The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-11-17
AN OLD MAIDS ADVICE.
How Tears Won a Husband for
Maud Oakley.

For two whole years Capt. Jumpison
had been the idol of the spinsters Of
Observation-Disclosures CHEEKY, good
natured and good-looking. his private
means were limited, if they existed at
all, and his pay was insufficient to en-
able him to indulge any of those ex-
pensive tastes which lure young men
from the milder delights of tea and
tennis. He neither hunted in winter
nor played polo in summer; and he
was always ready to dance half the
night az the Bunborough balls. He
really was a very nice man indeed;
every one agreed that he would make
very nice husband for anyone of
the young ladies of marlborough to
TO whom he might finally determine to
offer himself; and for two years he dis
tributed his favors freely, but with al
most absolute impartiality.
There is safety in numbers and the
towards know it," said Miss Grayson,
of the Valley Cottage, to Maud Oakley,
who had been unburdening her soul to
her Miss Grayson was the kindest of
WiCIt NOuuR people =
love affairs were concerned, and Maud
Oakley had known her since she
(Maud, not Miss Grayson) was baby.
towards" said Miss Grayson again
under breath, and Miss Oakley shifted
deprecatingly. She had been talking
TO Miss Grayson for an hour, and had
told her sympathetic listener good
dseA tAat vv~~, An tive ienguatye Of the
vulgar, stale news" Miss Gravson
was quite aware TALL marlborough
might have told herr that Capt Jumpi-
son had quite recently shown dis
tinct preference for the Oakley family.
He diued there whenever he was asked
and had won Gen. Oallley's confidence
by delicately expressing unbounded be-
hefin his stories-not always an easy
task; he had been most attentive to old
Mrs. Oakley during supper time at sew
eral balls, and his visits to the house
for five o'clock tea had not been limit
ed by invitations issued to him or con-
fined to those occasions when Gen. and
Mrs. Oakley were at home; but there
were two Miss Oakleys, and to which
of them Capt Jumpison intended his
attentions to be devoted was a ques-
ton which Bunborough-bythe
would have liked to have answered. 1t
was not strange, however, that the
public were puzzled when Maud Oakley
had had to confess to Miss Grayson
that she had no very distinct idea
whether her sister Geraldine or herself
was preferred by the man to whom she
had unreservedly lost her heart
though she admitted She had her fears.
Geraldine has DR.. Coverdale," said
Maud "She would be quite happy
with him."
Quite So" said Miss Grayson ut
never rains but it pours."
Maud wondered whether it had ever
poured" with suitors in Miss Gray
sons young days, and said nothing.
Cant we make DR.. Coverdale pro
pose to hero" said Miss Grayson.
And Geraldine accept him2" added
Maud doubtfully. Miss Grayson was a
misunderstanding old lady, but even
she seemed to consider the project inn
practicable.
Did you ever try boohoo with any
one?" said Miss Grayson.
Nv matt SAID Maud.
"Boohoo, boohoo, boohoo," cried
Miss Grayson, excitedly; and an elder
ly lady who had selected the precise
moment to be announced by Miss Gray
sons pretty little parlor maid very
nearly turned and fed. She came in,
however, and her impression that Miss
Grayson had gone demented was con-
firmed by the apparently imbecile
laughter with which her greeting was
received
Maud rose to leave, and Miss Gray
son, who had recovered her presence OF
mind sufficiently to inquire after her
new visitors husband the had been
dead seven years., accompanied her to
the front door.
Don't You understand, You silly
child?" she said, kissing her affection
ately on the doorstep Cry, cry, cry
your eyes ont; not one of the wretches
in bakers dozen OF them can stand
tears" And the kind old lady returned
70 pacify a justly indignant widow;
while Miss Oakley walked home, with
light breaking slowly in on her as
sne pondcred the somewhat enigmatical
advice She had received
Meanwhile Capt Jumpisou was
striding down the flinty road leading
from the barracks TO marlborough as
II he trod on air. he scarcely knew