Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-11-17
AN OLD MAIDS ADVICE.
How Tears Won a Husband for
Maud Oakley.

How Tears Won a Husband for
Maud Oakley.
For two whole years Capt. Jumpison
had been the idol of the spinsters of
Bunborough-b blythe Sea. 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 a. the marlborough 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
10 whom he might finally determine to
offer himself; and for two years he dis
sributed his favors freely, but with al
'aost absolute impartiality.
There is safety in nun bers 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 vas the l1indest of
elderly ladies where young peoples
love affairs were concerned, and Maud
Oakley had known her since she
Maud, not Miss Grayson) was IL baby.
"Cowards!' said Miss Grayson again
under breath, and Miss Oakley shifted
deprecatiDgly. She had been talking
to Miss GraysOn for an hour, and had
told her sympathetic listener good
deal that was, in the language of the
vulgar, ''stale news" Miss Grayson
was quite aware (all marlborough
might have told herr that Capt Jumpi-
son had quite recently shown dis
tlnct preference for the Oakley family.
He dined there whenever he was asked
and had Won Gen. Oakley's confidence
By delicately expressing unbounded be-
lief in his stories-uot 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 OakIeys, and to which
of them Capt. Jumpison intended his
attentions TO be devoted was ques-
ton which Bunborough- 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 preferred by the nian to whom she
had unreservedly lost her heart,
though she admitted she had her fears.
''Geraldine has DR.. Coverdale," said
Maud. She would he 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 her?' said Miss Grayson.
And Geraldine accept him?" added
Maud doubtfuly. Miss Grayson was a
MISUNDERSTANDING old lady, but even
she seemed to consider the project im-
practical BILE.
Ibid you ever try boohoo with any
one?" said Miss Grayson.
"What?" said Maud.
''Booboo. 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 mbecile
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 paeify justly indignant widow;
while Miss Oakley walked home, with
light breaking slowly in on her as
she pondered the somewhat enigmatical
ad-ice she had received
Meanwhile Capt. Jumpison was
s.riding down the hinty road leading
from the barracks to Bunborough as
it he trod, on air. He scarcely knew
how he had transferred him
self from, uniform to his new
est multi; but between his beating
heart and the tweed coat which formed
its outermost covering he could feel the
communication which had that after
noon altered the course of his career
forever. ''On her majesty's service it
had arrived, and ION her maiesty's
service it informed him he was ex-
pected 20 proceed forthwith to some
what distant portion of her dominions,
where, in return for salary exceeding
bis widest dreams, he was to perform
duties as to which he still felt vague.
But they probably included the dispen-
sation OF substantial justice with Law
lsfaAand to sundry swarthy FELLOWSHIP
jects and the instruction of the male
portion of them in the use of obsolete
weapons and the evolutions of an i'm.
proved drill.
The climate-wcll, every rose has its
thorn, and Government House and his
!: ociety would reconcile Geraldine Oak
ley to a bursting thermometer and
diet OF quinine. She could have her
sister to stay with her if she felt lone
~; no was quite fond OF Maud, though I,
OF course she did not care for him; did
sho not always retire when he came to |
ten, and leave HIM alone, wifi, hc,. elf1c, |