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

'iqueer man." according to his Wife
opinion, and this fancy of his to hav
nasty, ashy fires all over the splendid
mansion before the weather became COLI
enough was one of his eccentric freaks,
Mrs. Mayberry called it, with a curl o
her lip, toss of the head and a smile
almost of contempt, directed at the hale
honest-faced old gentleman who haC
married her for her pretty face ten year
ago, when he was an immensely ricl
widower, with his handsome half grown
son for not undesirable encumbrance
They were sitting around the hand
some table discussing their seven cloch
dinner. with the solemn butler and hi.
subordinate in silent, obsequious atten
tion-theSe three Mayberrys, father, sor
and the naughty, well dressed lady who
was wearing a decided frown of dis
pleasure on her face-a frown she haC
barely power to restrain from degenerat
ing into a verbal expression of anger
while the servants were in waiting, and
which, as the door finally closed on them
leaving the Little party alone, burs
forth impetuously:
81 declare, Mr.. Mayberry, it is too
bad! have gone over the list of invita-
tons you have made, and to think there
is not One-nO, not one-Of our SCI
among them, and such a horrid lot oil
people as you have named ~
Mr.. Mayberry slipped his wine content
eddy.
Il told you, didn't l, Marguerite, thai
it was my intention to give an old fash
Toned dinner? Aud by that l meant, anG
mean, to whom it will, indeed, be cause
for thankfulness. As to making grand
fuss, and seeing around our table only
the people to whom a luxurious dinner
Is an everyday occurrence shall moi
do it. And as to the guests on my list
being 'horrid' and common you are
mistaken, my dear None of them have
a worse failing than poverty. There is
not common, vulgar person among
the ten names on that paper"
Mr.. Mayberry's good old face lighted
up warmly as he spoke, and Ernest
Mayberry's handsome face reflected the
satisfaction and pride he felt in his
fathers views.
Mrs. Mayberry flushed, but said moth
ing.
She knew from experience that, kind
and indulgent as her husband was, there
were times when he suffered no appeal
from his decision. And this was one
those times.
"We will have dinner ordered for J
o'clock, as it used to be when I was a
boy. We will have roast turkey with
cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes
and turnips, boiled onions and celery,
and all on the table at once. For DIES
sett, pie and cheese and nothing more.
Marguerite, shall l give the order to
LortOn, or will you attend to it,"
Mrs. Mayberry twisted her diamond
rings almost roughly.
''Oh, don't ask me to give such an in.
sane order to him. l have no wish to
appear as laughing stock before my
servants, Mr.. Mayberry. 1t will be as
severe a strain on my endurance as l am
capable of to be forced to sit at table
with such people as the Hurds and the
Masons, and that Thyrzra Green and her
lame brother, and that little old Will
mington and his granddaughter,
and"-
Mr.. MayberTy interrupted her gently
"Old Mr.. Wilmington was friend of
mine long before he went to India.
Since he came home with his sons infant
daughter and lived in such obscurity-
comfortable, although plain, for Winnie
earns enough as daily governess to sup
port them both cheaply-I regard him as
more worthy than ever. Ernest, my boy,
l shall call upon you to help entertain
our guests, and especially at table, for l
shall have no servants about to scare
them out Of their appetites."
And Mr.. Mayberry dismissed the sub
ject by arising from the table.
"Would like to go Oh, grandpa,
l should viii we go, do you think 2"
The little, wizened old man looked
fondly at her over his steel-rimmed
glasses.
So you'd like to accept Mr.. May
berry's invitation to dinner, eh, Winnie ?
You wouldn't be ashamed of your old
fashioned grandfather, Ell, among the
fine folk of the family Remarkably
fine folk, hear, for all l can remember
when Joe was boy together with my
self. Fine folk, Winnie, and you think
we'd better go p
81 would like to go, grandpa. l
don't have any recreatiOns-I don't want
many, for think contented honest labor
is the grandest thing in the world, and
the best discipline but, somehow,
can't tell why, but I do want to 90.
\ can wear my black cashmere, and you'll
be so proud of me.n
Proud of you, indeed, my child, no
matter what you wear Yes, We'll 60"
And thus it happened that among the
ten guests that sat down at josiah May
berrys hospitable, overlooking board,
that cold, blue-skied day, Winnie Will
mlngton and the little old man were
two-and two to whom Ernest Nav
berry paid more devoted attention than
even his father had asked and expected.
OF course it was grand successful ex.
cepting the cold hauteur on Mrs. Nav
berry's aristocratic face, and that was a
failure, because no one took the least
notice OF 1t, so much more powerful
were the influences of Mr.. Mayberry' 5
and Ernesfs courteous, gentlemanly at
tentions.
Il only hope you are satisfied" Mrs.
Josiah said, with what was meant to be
whitening sarcasm, after the last guest
had gone, and she stood moment before
the fire; 81 only hope you are satisfied
particularly with the attention Ernest
paid to that young woman-very M
necessary attention, indeed"
Mr. Mayberry rubbed his hands to-
gether briskly.
Satisfied! Yes, thankful to God
had in my power to make them forget
their poverty, if for only a little hour.
Did you see little Jimmy Hurd's eyes
glisten when Ernest gave him the second
triangle of pie2 Bless the youngsters
hearts" they won't want anything to eat
for a week"
Il was speaking of the young woman
who''--
Mrs Mayberry was Jelly severe, but
her husband cut it short.
$50 you were-pretty little thing as
ever saw. A ladylike, graceful little
girl, with eyes beautiful enough to ex
cuse the boy for admir1ng herr
The boy. You seem to have forgot.
ten your son is twenty three old enough
to fall in love with and marry even {
poor, unknown girl you were quite quix
otto enough to invite to your table"
Twenty three2 So he is. And if he
wants to marry fcggar, and she is &
good girl why not."
A little gasp of horror and dismaJ
was the only answer of which Mrs. May
berry was capable.
"Gran6pap
Winnie's voice was so low that Mr..
Wilmington only lust heard II and whom