Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-11-22
AN OLD MAIDS ADVICE.

6unDOrOuRn-Oy-t the-Sea. CneerY, good
natured and good looking, his private
means were limited, If they existed at all,
and his pay was insufficient to enable
him to indulge any of those expensive
tastes which lure young men froms 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 at the Bunborough
balls. He really was a very nice man
indeed; every one agreed that he would
make very nice husband for any one OF
the young ladies of Bunborough to whom
he might finally determine to offer him
self; and for two years he distributed his
favors freely but with almost absolute
impartiality. 5
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 elderly
ladies where young peoples love affairs
were concerned, and Maud Oakley had
known her since she (Maud. not Miss
Grayson) was baby. 'tCowards 4"
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 SYM
pathetic listener good deal that was,
In the language of the vulgar, " stale
news" Miss Grayson was quite
aware (all Bunborough might have
told herr. that Capt. Jumpison had
quite recently shown distinct prefer
ence for the Oakley family. He
dined there whenever he was asked, and
| Lo1 NOl, I1Yy
delicately expressing unbounded 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
o'clock tea had not been limited by inYi-
tatons issued to him or confined 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 question which Bunbor,
ough-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 man to
whom she had unreAsryedly lost her
heart, though she admitted she had her
fears.
Geraldine has DR.. Coverdale," said
Maud. "She would be quite happy
with him. r,
"Quite so,' said Miss Grayson. "It
never rains but it pours.
Maud wondered whether it had ever
! poured with suitors in Miss Grayson' g
young days, and said nothing.
Cant we make DR.. Coverdale pro-
pose to herr said Miss Grayson.
And Geraldine accept him2" added
Maud doubtfully. Miss Grayson was a
determined looking old lady, but even
she seemed to consider the project i'm
practicable.
Did you ever try boohoo with any
oneP" said Miss Grayson.
"WhatT' said Maud.
Boohoo, boohoo, boohoo," cried
Miss Grayson excitedly; and an elderly
lady who had selected that precise mo.
mentto be announced by Miss Grayson' 8
pretty little parlor maid turned and fed.
She came in, however; and her impress
sion that Miss Grayson had gone de-
mented was confirmed by the apparent
ly 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
| TORS husband Che had been dead seven
years., accompanied her to the front
door.
Don't you understand, you silly
child7" she said, kissing her affectionate.
Iy on the doorstep. g Cry. cry. cry
your eyes out. not one of the wretchea
In bakers dozen of them can stand
tears. - And the kind old lady returned
to pacify a justly indignant widow
while Miss Oakley walked home. with q
| light breaking slowly in on her, as she
pondered the somewhat enig1matical ad
vice she had received ,-tna4
Meanwhile Capt. Jumpison was strid
ing down the .finty road leading from
the barracks to Bunborough as If he trod
on air. BE scarcely knew how he had
transferred himself from uniform tc
his newest mutt :, but between hi
beating heart and the tweed coat which
formed its !outermost covering, he could
feel the communication which had that
afternoon altered the course of hi
career forever. On her Majesty,s ser
vice it had arrived; and :" ON hen
Majesty's service" it informed him hi
? was expected to proceed forthwith to 4
J somewhat distant portion of her domin
ions, where. in return for salary e1
ceeding his widest dreams. he was tc
), perform duties as to which he still felt
, Vague. But they probably included the
, dispensation of substantial justice with
J lavish hand to sundry swarthy fellow.
: subjects, and the instruction of the
male portion of them in the use .ol
obsolete weapons and the evolutions OF
an improved drill.
The cli1nate-vell, every rose has ita
I: thorn and .Goyernmene House." and
his society would reconcile Geraldinl
Oakley to bursting Thermometer and {
diet Of quinine. She could have hen
, sister to stay with her If she felt lonely
} he was quite fond of Maud, though, O
J course, she did not care for him; did shi
not always retire when he came to tea
and leave him alone with her eide
sister. and always refuse to give hin
more than four dances in one evening
But Geraldine was different. DIR
] Coyerdale would do very well for Maud