Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-05-13
THE STORY TELLER.
T A lie ELLIN

-. w hlSpcring tongues
-tuafa 10 Can poison truth" : 'i '' 'i'i-i'
5 s What is the matter with you tonight
Anna! Who's been laying a straw in you
pathp p aoilo-l s'Js7.aa p. sill rs.eH
,zd'fwish it was only straw answered Mrs
Maxwell, taking up her husbands half playful
remark. tBut it's worse than that-a fore
boding.' f.-..l., $50 r-e,taa.,ie i--s. =
ss' Surely, Anna, you could not dwell on q
silly fancy as long as you have been musine
over that one fashion plate-though ladies gen
orally are supposed to find food for thought ii
those, enchanted pages. But, happened tc
know that you have your cloak and bonnet, and
all that sort of thing
well, if you must have itA-the truth is
this. One of these faces has strong resem-
blance to Susie Lane, and that recalled to me
her visit this afternoon -and unfortunately Mrs.
Arnot came in.' .'7s 200 'is'i .,'iH ts. ,
- How unfortunately
Why, she's been wishing to make her ac-
quaintance ever since we have been so inti-
mate. vg be-" i19fs1 s '7 U.
% HluCn the Detler, SHouiu thihh.
. Dear Harry-Mrs. Arnot always empha-
sized the adjective when she wished to be par
ticularly UNDERSTOOD you don't seem to see
that did not wish them to meet
i hope you are not selfish, Anna, said Mr..
Maxwell, gravely. / thought you were anx-
ious Mrs. Arnot should go into society now
that she has laid aside her mourning. think
it would be best for her myself ms -....5
Mrs. Maxwell was quiet for a moment, and
then said-'I am not bit jealous, Harry -
you know it's not at all my nature-and
really can't say why it is, but dread some
thing unpleasant. Perhaps am vexed a little
at the eagerness with which she offered to i'm
prove the opportunity. Susie, mean. AL
most before ANGELA was seated, she said = l
am SO happy to meet you at last, Mrs. Arnot.
! have heard 50 much of you from Mrs. Max
WE'LL And, then, the moment it could de-
Gently be said-she begged on the strength Of
her intimacy with me, that Mrs. Arnot would
consider her an acquaintance .r. ss.rr5g
We'll, isn't that the way you ladies pro-
ceedl' R,at nd -t" - 7tI o..
why, as Mrs. Arnot was comparatively a
stranger in the city, it was right enough for
Susie to make the first advances. Angela had
nothing left but to offer her TO call, or but to
uffer to go with her some day. Yon need not
shake your. head, Harry. l am not coveting
to keep Mrs. Arnot all TO myself l t" -'l
a The truth was, though Mrs. Maxwell did
not for moment imagine she was trying to de-
ceive her husband, she did not like TO confess
TO him, that she considered Miss Susie Lane an
unsafe acquaintance to introduce. MIR. Max
well had not liked their own.intimacy at first,
and she was afraid of reviving old prejudices,
which she had striven so zealously to conquer.
She was fascinated by Miss Lanes good ma
tured, sprightly conversation. She had then
but few intimate acquaintances in the city, and
enjoyed the chauy lively visits Miss Lane was
lavish Of She felt quite lost if week passed
without one Of them. Susie was SO amusing.
Told story capitally, always knew who was
engaged, and who expected to be. What
was worn at the last wedding, and how it hap
pened that the Lawrences and Hathaways did
not speak, A list of bridal presents at any
reception she attended might be relied on as
accurate enough for publication, and if an en-
.gagement was broken off the next time you
saw Miss Lane, you had the reasons in full
Yet there was nothing vulgar, or impertinent
in it all, apparently. Nothing buta good ma
tured wish to make her conversation and socie-
ty agreeable Besides, it was only natural Su-
sic should know everything that was going, on, :
Mrs. Maxwell once had urged with her hus-
band. She had such large circle of acquain
sances, was sought by every one, and with he,
time and income at her own disposal NJ
one would dream of calling Miss Lane an 'olt
maid. but certainly she was au passee, witt
small hands and feet, good teeth, bright eyes
and ever ready smile, to keep her account il
the social current I'd, si s.iu lae 10. ti.
ID No one ever heard her say an absolutely i'll
natured thing-if she mimicked an unfortunat
peculiarity, she was sure to excuse. the yer
defect moment after, in the blandest posi-
ble manner; and, If, after she had gone, yo
felt uncomfortable, and some sensitive poir
burned and smarted, you could not trace bac
the sting, or the precise moment it was re
ceived.
n, Nothing more was said by Mr.. Maxwe
about his wife's pre-occupation, but he notice
that when he arranged the chess board a fe
moments afterwards, her opening moves lacl
ed purpose, and as the game proceeded, sh
grew positively careless. So he very quietl
set away the stand, and offered to read alor
the latest number of the CaAtons, thoughtf
husband that he was; in little time her ey,
light with interest at its clever wItticisms, ar
the cloud passed away. r es a.... g,,a,e
"A close acquaintance of more than , yea
had deepened, the friendship between Mr.
Maxwell and Mrs Arnot, so romantically CO..
aceived, and sadly brought about. They h;
many tastes and pursuits in common, could o
much Of each other from the neighborhood
their dwellings, and almost came to supply Il
place Of sisters to each other. In the not
which oftep bore messages between them. th,
did not write darling Angela. .'--or. IN
rswsetest Anna nor did they kiss at the sire
corners through veils, or, indeed any time III,
met and parted, as many ladies make poi