The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-12-21
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Wlgi, respectfully 8Hilyalea ta these Tr-
IaH dealers iu scandal who ilizsl az
most every country village
A lady purchased bane 10 a ho9u-
t1ul v.lL8-a about forty mites from "a
we'll known city. Sbo loeEod Tor fresh
ar and quiet scenes, aud doubtless She
would hayc found aii tho Happiness
which she sought iu this rural retreat
hod pot tbe place been haunted oy the
terrible spectre rctNpu-
Have you seen the new arrival s'
asked Mrs Thomas at her nc,ahbor
Mrs Lawrence, about a week after lao
stranger took possession of Maple Cot
tage-as the little place she had pur-
chased was called
A curl Of the lip and a shrugo u The
shoulder wasali the reply mlde bY Mrs
Lawrence but IN the gestures Mrs
Thomas saw, or Supposed she saw, sut-
tcieut reason for stunning the ac-
. quainiauee Of the stranger
Mrs Thomas, who was very Jealous
and suspicious, translated tins sign Of
language in her own way.
! haYe no doubt," she said 10 her
husband at night that she had a bad
reputation in the city, She has come
here dressed ia deep mourning, but
who knows whether she ever had q hus-
band And, If she had her wearing
black is no SIGN of bis being dead in
my opinion"
The next day quite n crowd had gath.
cred in the store Of Mr. Thomas wait
/ ing for the arrival OF the daily mna
which was due about this hour The
stranger came In to make some triling
purchases, and was stared at by the
I people, as strangers always are. Aiter
she left the store, some remarks we're
made concerning her lady-llke appear
ance Mr. Thomas Immediately re-
joined, Eyes, she appears enough like a
lady, but my wife thinks her reputation
mono the best
+ Customers coming in, nothing moro
was said at that time, but the FIRE OF
scandal was kinded 1.-The story spread
! rapidly each one telling it his own way,
until there was not family in the
Ipooo but heard and believed the ru-
NOR
/ Weeks passed on, aud the innate Of
Maple Cottage felt that for some rea-
son she was looked upon with suspi-
cion and dislike. There was no hospi-
tality, though there was nothing said
or done for which she could demand
an explanation.
Every day seemed to increase The
avoidance Of her neighbors ond she,
seeing this, ceased making oyertures
toward an acquaintance with them,
sending to the city for her household
supplies, snd never coming in contact
with any of them. save at church, and
even here she generally found a whole
seat at her disposal
/ At last the storm which had 50 long
darkenod the village horizon seemed
about 10 burst over her head There
wero low threats Of driving her from
I the place, and the mob spirit seemed to
! be gathering strength.
/ About this time, some three months
after the stranger came to Maple Got.
tage, very handsome travelling ear
ruge, drawn by double span Of grays
stopped in front OF her dwelling, and a
fine looking man, apparently about ff.
ty years OF age, with bis wife aud two
children, were seen to alight and enter
the house, All that day and through
the evening, there were heard the
sounds OF many voices, mingled with
tho ripphng laughter Of Joyous hearts
The next day was Sunday but this
time the widow did not SIT alone
Strange looks and low murmurcd words
ran through tho congregation, and the
miniater seemed to share the surprise
Of bis audience, and preached as though
under painfal embarrassment Ho re,
coguized in the stranger a minister
whose reputation was world-wide--nc
other than the rich and distinguished
, President Of College, from which
he was a graduate
. Professor C remembered BIZ
former pupil, but it must be confessed
.he was both surprised and disappoint
, cd. He had given the young man cred
il for indilual talent, but bis SENIOR
,, was a mere repetition Of poor plad
tu3ea and trucking TO pubic opiu
, ion, which showed a weak mind.
l After service the President stopped
moment until the preUcbcr came for
ward, and when the greetings wcr
over he said kindly
MY sister wrote ethat Richard Forbe
was preaching here, but ! did not con
- meet The name with the memory Of m
former pupil"
a Your Fiater !" said the embarrasse
g young man. "You don't mean 10 sa
the woman with whom You entered Ia
a church is y0gr sister
And why not p IL was now Pro
:, fesaor Cs torn to look surprised
i Sare enough, Why not Z We did b
s know against tho woman Of whom 81
i bad been speaking eyil' for tho h.
c three months
J There is something about this maf
- ter that 7 cannot understand" saI
e Professor c.. " You do not III a
,, 70 saY that ny sister has been d res
81 dent of your place, and listened 30 500
Y preaching for three months, witaor
u your calling upon her Tho duties ,
' a preacher are sarely-"
- But ! dd not dare and here il
poor f1eu stammered and stopped
Did not dare ID call Oh u4Y siste
u tla wife u General Finch and tl
8- tnga u cor. mpt mingled aitA q l9a
is Of slIuae and Indignation with wa.c
.s he Contemplated the aba1Agi au1 craa
F., fallen young preacher
II After reaching llia sisters rssiiena