The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-10-17

affair secret, but don't feel under any
obligations to her, I'm sure.'
The true version of this affair. which
Mrs. Wilsoniin her excitement, had some
what exaggerated, was this:
MIR. Wilson had owed Mr.. Brown the
sum of two hundred dollars. The debt
had gone unpaid for number of years,
and when, at length, Mr.. Brown wished
TO discharge mortgage which was held
on part Of his farm, he called on Mr.. w.
70 pay the debt, so long due; and as it
was with considerable difficulty that the
latter gentleman could raise the amount
It very naturally created an i'll feeling be.
tween the families. However,the money
was at length, obtained, and, added
with what Mr.. Brown had, hmse H. paid
the mortgage and left a very small sum
How ungratefulr exclaimed Mrs. Beck
with. And hasn't Mr.. Brown paid the
mouey backr ..
~, yes, it was paid, but then she might
De more grateful for the favor
Mrs. Wilson could not fail to see the ero.
neous impression which her version of
the story had made OH Airs. Beckwith.
out she did not feel any inclination to
correct 1t; on the contrary, she seemed
pleased that the last named lady should
understand in that way. The erroneous
'dea might not have been Intentionally
conveyed, but the fault was none the less
on that account.
BY this time, Mrs. Wilson's dinner was
ready, and accordingly that lady and her
interesting visitor sat down to partake of
the homely meal. There were many
things about the house which Mrs. BecE-
with conld not fail TO notice now, if she
had never done so before, that convinced
her that what Mrs. Brown had said in
regard to Mrs. WIS housekeeping was
every word true; still, the insinuation about
leaving her husband to get his own meals
annoyed her to say the least. ...
Il dare say said Mrs. Wilson, that
Madam Brown will be blessing you in tins
way before long. assure You, she spares
nobody who does not come up to her
mark"
Well, DON'T doubt H. replied Mrs.
Beckwith. I'm sure ] was not pleased
with some remarks sue made openly to
re.'
Did sler anxiously intcrrogated Mrs.
Wilson. What did she saw
%, nothing of co sequence, only by
showing me her conduct in opposition to
mine, left me no grounds to doubt her
meaning. I'm sure, can't see what there
IS criminal in going out to see my neigh
bors whenever ] please. ! was by no
means pleased with her broad insinuations
| can tell you, for | thought knew nv
own business just as well as any one else
Mrs. Wilson smiled, and, as she
turned her eyes full upon the speaker, it
was plain. that u pleasurable sensation
caused those orbs to sparkle with a mean
ing. The fact was she was vastly pleas
cd at the manner in which Mrs. Brown
had noticed her neighbor's foib!es.
think as you do said Mrs. Wilson;
I think one has right to stay a, home
or not, as long as they attend to their
own business, and don't trouble other
people with it,
81 know do 90 out good DEAL said
800 DSSANhut out fcel SO lonesome at
home when Mr.. Beckwith is away, that
can't sty all alone, so go out more,
perhaps, than I'otherwise would; but then
leave things convenient for John when
he comes in, If he shooM happen to return
for his meals while lam absent, SO that I
feel erfectly easy on that score, and don't
think ! can be accused of negligence, ei
ther-do your
NO, indeed replied Mrs. Wilson. y
always 90 when please, and come hen
please, and, it's uobojy's business
After the two la.lies concluded their
meal, they sat long time at the table
and rehearsed, in the hearing of other
members Of the family, all that they had
'aid before Of Mrs. Brown, 80 that every
one present privately considered them
selves perfectly posted on the subject.
In the course Of the afternoon, Mrs.
Beckwith took her leave, and, instead
OF going home, rs she certainly should
have done, went straight TO MIS-. jennings,
making, in nil, three quite lengthy calls
IN the course Of the day.