The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-02
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
Buuborou sea CHEEKY, good
nHtured and gpod-Iookinr. hi, private
means were limited. If they existed at
all, and his pay WIS insufficient 10 en-
able him To indulge any Of those cX-
pensive tastes which lure young men
from the mildcr delights Of tea and
tennis. He neither hunted in winter
nor played polo in summer: aud ne
was always ready To dance half the
night a. the Marlborough balls. He
really was very nice man indeed;
every one agreed that he wouid make
a very nice husband for anyone Of
the young ladies of Bunborough TO
To- whom he might finally deter rhine TO
ofEer himself: and for two years he dis
tributed his favors freely, but with al
most absolute impartiality.
There IL safety in numbers and the
towards know il, =" said Miss Gravson,
of the Valley Cottage, to Maud Oakley,
who had been unburdeninT hcr soul to
her. Miss Grayson vas the kindest of
elderly ladies where young peoples
love affairs were concerned, and Maud
Oakley had known her since she
(Maud. not Miss Grayson) was a baby.
.'Cowards." said Miss Grayson again
under breath, and Miss Oakley shifted
dcprecatingly. She had been talking
TO Miss Graysou for an hour, and had
told her sympathetic listener a good
deal that was, in the language of the
vulgar stale news" Miss Grayson
was quite aware (al Bunborough
might have told herr that Capt Jumpi-
son had quite recently shown dis
tinct preference for the Oakley family.
lie diued there whenever lac wa, asked
and had won Gen Oallley's confidence
by delicatcly expressing unhounded be-
lief in his stories-not always an easy
task: he had been most attentive 10 old
Mrs. Oakley during supper tins at sev-
eral balls. and his visits TO the house
for five o'clock tea had not been limit
ed by invitations issued 10 him or con
fined TO those occasions when Gen. and
Mrs. Oakley We're At home; but there
We're two Miss Oalleys, and TO which
of them Capt. Jumpison intended his
attentions u be devoted was ques-
tion which Bunbprough- -by-the-Sea
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 referred by the man To whom she
had unreservedly lost her heart
though she admitted she had her fears.
.'Geraldine has DIR. Coverdale," said
Maud. She would be quite happy
with him"
Quite So" said Miss Grayson. at
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. Coverdile pro-
pose to her?' said Miss GraySon.
And Geraldine accept him?" added
Maud doubtfully. Miss Grayson was
MISUNDERSTANDING old lady, but even
she seemed to consider the project i'm
practicable.
"Did you ever try boohoo with any
one?" said Miss Grayson-
WHAT" said Maud
''Boohoo. boohoo, boohoo," cried
Miss Grayson, cxcitedly; and an elder
ly lady who had selected the precise
moment to be announced 10y VI iSs 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 alter her
new visitors husband The had been
dead seven years., accompanied her 10
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
to pacify justly indignant widow;
while Miss Oakley walked home, with
a light breaking slowly in on her as
sne pondered the somewhat enigmatical
advice she had received
Meanwhile Capt Jumpison was
striding down the flinty road leading
from the barracks to marlborough as
if he trod on air. He scarcely knew
how he had transferred him
self from uniform to Lis new
est mufti; hut between his beating
heart and the tweed coat which formed
its outcrmost covering he could feel the
communication which had that after
noon altered the course of his career
forever. ''On her majesty's service" II
had arrived, and Ion her malesty's
service il informed him he WIS ex-