Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-01-06
Miss Grayson's Advice.

:
ison had been the idol of the spinsters
of Bunborough- -by-the-Sea. CHEEKY,
good-natured and good looking, his
private means were limited, II they
existed at all, and his pay was insult
fcient to enable him to indulge any
OF those expensive 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 at the Bunborough
balls. He really was very nice man
indeed; every one agreed that he
would make very nice husband for
any ole Of the young ladies OF Bun
borough to whom he might finally de
termine to offer himself; and for two
wears he distributed his favors freel y,
but with absolute impartiality
There is safety in numbers and the
coward knows it, said Miss Grayson,
of the Valley Cottage, to Maud Oak
ley, who had been unbosoming 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 Oakley, not Miss
Grayson) was a baby. "Cowards y
said Miss Grayson again under her
breath, and Miss Oakley shifted dep
recatingly. 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 'irayson
was quite aware Gall Bunborough
might have told herr that Captain
Jumpison had quite recently shown
distinct preference for the Oakley
family. lie dined there whenever he
was asked and had won General Oak
ley's confidence by delicately express
ing 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 for5 o'clock
tea had not been limited by invita-
tions issued to him or confined to
those occasions when General and
Mrs Oakley were at home; but there
were two Miss Oakleys, and TO which
of them Captain Jumpison intended
his attentions to be devoted was a
question which Bunborough- blythe
Sea would liked to have answered. 1t
was not strange, however, that the
public was puzzled when Maud Oak
lev had had to confess to Miss Gray
son that she had no very distinct idea
whether her sister Geraldine or her
self was preferred by the man tC
whom she had unreservedly lost her
heart, though she admitted she had
her fears.
Geraldine has DR.. Coverdale, said
Maud. "She would be quite happy
with him"
quite so, said Miss Grayson. ut
never rains but it pours.
Maud had wondered whether it had
ever poured with suitors i'll Miss
Grayson's young days, and said moth
ing.
Cant we make DR.. CoverdaIe pro
nose to her p said Miss Grayson.
And Geraldine accept him y added
Maud doubtfuIly. Miss Grayson was
a determined looking old lady, but
even she seemed to consider the pro-
ject impracticable.
Did YOU ever try boohoo with any
one - said Miss Grayson.
What said Maud.
"Boohoo, boohoo, boohoo,' cried
Miss Grayson, excitedly; and an ell
derly lady who had selected the pre-
else moment 10 be announced by Miss
Graysons pretty little parlor maid
very nearly turned and fled. She
came in. however, and her impre ssion
that Miss Grayson had gone dem ent-
ed was confirmed by the apparently
imbecile laughter with which her
greeting was received.
Maud rose TO leave and Miss Gray'
ca, wbo bad recovered her presence
of mind sufficiently to inquire after
her new visitors husband (he had
been dead seven years, accompanied
her to the front door.
Don't you understand, you silly
child ~ she said, kissing he7 atfec-
tionately, on the doorstep. Cry, cry
cry your eyes out; not one of the
wretches in a bakers dozen OF then
can stand tears" And the kind old
lady returned to pacify justly In
dignant widow; while Miss Oakley
walked home, with light breaking
SLOWLY in on her as she ponderrd th'
somewhat enigmatical advice she haC
received.
Meanwhile Captain JuInpison wa
striding down the flinty road leadini
from the barracks TO Bunborough a
IL he trod on air. He scarcely knew
how he bad transferred himself from
Uniform to his newest mufti but be