and too easily influenced by
whoever took the trouble to dictate
| him.
| At thirty he found himself bank
rupt, out of business, and without
any definite prospects; and while he
was seriously considering suicide as
a wav out of his difficulties, he re-
ceived an invitation to visit an old
friend in Grantley, pretty village
near the seashore.
He found Grantley at the height of
its summer season, and his own at
traction very readily acknowledged
by the ladies who danced with him,
strolled on the beach by moonlight
with him, and accepted his graceful
attentions with smiling pleasure.
1t was here that he was introduced
to Miss Susan Harte and her niece
and supposed heiress, Miss Maude
Maxwell.
They were ladies of position, re-
fined and graceful; the younger one
lovely in the freshness of her youth
the older one stately and dignified,
showing in every word a cultivated
intellect and strong common sense.
Bob White, Mr.. RandalPs friend,
after the introduction, spoke his mind
with frank if vulgar freedom:
$50 in for the heiress, Joe. They
say the old lady is worth a quarter of
a million and Miss Maude is her only
relative. Any one can see that they
are devoted to each other
And any one could see every evil
dence of wealth in their surroundings.
Their own carriage with two magnifi-
cent horses, was with them for their
daily use, their costumes were of the
most costly materials, and their jew
els were superb. A lady's maid at
tended them, and they occupied an
entire suite of rooms at the only ho-
tel.
Friendship led to intimacy, and
Mr.. Randall did try to fascinate the
heiress, whose simpering prettiness
covered cold heart and very COM
monplace mind.
To dress we'll, to be the centre of
attraction for bowing beaux, were the
objects of her ambition, and her con-
versation never rose above the level
of the smallest talk.
Though he had always seemed to
lack business ability, Mr.. Randall
was no fool, and he found himself
evening after evening turning from
Miss Maxwells vapid talk to the
fresh strong mind that shone through |
her aunt's conversation.
Miss Harte was an accomplished |
with a rich contralto voice,
and love of music had always mount
ed to passion with Mr.. Randall, so
there was bond of sympathy there.
The summer wore away pleasantly,
and it was only when closed cottages
and deserted beach told of depart
ing guests, that Joseph Randall ask
ed himself seriously how his summer
Irritation was to end.
lie was not cOnCe1UoQ man, yet
Maude Maxwell had let him see very
plainly that she had preference for
his society and attentions. Yet he
shrank from the prospect of wife
with no idea above dress and gayety,
however richly she might be lowered.
Loving neither, in the true sense of
the word, he certainly found more
pleasure in the society of the older
lady, and then little demon of poll
cy whispered to him, that after all
the money was Miss Harte's, and,
with social position and attractions,
she might marry, and SO deprive
Maude of her supposed Inheritance.
1t was true that she was old enough
TO be his mother; but a handsome
and one thoroughly tasteful
N dress, could always appear young
II than actual years warranted, and
-he liked her, yes, he certainly re-