The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-12-22

MISS GRAYSOH'S ADVICE.


son had been the idol of the spinsCers
Of Observation-Disclosures Cheerv,
good-natured and good-Iooking, his
private means were limited. if they
existed at all, and his pay was insult
ficient 10 enable him to indulge il any
Of those expensive tastes which lure
young men from the miIdcr 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 at the Bunborough balls. He
really was a very nice man indeed;
every one agreed that he would make
q very nice husband for any one Of the
young ladies of Bunborough TO whom
he might finally determine to offer
himself; and for two years lie distrib-
utcd his favOrs freely, but with abs0-
lutte iinpartiality.
There is safety in numbers and the
towards know it, said Miss Grayson, of
the Valley Cottage, to Maud Oakley,
who had been uubOsoming her soul to
her. Miss Grayson was the kindest of
elderly ladies where young peoples
love affairs were concerned, and Maud
Oakley had known her since she
N-itstlAt- litl -fIi79 " 9Oli W dS - DdbN.
"CoWards," said Miss GraysOn again
under her breath, and Miss Oakley
shifted deprccatingly. She had been
talking to Miss Grayson for hour
and had told her sympathetic listener
Il good deal that was in the language
of the vulgar, stale news" Miss
Grayson was quite aware Gall Bun
borough might have told herr that
Capt. Jumpison had quite recently
shown a distinct preference for the
Oakley family. He dined there when
ever he was asked and had won Gen
erai oakley's confidence by delicately
expressing uuUounded belief in his
stories not always an easy task; he
had been most attentive to old Mrs.
Oakley during supper time at several
balls, and his visits to the house for 5
o'clock tea had not been limited by in
vitations issued to him or confined to
those occasions when General and
Mrs. Oakley were at home; but there
were two Miss Oakleys, and 10 which
Of them Captain Jumpison intended
his attentions To be devoted was a
question which Bunborough-by-t
Sea would have liked to have answer
ed. 1t was not strange, however, that
the public were puzzled when Maud
Oakley had had to confess to Miss
Graysou that she had no very distinct
idea whether her sister Geraldine or
herself was preferred by the man to
whom she had unreseryedly lost her
heart. though she admitted she had
her fears.
"Gcraldinc has Dir. Coyerdale," said
Maud. she would be quite happy
with HIM"
"Qutc so, said Miss Grayson. ut
never rains but it pours."
Maud had wondered if it had ever
poured" with suitors in Miss Gray
sons young days, and said nothing.
Can't we make DR.. Covcrdale pro-
pose to her?' said Miss Grayson.
And Geraldine accept him?" added
Maud doubtfuIly. Miss Grayson was
3 determined-looking lady, but even
She seemed to consider the project i'm
practicable
Did you ever try boohoo with any
one?7 SAID Miss Grayson.
wv What?" said Maud.
"Boohoo. boohoo. boohoo." cried
Miss Grayson eXciteGiy; and an elderly
lady who had selected the precise mo-
ment to be announced by Miss Gray
sons pretty little parlor maid very
nearly turned and fled. She came in,
however, and her impression that Miss
Gyayson had gone dcmented was con-
iirmed 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 Che 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 out, not one of the wretches
in bakers dozen Of them can stand
tears" And the kind old lady returned
to pacify justly indignant widow;
while Miss Oakley walked home, with a
light breaking slowly on her as she
| poudered the somewhat enigmatical
advice she had received.
Meanwhile Captain Jumpison was
striding down the tiinty road leading
/ from the barracks to Bunborough as il
/ he trod on air. He scarcely knew how
he had transferred himself from uni
form to his newest multi; but between
his beating heart and the tweed coat
which formed his outermost covering
he could feed the communication
which had that afternoon altered the
course OF his career forever.
"On her majesty's service" it-had ar
rived; and "on her majesty's service"
it informed him he was expected tc
proceed forthwith to n somewhat dis
tant portion of her dominions. where,
in return for 4 salary exceeding his
widest dreams. he was to perform du-
ties as to which he still felt vague.
But they probably included the dis.
pensation of substantial Justice with
lavish hand to sundry swarthy fellow
subjects and the instruction of The