The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-01-04
A W0MAN'S ADVICE.

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 were limited, If they existed at
all. and his pay was insufficient TO en-
able him 10 indulge any Of those ex-
pensiye tastes which lure young men
from the milder delights Of tea and
tennis. He neither hunted in winter
nor PLAYED polo in summer, and be was
always ready to dance half the night at
the Bunborough balls. He really was
very nice man indeed, every one agreed
that he would make a very nice husband
for any one Of the young ladies Of Bun
borough 10 whom he might finally de-
ter1nine TO offer himself, and for two
years he distributed his favOrs freely,
hut with almost absolute impartiality.
There is safety IN numbers and the
cowards know 1t, said Miss GraysOn, Of
the Valley cottage, 10 Maud Oakley,
who had been unburdening her soul 70
her. Miss GTayson was the kindest Of
elderly ladies where young peoples love
affairs were concerned. and Maud Oak
ley had known her since she Maud, not
Miss Gravs0n) was baby. ''COwsrdsf'
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 sympa-
thetc listener a good deal that was, IL
the language Of the vulgar, ''stale
news
Miss Grays0n was quite aware (all
Bunb0rough might have told herr that
Captain Jumpisou had quite recently
shown a distinct preference for the Oak
ley family. lie dined there whenever
he was asked and had t-on General Oak
ley's confidence by delicatcly expressing
unbounGe.i jeiicf IN his stories-not al
ways an easy task; he had been most at
tontive to old Mrs. Oakley during sup
per time at several balls, and his visits
10 the house for ) O'Clock tea had not
l,een limited by invitations issued to
him or confined 10 those occasions when
General and Mrs. Oakley 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 BunbOroagh-by-the-
Sea would have liked to have answered.
II 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 pre-
ferred by the man to whom she had un-
reservedly lost her heart, though she ad-
mitted she had her fears.
Geraldine has DR.. Coverdale," ;" said
Maud. "She would be quite happy
with him"
Quite so" said Miss Grayson. 1T
never rains but 1t pours."
Maud wondered whether it had ever
poured" with suitors in Miss Gray
sons young days and said nothing.
Cant we make DR.. C0vordale pro-
pose to herr said Miss Grays0n.
''And Geraldine accept HIM added
Maud doubtfGlly Miss Grayson was
determined looking old LADY, but even
she seemed 10 consider the project in
practicable
did you ever trE booloo with any
one said Miss Grayson.
What said Maud.
'.BoOho0, bOoh00, bOohoo.- cried Miss
Grayson excite,ily, and an elderly lady
who lad selected the precise moment to
he announced 10y Miss Grayson's pretty
little parlor maid very nearly turned
and fled. She came in, however, and
her impression that Hiss Grayson had
gone demented was confirmed bv TIE
apparently imbecile laughter with which
her greeting was received.
Maud rose 10 leave. and Miss Gravson.
who had recovered her presence Of mind
iuaicieDtly To inquire after her new Wis
TORS husband (he Lad been dead seven
years), accompanied her TO the front
s0or.
Don't you understand, you silly
siiild:7 she said. kissing Eer affectionate-
l. On the doorstep. Cry, cry. cry your
syes ont; not one Of the wretches in
bakers dozen Of them can stand tears
And the kind old lady returned topacifv
2 justly indignant widow. while MIS-
Oakley walked home with HIGHT break
ng slowly in Ca her as she pondered the
somewhat enislnatical advice she had
received
Meanwhile Captain Jnmlison was
striding down the finty road leading
from the barracks to Bunborongh as il |
ae trod on air. He scarcely knew how
ae had transferred himself from uniform !
% ms newest mufsi. but between his |
ocating heart an1 tie tweed coat which |
iorlned its outermust covering he could |
ieel the communication which had that |
u.cTnOon altered thc course u his carec.
o-ever. ''On her niaiesn-'s serx5csr !.
had arrived, and ''On her maiesty's sery-
ice It informed hun he WAS expected 10 /
proceed forthwith TO a sOInewIlat distant
portion Of her doniui0us. where. IL re-
iura for q salary exceeding his widest
dreams, he was 10 perform duties as TO
which he still felt vague. But they
probably included the dispensation OF |
substantial justice with lavish hand to
tuil'iIy swarthy fellow subjects, and the
Instruction Of the male portion Of them
Il the Use OF obsolete weapons and the
cvoiutions Of an improved drill.
The climate-weIl. every rsse has is
thorn, and Government House and his
society would reconcile Geraldine Oak
Iey 70 a bursting thermometer and a diet
Of quinine. She could have her sister 10
say with her If she felt lonely. He was
quite fond Of Maud, though Of course
she did not care for him. Did size nor al
ways retire when he came 10 tea and
leave him alone with her elder sister. and
always refuse 10 give him more than
Tour dances IN one evening: But Ger
ai4lne was different. DR.. Coverdale
would do very wei for Maud when
S1es'iiolne was gone. There she was
Maud, not GerSlGine-standing ON the
top step waiting for him as he almost
ran up the garden walk.
How do you dosr she said sbvlv as
She nshered him into the drawing room
Il VIII 90 and tel Geraldine you are
here
he was delighted. Could ANYTHING
have been more fhoughtfuis But. od6Iv
enough, she did not 90. She sat down
'n The contrary, and began lingering a
chair hack nervousiy.
stopped.
Hang 1T he thought. 4 meant to {
Ell Oeraldins the news first, but there's
70 harm IN beginning with her.
20 he began. pulling ont his official !
eiter 10 show her.
have come, Miss Oakley, to tell
on some EeNs and ssz -rnn y. - /,