Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-15
HOPES HAPPINESS,
FoREARMED FOR A FORTUNE.

said Mrs. Walbridge to her sister, s'if you
could manage to capture the heir eft lngle-
side, who will soon be coming here to claim
his Inheritance. He cannot be very old,
and Just think, your estate would adJoln
ours. 1t would be splendid"
81 shall certainly bring all my batteries
to bear on the lucky man." said Rita, with
a yawn. Gan eligible husband in this part
of the country is SO hard to tind," and fol
some hours the sisters talked hopefully Of
the prospects of capturing the prospective
heir when he should arrive.
Mr. Walbridge brought a visitor home
with him that night, but as MIR. King
Brown was rather seedily dressed and a
difident young man, the ladies took very
title interest in him and even had occasion
to snub him when he tried to be friendly.
During his long visit there was only lit
tie Hope, the governess, VINO showed him
MANY attentions: in fact they we're seen sc
much together that Mrs. Walbridge said il
was shameless Irritation and sent the CIR
away. Mr.. King Brown soon after left the
house himself.
II was morning, some three mouths
later.
In Mrs. Walbridge's pretty pony phaeton
herself and Rita are seated and being
whlrled rapidly along by the spirited pail
of white ponies.
81 have piece Of news for you, Rita, u
her sister says, as with deft tnrn of hei
wrists she brings the ponies into a pace
more suited to conversation. "You may
prepare for the contest. In one weeks
time the heir of Ingleside is to ask posses
sion. Hugh received letter from him
this morning. 1t seems he once met him
q long time ago, although he couldn't have
remembered him, as he never spoke Of
him to me. In the letter he asks him, as
his nearest neighbor, to make for him some
necessary arrangements. He wants to have
Ingleside placed in readiness for a grand
welcoming reception, to which all the neigh.
bors aud friends of Iugleside's former own
or shall be invited"
it shows extremely social tastes. By the
way, what is his name, Lottie?"
"Hamilton Brown"
''Why, that was the ordinary cognomen
of that very ordinary individual-our late
guest" Rita remarks.
eyes; but his name was King Brown. A
sorry king he was! He had the most as.
surance of any one ever met. The idea
of his staying on as he did in the very face
of our uuconcealed scorn and dislike"
Rita smiles languidlY.
''Yes, l hardly think he could have been
mistaken upon that score. However, !
must say he didn't seem to mind it much. -
"Oh, he had that sly little Hope to con-
sole him." Mrs. Walbridge concludes, sa-
tirically.
1t is an agreeable task to woman OF
Mrs. Walbridges calibre to have the order
ing and arranging carte blanche, for a grand
social event, and she entered into the pre-
parations with zest.
The evening arrives, and at the appoint
ed hour the guests begin to assemble from
far and near,
A pleasant surprise awaits them; for. as
they enter the spacious dra wing room they
f1nd that they have been called together moi
alone to welcome the new owner of Ingle.
side, but to be made acquainted with his
young bride.
The Walbridges come late. Rita's dark
beauty shows to its best advantage 10 hel
rich toilet of cardinal velvet but it dwindies
in to iusignifcance as she stands-for oGes
in her life, go completely surprised, that
her usual self possession entirely deserts
heretofore the exquisite purity and gracs
of the fairy-like form that, arraye1 in &
BRIDES snowy satin and orange blossoms
stands by her husbands eide to receive the
advancing guests. In the bride Rita re.
cngnizes the girl she has scorned and iniar.
ed, and in the husband-Iuglesids's heii--
the stranger toward whom her contempt
and hauteur have been 80 recently and pal
pably evinced.
If a lightning fash from dark eyes coulc
wound, Hope would need to fear. Astrug
gle, and Rita is herself once more, and howl
ing, she murmurs the formula etiquette re
quires, and moves On, and so, out forever O
1 s.aI1 al. l.
ines life will henceforth be passed.
Seldom is it that upon tho board of life
selfshuess and meroenariness are check
mated so promptly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton King Brown livet
long 10 bless the day that made them
known to each other, and the impulse that
upon finding that his old friend remember
ed and welcomed him only as such, with
out the slightest suspicion of the true caus
eff his unexpected appearance, had prompt
ed King to remain for a period iacognita.