Middletown transcript., 1893-09-16
"Aud candies7n

swell, said Winny, pensively con
templating gigantic sugar almond
: "I'll think of it,"
Eight years passed away-eigh
years of sunshine and blossoming, ant
during all that time I never went nea
Winny. Letters innumerable wer'
exchanged between us-gay, friendl!
letters-but l sought no personal in
terview.
tried to be satisfied with Madam
Delarue's monthly reports of progress
and, as saw my bachelor friends one
by one engulfed in the pool of matri'
mony, like withered leaves drifting
into hurried forest stream, consoled
myself with thinking of the beautiful
young wife with whom would aston.
ish them, one of these daysl
"Here's letter for you, Jim," said
one of my cronies, bursting into my
room, where sat alone. Il met the
messenger on the stairs, and riaed him
of his burden"
He tossed it into my lap, and sat
down to enjoy his cigar, while eagerly
tore open the perfumed little missive
sealed with the crest of Madam Del
arue.
"Why, what's the matter?" ex-
claimed my companion, as l sprang up
pale and agitated, scarce knowing
whittier to turn.
"The matterl Why, some con-
founded young collegian or other has
been making love to my Winny-and
she wants to marry him-and Madam
has just discovered the affairs du occur,
as she calls it-hang her French
phrasesl''
''And you ale going on to give the
young folks your blessingp"
my blessing-no, | should rather
think not. I'm going to give the boy
a good horsewhipping and place Winny
where she will forget himl"
1t was nearly noon when drew up
my horses in front of the iron gates to
Madam Delarue's seminary.
I was kept waiting in the parlor con-
siderably longer than 1 liked, after
having sent up my card to "Miss
Winny Grey" 1.-THE name had sell
ected for her), particularly as l was
conscious of good deal of tittering in
the hall, and several pairs Of bright
eyes regarded me from the cracks in
the half-open door.
"Did you wish to see me, sir?'
1 turned. completely astounded.
There stood a tall, lank, lathy sort of
girl with red curls-not auburn, not
golden, but a carroty, unmistakable
red-weak brown eyes and freckles.
fare you Winny?" l exclaimed.
She nodded bashfully, murmuring
something about my having sent for
!,er.
Alas! What an overthrow 10 the
vision of eight years!
l asked her few questions about
her stndies, counseled her 20 ''be
good GIRL" and "mind her music"
and gracefully took leavel
In the hall l met Madam Delarue,
all in f1utter.
''Are you going already, Mr.. RiversP
Pray what am going to do about this
naughty dear child?"
70, well, Madam" quoth care
lessly, "I'm not the one to interfere with
the happiness of young people. Pray
make all inquiries into the respectfully
Of this young mani
"Most respectable, SIR" interrupted
Madam, ''of a most wealthy and re-
spectacle family"
"Of course-well, Pm glad to hear
it. will write my consent to Wlnny
tomorrow, as I did not wish to en-
barra her by any verbal allusion to
this little affair."
And off went, indescribably re-
lieved to think l was not obliged to
marry that girl.
sent cordial letter and set of |
pearls to Winny the next day, and re-
ceived per post an affectionate and
grateful acknowledgement Of the
same.
Then plastered my wounded feel
ings by trip to the far west. After
an absence of three months returned
jovial and heart-whole to
my den in the botell
"Very nice to be home again, was |
my first reflection. ''Now, hope that |
not soul will come near me tonight,
for 1 want to enjoy at least one quiet |
evening in my old quartersl"
Vane hope! were not the knuckles of |
The waiter at that instant on my door?
Did he not bring up the card of some
visitors who had seen my name on the
hotel books and were determined to in
wade my peaceful sanctum.
..Mr. and Mrs. Lansingh Wynd-
hamln
Now Lansingh Wyndham, l knew,
was Virginia's brother-but what did
I care for him? turned the card over
reflectively.
ssShow them upl" at last exclaimed
in desperation.
A moment elapsed-just moment
before was electrified by the loveliest
Young creature I had ever beheld
into the room, and throwing
her white, pearl-wreathed arms about
my neck, with a succession of kisses
that seemed like bunch of Chasselas
grapes, or a cluster of roses, or any