Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
WANTED--AN HEIRESS.
BY EMMA A. HOPPER.

"Here's story for you!" said Mrs. Gerry to literary friend, seated in her handsome parlor.
 Her jolly, atronly face broadened with smiles at an apparently diverting recolle ction.
 ''You wouldn't credit the incident if you cad it.; but as was an eye-wit- ness, can vouch for it. You'll be paid for listening; it's really too goodl
 ''i took what I called a vacation af : ter we got done with Asbury Park and Saratoga last summer. Mir. Gerry was going west on a two weeks business trip, and said l.:
 C I've worked hard this summer, and Pm going to take rest. I've talked amiably to five hundred thousand peo- pie haven't cared for; I've rowed and sailed all summer, though it makes me sick, and bathed religiously, when I hate it; I've chaperoned million girls to doings of all sorts, and even succeed ed in getting one or two engaged-and I've earned a period of peace. I'm go- ing to spend the two weeks of your absence, MT. Gerry, in a woodland re- treat
 "Well, it wasn't that precisely, but it was passable. I went to little hotel in the Catskills. found too many peo- pie there to suit me, though. O.d Col onel Marlow came the next day--an en- tomological old crank, craving his par don; he carries trunkful of dried beetles and things about with him; and Harry Fosdick was there with his friend MT. Pierson.
 'I had met Fosdick before, and abom- mated him for conceited sprig and an heiress hunter. MT. Pierson was lank young creature, with an inane smile and middle parting to his hair.
 "They were two of kind, and most congenial, till the new waitress burst upon the scene. If the new waitress didn't stir things upl
 'sPolly, her name was. The other girls were the regulation sort imported from the ely, l imagine, frizzed hair, red 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. I fairly nabbed her for my table, and kept her; and we got to be very good friends, Polly and I.
 "Old Colonel Harlow was at my table. He mooned at me three times a day through his spectacles, and talked moths and mosquitoes to me till I 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. I 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.
 Mrs. Gerry,' said he, I have made a remarkable discovery-extraordinary Do you know the identity of the young woman who serves at our table2'
 "I know she lives down the road somewhere said I, Sin a vine-clsd cot tage, probably, and that the propri etor of the hotel, having bought butter and ages from her father, made bold to ask Polly to fill the vacancy left by the sud- d,n departure of waitress, and that Polly being obliging and not too proud to turn an honest penny, came along.'
 ''The colonel looked sly.
 "sThat's what the landlord has given out said he. 'The story is fabrica- tion. Listen, Mrs. Gerryl That young woman is Miss Mayor Polly, as she i called by intimates-Miss Polly Gard. ner. am an old friend of her grand l fathers, and have seen her frequently. You have heard of her2 She is heires. to half million | sI had heard of her. She was , friend of the Lemoynes, and the Le. moynes are friends of mine. I laughed g full minute.
 "sThe last heard of Mlss Gardner, said I, she was in Europe. l don think she's returned That young person is Miss Poll Gardner,' said the colonel, peremptori ly. 'rfecognized her at a glance-a glance, Mrs. Gerry
 "'You are short sighted, colonel
 ventured, and perhaps little absent mi,ded.'
 Possibly, Mrs. Gerry said tn colonel with dignity, the fact remain ! that recognize Miss Gardner beyond doubt, strange though the fact ma : seem.'