Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-12-29
A W0MAN'S ADVICE.

For two whole years Captain JUmpi-
son had been the idol Of the spinsters Of
Bunborough-by-the-Sea. CHEEKY, good
natured and good looking. his private
means We're linn Il they existed at
all, and his pay was insufficient to en-
able him to indulge any Of those OK
pensive tastes which lure young men
from the milder delights Of tea and
tennis. He neither hunted i'll winter
nor played polo IN summer. and he was
always ready To dance half tho night lit
the BunboroHgh balls He really was a
very nice man indeed, every one agreed
that lie wonld make a very nice husband
for any one Of the young ladies Of Bun
borough to whom he might finally de-
ternine to offer himself, and for two
years he distributed his favors freely,
bnt with almost absolute impartiality.
'sThere is safety III 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
elderly ladies where young peoples love
affairs were concerned, and Maud Oak
ley had known her since she (Maul. not
Miss Graysont WAS d baby. ~Cowards!
said Miss Grayson again under breath,
and Miss Oakley shifted deprecatingly.
She Lad been talking 10 Miss Grayson
for an hour, and had told her synlpa-
thetic listener a good deal that was, In
the language OF the vulgar, '.stale
news"
Miss Grayson was quite aware Gall
Bunborough might have told herr that
Captain Jumpison had quite recently
shown 4 distinct preference for tie Oak
ley family He dined there whenever
he was asked and lad won General Csalz-
ley's confidence by aelieately expressing
unbounded belief IL his stories-not al
ways an easy task; ae had been most af-
tentiye to old Mrs Oakley during sup
per time at several balls, and his visits
to the house for o'clock tea had not
been limited by invitations issued TO
him or confined to those occasions when
General and Mrs. Oalfley were at home;
but there were two Miss Oakleys, and
to which of them Captain Jumpison in
tended his attentions TO be devoted was
a question which Bunborough-by-t
Sea would have liked TO have answered.
1t was not strange, however, that the
public We're 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 pre-
ferred by the man to whom She had I'M
reservedly lost her heart, though she adj
nlitted she had her fears.
'tGeraldine has Dr. Coverdale," /" said
Maud. "She would be quite happy
with him"
"Quite SO, said Miss Grayson. lit
never rains but it pours.p
Maud wondered whether it had even
s'poured" with suitors III Miss Gray
sons young days and said nothing.
Cant we make Dr. Coyerdale pro-
pose to her?7 said Miss Grayson.
sAnd Geraldine accept hims" added
Maud doubtfully. Miss Grayson was
determined looking old lady, but even
she seemed to consider lie project i'm
practicable.
ibid you ever Try boohoo with any
one.H said Miss Grayson.
"Whatgg said Maud.
"Boohoo, boohoo, boohoolr cried hiss
Grayson excitedly, and an elderly lady
who had selected the precise moment ID
be announced hy Miss Grayson's pretty
little parlor maid very nearly turned
and fed. She came in, however, and
her impression that Miss Grayson had
gone demented was confirmed by the
apparently imbecile laughter with which
her greeting was received.
Maud rose to leave, and Miss Grayson,
who had recovered her presence of mind
sufficiently to inquire after her new Wis
itor's husband (he had been dead seven
years., accompanied her to the front
door.
Don't you understand, you silly
child:n she said, kissing her affectionate-
~ on the doorstep. Cry, cry, cry you1
eyes out; not one of the wretches in a
bakers dozen Of them can stand tears. I
And the kind old lady returned to pacify
justly indignant widow, while Miss
Oakley walked home with a Light break
ing slowly III On her as she pondered the
somewhat enigmatical advice she had
received.
Meanwhile Captain Jumpison was
striding down the fiinty road leading
from the barracks TO Bunborough as ii
he trod on air. lie scarcely knew how
he had transferred himself FROM uniform
to his newest multi, but between lis
beating heart and the tweed coat which
formed its outermost covering he could
feel the communication which had that
afternoon altered the course of his career
forever. son hsr maajestys service il
had arrived, and ION her naiesty's sery
ice" it informed him lie was expected Il
proceed forthwith TO a somewhat distanN
portion of her dominions, where, Id re
turn for a salary exceeding his wildes1
dreams, he was to perform duties as K
which he still felt vague. But the5
probably included the dispensation 81
substantial justice with lavish hand K
snndry swarthy fellow subjects. antl thc
instruction Of the male portion Of thcn
III the use Of obsolete weapons and tils
evolutions Of an improved drill.
The climate well, every rose has it.
thorn, and ttovernmcnt House and Ih
society would reconcile Geraldine Oak
ley to bursting Thermometer and 4 die
Of quinine. She could have her sister x
o%sxr 49, ", t,t,,. 49, FrIf 4@.SI-- TT