The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-06-11
l told them all 2O

l told them all %
"No matter! but you see you have report
ed SANDER and you must hold yourself il
readiness to tell it, with your authority fol-
it, in court of justice under oath ~
"The dear knows! should be skeeret
to death !! hope you don't think Pm suct
an infdel as to 20 to court and take an aw
full oath against my neighborl Oh deal
me! what shall do l wish hadn't sich ar
unruy memb for tongne. l wish | was
born deaf and dumb oh r'-and they left
the poor woman rocking to and fro in very
agony Of fear.
sit was too bad in you to frighten the
poor old thing so,' said Alice, laughing il
spite Of herself, "you onght to have com.
forted her by telling her she should not hear
anything more about it."
"She deserves to suffer-" replied her
companion, sand it will be good whole.
some lesson for her. Shall we 90 and cal
on this notorious Mrs. Clackett ?''
"No no it is too ridiculous but let US
ride out and see Mrs. Smith perhaps can
find out from her the head and front of my
offending"
There was a spirit Of bitterness in he.
words, for even gentle Alice Brown was moi
proof against the demon suspicion, and she
was beg naing to feel that, if the reader vii
pardon the question: could not be al
smoke and no fire.
They found Mrs. Smith at home, and de.
lighted to see them. She was dainty little
lady with blue eyes aud curls Of golden hail
Il sweet girlish looking thing, bat whose
winning courtesy and social brightness
were very becoming to the mistress of heI
splendid home with its elegant surround.
ings.
Different as were their social positions
she loved Alice Brown as if she were a dear
sister, and now she ran out to meet them
and put up her lips for the accustomed kiss,
which was given, though not as cordial as
usual, it must be confessed "They must
stay to dinner-they must be tired to death
riding 81 far in the heat and dust: and she
was so glad Hugh was to come home early
to-day for a WONDER"
Mrs. Linwood said "yes, they would stay.
but she must first to business;" and tn en-
she told her all in her laughing, piquan,
way, and concluded by saying ''yes, we
want some dinner, but first we must find out
show Mrs. Smith talked about Mrs
Brown"
Alice, as Mrs. Lnwood afterward told her
husband, "fe!l to weeping" and of course
Mrs. S.nth indignantly denied it, saying,
plaintiveIy, Could you believe i. Of me,
Alice Brown"
Just then deep voice spoke from the
ball,
"leu might as well own it Birdie for |
believe YOU said something like it ~
"What can you mean, Hugh SMITH" said
bis wife opening wide her blue eyes which
were filed with sears.
"Jus, what say and what is more Mrs.
Brown heard you say it too
Now Hugh, don't, be so wicked as to
tease US, wien We are in such trlbnlatlon .
see what you have done! male Alice cry,
and I'm ust ready to -
He shook hands with the ladies' and then
seating himself upon an ottoman, he pulled
his wife down in his lap as one would u vex-
Cd child, aud said,
''Do YOU remember when this naughty
girl would sit up for an hour one afternoon,
Mrs. Brown, when the Doctor had forbidden
it how she scolded US playfully about her
supper, which consis'e !,.of very nice cracker
sruel-good enough for Il queen-and what
grimaces she mace over an innocent little
powder that she was compelled to take,
saving she had taken enough to poison n
we'll cat. nni how she believed that we three
YOU and the Doctor and myself were in a
consPlracy-'
"And 50 YOU were :" she exclaimed, jump
Ing up from her husbands lap and putting
her arms round Alice Browns neck sand
can ever forget that to you under God
owe all that have, to-day, Of life and
heaith.'
"But for PHYS sake tell u.s." said Mrs.
Lnwoo1. "whut all this has to do with
'how Mrs. Smith talked about Mrs.
Brown"
81 will tell YOU. When left the room a
few moments after, who do you think was
listening at the hall door,"
"Mrs. Clackett." they exclaimed in q
breath.
"Ies. and to day when Mr.. L,nwood told
me what trouble Mrs. Brown was in, it fash
ed upon my mind in moment, and | re,
membered that Bridget had said she gave
her 81 terrible certain Shure' that nght.'
"Well what is going to be done ahou
it? ?" said his wife drawing a deep, lonc
breath.
"Nothng now I've been and done it >
Here he drew from his pocke written con
fession sig ed by Mrs. Cluckett and Mrs
Paruuuet, that they had falsely and wicked
" with nal C, and aforethoug ght circulatec
tnlcs to njure the fair fame Of Mrs. Alice
Brown, craving her forgiveness, etc.
To make assurance doub>y sure, he hat
compelled them to make this confess on per
sonalIy, to all persons to whom they hac
been known to tell their malicious false
hoods, though one half had been added tt
thes>tory as originally told by Mrs. Clacke,
to Mrs. Paroque'.
Mrs. BroHn still enjoys the confidence an'
love Of all who know her worth, while Mrs
Ben Clackett and little Mrs. Paroquet shak
their heads and shrug their shoulders stll
and say " Poor dear. I'm Gtraid IT'S truen
,rith such a gus,o.
Reader when there is anv petty scanda
ahoat in your community, just ask your
self, hor Ms. Smith talked about Mrs
Br0Wn.
WIFI VnI