The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-08-05
THE TRIBUEN.
SCAN DIAL.
STORY FOR SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE


sought in this rural retreat had not til
place been haunted by that terrible spec
tre-scanaul
Have you seen the new arrival
asked Mrs. Thomas of her neighbor Mrs
Lawrence, about week after the strange
took possession of Maple Cottage
the little place she had purchased wa
scaied.
!. A curl of the lip and shrug of tn
shoulders was all the reply made by Mrs
Lawrence but in the gestures Mrs
Thomas saw, or supposed she saw. sui
!. ficient reason for stunning the acqualn
lance Of the stranger.
Mrs. Thomas who was very Jealou
and suspicious, translated this languag'
in her own way Il have no doubt,
she said to her husband at night, tina
she had q bad reputation in the city
She hascome here dressed In deep mourn
ing. but who knows whether she ever hac
!, husband? And if she had, her wearing
black is no sign he's dead, In my opin
ION
The next day quite crowd had gath
cred in the store of Mr.. Thomas, waiting
tor the arrival Of the daily mail; which
WAS due about this hour. The stranger
came in to make some trifing purchases.
and was stared at by the people. as
strangers always are After she left the
store, some remarks were made concern
ang her lady like appearance. Mr.. Thorn
as Immediately rejoined, Yes she APP
pears enough like a lady, but my wife
thinks her reputation none the best.
Customers coming IN, nothing more
was said at that time, but the first OF
scandal was kindled and the story spread
rapidly, each one telling 1t his own way,
until there was not 4 family III the place
but heard aud believed the rutnor.
Weeks passei on. and the inmate OF
Maple Cottage felt that for some reason
she was looked upon with much suspicion
and dislike. There was no hospitality,
nothing said or done for which she could
demand an explanation.
Every day seemed to increase the
avoidance of her neighbors; and she
seeing this, ceased making overtures
toward an acquaintance with them, send
ing to the city for her household sup
plies, and never came In contact with
any of them save at church. and even
here she found whole seat at her dis
posal.
At last the storm which had so long
darkened the village horizon seemed
about to burst over her head.
There were low threats of driving her
from the place, and the mob spirit seem
ed to be gathering strength.
About this time, some three months
after the stranger came to Maple Grove,
a very handsome travelling carriage, drawn
by a noble span of grays, stopped III
front of her dwelling, and fine looking
man apparently about fifty years OF age,
with his wife and two children, were
seen to alight and enter the house. All
that day and through the evening, there
was heard the sound of many voices.
mingled with the ripping laughter OF
Joyous hearts.
The next day was Sunday, but this
time the widow did not sit alone. Strange
iaoks and murmured words ran through
the congregation, and the minister seem
ed to share the surprise Of his audience,
and looked and preached as though under
nainful embarrassment. He recognized
the stranger whose reputation was world
wide-no other than the rich and dlstln-
vuished President of -- College from
which he was a graduate.
Prof, G. remembered his former pupil,
but Il must be confessed he was both sur
nrised and disappointed. He had given
the Young man credit for indlyldlal tai
ent. but this sermon was mere repetition
of poor platitudes and trucking to
public opinion, which showed weak
and little mind.
After the service the President stop
ned a moment until the preacher came
forward. and when the greeting was over
he said kindly My sister wrote me
that Richard Forbes was preaching here,
but did not connect the name with the
memory OF my former pupil.
Your sister!" said the embarrassed
Young man. You do not mean to say
that the women with whom you entered
church is your sister
s.And why not?" 1t was Professor c. s
turn to look surprised. -.
True enough, why not? What did he
know about the woman of whom all had
been speaking evil for the last three
months?
There is something about this matter
that cannot understand" said P:otes-
sor e. You do not mean to say that
nv sister has been a resident OF your
place, and listened to your preaching tor
three months without your calling upon
her? The dut eS OF preacher are surely
better dignihed -
"But I did not darel" and the poor
man stammered aud stopped.
Did not dare call on my sister the
widow of General Finch p and the tlEge
of contempt mingled with the look OF
surprise and Indignation, with which he
contemplated the abashed and crestta!len
young preacher
After reaching his sisters residence he
questioned Ler in regard to the matter +;
but she could only tell him that since her
residence in the place she had been "left
alone" in the full acceptance OF the term
Deter,pined to understand the whereof
of such proceeding, he again demanded
xn explanation of the minister, who was
finally compelled to admit that he had
supposed from the gossip OF his church
members, that the woman was an outcast
from society, and there had been talk OF
driving her from the place.
.'She win not care to remain. said the
rronessor. s.but before she goes [ will
sift this matter thoroughly and so be
did gathering up, link by link, the whole
chain of scandal until he came to Mrs.
LAWRENCE. But this she utterly denied
and Mrs. Thomas was at last obliged t
cnnfess that Mrs. Lawrence had merely
sbru rged her shoulders and curled hel
lip, when asked hei opiiiiou u i'0' NJ
neighlor. =,
.Ah,. indeei!" was Mrs Lawre' &c :
reioiner, Il remember of thinking sh'
could not be much of lady, as she wore
a faded delainc aud did her own washing.
! The. Professor preached the following
Sunday, aud at the conclusion OF his dis
course, he repeated the tale of wrong
Had this woman really been poor an(
friendiess, as supposed, what would tn
end have been. Deprived of her goo'
name. and in consequence. of all mean