News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-02-02

sweet, low voice whispering her answer:
Grandpa, l want to tell you some
thing. I-Mr. we-Ernest has
asked-he wants me to-oh, grandpa,
can't you tell what it is?"
He felt her cheek grow hotter against
| his.
He reached up his hand and caressed
the other one.
Eyes, l can tell, dear. Ernest has
shown his uncommon good sense by
wanting you for his wife So this is
what come of that dinner, eh, Winnie?"
"And may l tell him you are willing,
perfectly willing, grandpa Because
do love him, you know"
"And you're sure it isn't his money you
| are after, eh?"
She did not take umbrage at the sharp
| question.
81 am at least sure it is not my money
he is after, grandpa" she returned,
laughing and patting his cheek.
"Yes, you are at least sure of that +;
there, l hear the young man coming
himself Shall l 60, Winnie?"
1t was the young man himself"
Ernest Mayberry, with shadow of deep
trouble and distress on his face as he
came straight up to Winnie and took
her hand, then turned to the old gentle
man.
"Until an hour ago l thought this
would be the proudest, happiest hour Of
my life, sir, for should have asked you
to give me Winnie for my wife. Instead,
l must be content to tell you how dearly
| love her, and how patiently and hard
I will work for her to give her the home
which she observation-disclosures, Mr.. VIII
mington, this morning the house of May
berry & Thurston failed and both families
are beggars."
His handsome face was pale, but his
eyes were bright with a determination
and braveness nothing could daunt.
Winnie smiled back upon him, her
own cheeks paling.
"Never mind, Ernest, on my account.
wait; too.''
Old Mr.. Wilmington's eyes were al
most shut behind the heavy, frowning
foreheard, and a quizzical look was on
his shrewd old face as he listened.
"Gone up, Ell? Well, that's too bad.
You stay here and tell Winnie l am Just
as willing she shall be your wife when
you want her, as if nothing had hap
pened, because-I believe you can earn
bread and butter for both of you, and my
Winnie is a contented little girl. I'll
hobble up to the Office and see your IA
Their; he and I were boys together; a
word of sympathy won't come amiss from
me-"
And off he strobe, leaving the lovers
alone, getting over the distance in re-
markable time, and presenting his
wrinkled, weather beaten old face in
Mayberry & Illusions private office,
where Mr.. Mayberry sat alone with rigid
face and keen, troubled eyes that never
theless lighted at the sight of his old
friend.
'T'm glad to see you, Wilmington.
Sit down. The sight of a man who has
not come to reproach me is a comfort"
But Mr.. Wilmington did not sit down.
He crossed the room to the table at
which Mr.. Mayberry sat among a hope
less array of papers.
There is no use wasting words, May
berry, at time like this. Did you
know your son has asked my Winnie to
marry him.
Mr.. Mayberry's face lighted a second,
then the gloom returned
IF my son had fortune at his COM
mand, as l thought he had yesterday at
this time, 1 would say, God speed you
in your woOing of Winnie Wilmington
AS it is-for the girls sake, disprove."
$50 you haven't dollar over and
above, eh, MayberryG"
"There will be nothing-less than
nothing. don't know that really care
so much for myself, but Ernest-it is a
terrible thing to happen to him at the
very beginning of his career"
Mr.. Wilmington smiled gleefully.
'Good. Neither do care for myself,
but for Winnie, my little Winnie. tell
you what, Mayberry; perhaps you will
wonder if I am crazy, but I'll agree to
settle quarter of a million on Winnie
the day she marries your boy. And I'll
lend you as much more if it'll be any
use, and I'll start the boy for himself, if
you say so. Eh?"
Mr.. Mayberry looked at him in speech
less bewilderment.
Wilmington went on:
81 made fortune out in India, and
it's safe and sound in hard cash in good
hands-a couple of millions. I deter
mined to bring my girl up to depend on
herself, and to learn the value of money
before she had the handling of her for
tune. She has no idea she's an heiress-
my heiress. Sounds like a story out of
a book, eh, Mayberry? Well, will you
shake hands on it and call it bargain2"
Mr.. Mayberry took the little dried-up
hand almost reverentially, his voice
hoarse and thick with emotion.
Wilmington, God will reward you
for this. May He, thousandfold !"
Wilmington winked away suspicious
moisture on his eyelashes.
"You see it all comes of that dinner,
old fellow. You acted like charitable
gentleman, and between US We'll make
the boy and Winnie as happy as they de-
serve, ehg'
And even Mrs. Mayberry admits that
it was good thing that her husband
gave that dinner, and when she expects
to see Mrs, Ernest Mayberry an honored
guest at her board she candidly feels
that she owes every atom of her splendor
and luxury to the yiolet-eyed charminU