Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-07-26
WANTBD--AN HEIRESS
BY EMMA A. HOPPER.

"Heres a story for your said Mrs.
Gerry to literary friend, seated in her
handsome parlor.
Her jolly, matronly face broadened
with smiles at an apparently diverting
recolle ction.
"You wouldn't credit the incident il
you read it; hut as was an eye wit
ness, can vouch for it. You'll be paid
for listening; it's really too good
81 took what l called a vacation af
ter we got done with Asbury Park and
Saratoga last summer. Mr. Gerry was
going west on a two weeks business
trip, and said |:
" I've worked hard this summer. and
Pm going to take a rest I've talked
amiably to five hundred thousand pco-
pie haven't cared for; I've rowcd and
sailed all summer, though it makes me
sick, and bathed reigiously, when
hate it.. I've chaperoncd a million girls
to doings of all sorts, and even succeed
ed in getting one or two engagcd-and
I've earned period of peace. I'm GO
ing TO spend tho two weeks of your
absence, Mr.. Gerry, in woodland re-
treat.
"Well, it wasn't that precisely, but it
was passablo. | went to a little hotel
IN the Catskills. found too many pco
pie there to suit me, though. O.d Col
one Marlow came the next day--an en-.
tomological old crank, craSisy his pary
don; he carries a trunkful of dried
beetles and things about with him; and
Harry Fosdick was there with his friend
Mr.. Pierson.
II hal met Fosdick before, and abom-
mated him for coneeited sprig and an
heiress hunter Mr. Picrson was a lank
young creature, with an inane smile and
a middle parting to his hair.
"They were two of kind, and most
congenial, till the new wa tress burst
upon the scene. II the new waitress
didn't stir things up!
"Polly, her name was. The other
girls were the regulation ort, imported
from the civ, l imagine, frizzcd HAIR,
r,d jerseys, pert ways-you know them,
"Polly was an oasis in the desert.
Polly wasn't exactly pretty, but she was
as fresh and blooming as rose, as neat
as wax, and as bright as a dollar.
fairly nabbed her for my table, and kept
her; and we got to be very good friend
Polly and l.
"Old Colonel Marlow was at my
table. He mooned at me three times a
day through his spectacles, and talked
moths and squitoes to me till
felt like one of his pin-stuck speci-
mems.
"But after Polly came the colonel
bent the light of his glasses on her with
vivid interest thought at first that
the old absurdity was in love with her.
'But that wasn't it. He followed me
out to the piazza one day; he looked
excited.
'''Nlrs. Gerry, said he, 4 have made
a remarkable discovery-extrlordinary !
Do you know the identity Of the young
woman who serves at our tablet
"I know she lives down the road
somewhere, sud I, in viue-clld cot
tage, probably, ard that the propri etor
of the hotel, having bought butter and
eggs from her father, male boli to ask
Polly to fill the vacancy left by the sui
den departure of a waitress, and that
Polly being obliglng and not too prou
10 turn an honest penny, came along
"The colonel looked sly.
"'That's what the landlord has given
out, said he. The story is a fabrica-
tion. Listen, Mrs Gerryl That young
woman is Miss Mary-or Polly, as she is
called by intimates-Miss Polly Gard
ner. am an old friend of her grand
fathers, and have saen her frequently.
You have heard of herr She is heiress
to half a million
81 had heard of her. She was a
friend of the Lemoynes, and the Ls-
moynes are friends of mine. l laughed
a full minute.
"'The last heard of Miss Gardner,
said l, she was in Europe. 1 don't
think she's returned
THAT Young peraon-is Miss Pa3ly
Gardner, said the colonel, peremptori
ly. recognized her at glance-at
a glance, Mrs. Gerry
"'You are short sighted, colonel
ventured, and perhaps little absent
minded
Possibly, Mrs. Gerry said the
colonel with dignity, the fact remains
that recognize Miss Gardner beyond
doubt, strange though tho fact may
SEEM