The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-09
SCANDAL.
A Story for Suspicious People.

A lady purchased home in beautiful vii
lage about forty miles from well known city.
She longed for fresh air and quiet scenes,
and doubtless she would have found all the
happiness which she sought in this rural re-
treat had not the place been haunted by that
terrible spectre-SCANDAL. n
'Have you seen the new arrival ?" asked
Mrs. Thomas of her neighbor, Mrs. Lawrence,
about week after the stranger took possession
of Maple Cottages the little placeshe had
purchased was called.
A curl of the lip and shrug of the shoulders
was all the reply made by Mrs. Lawrence; but
Mrs. Thomas saw, or supposed she saw, suffi-
cient reason for stunning the acquaintance of
the stranger.
Mrs. Thomas, who was very jealous and sus-
picious, translated this sign language in her
own way,
'I have no doubt" she said to her husband at
night, "that she had bad reputation in the
city. She has come here dressed in deep
deep mourning, but who knows whether she
ever had husband? And, if she had, her
wearing black is no sign he's dead, in my opin-
ion."
The next day quite crowd had gathered in
the store of Mr.. Thomas, waiting for the arri-
val of the daily mail. The stranger came in
to make some trihing purchases, and was stared
at by the people, as strangers always are: At
ter she left the store, some remarks were made
concerning her lady-like appearance. Mr..
Thomas Immediately rejoined:
"Yes, she appears 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 fire of scandal was kin
dled-the story spread rapidly, each one telling
it in his own way, until there was not family
in the place but heard and believed the runlor.
Weeks passed ON, and the inmate Of Maple
Cottage felt that for some reason she was look
ed 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 towards an acquaintance
hold supplies, and never came in contact with
any of them save at church, and even here she
generally found whole seat at her disposal.
At last the storm which had SO long darken-
ened the village horizon seemed about to burst
over her head. There were low threats of
driving her from the place, and the mob spirit
seemed to be gathering strength.
About this time some three months after the
stranger came to Maple Cottage, very hand
some travelling carriage, drawn by a span of
noble greys, stopped in 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
the day and through the evening, there was
heard the sound of merry voices, mingled with
the ripping laughter of joyous hearts.
The next day was Sunday, but this time the
widow did not sit alone. Strange looks and
low, murmured words ran through the congre-
cation, and the minister seemed to share the
surprise of his audience, and looked and preach
ed as though under painful embarrassment
He recognized in the stranger O. minister whose
reputation was world-wide-no other than the
rich and distinguished President of - Col
lege, from which he was graduate.
Professor c. remembered his former pupil,
but it must be confessed he was both surprised
and disappointed. He had given the young
man credit for individual talent, but this SER
mon was mere repetition of poor platitudes
and trucking to public opinion, which show
ed weak and little mind.
After service the President stopped mo-
ment until the preacher came forward, and
when the greetings were over, ne said
"My sister wrote me that Richard Forbes
was preaching here, but l did not connect the
name with the memory of my former pupil"
"Your sisterp said the embarrassed young
man. "You do not mean to say that the wo-
man with whom you entered church IS your
sister,"
"And why not ?"
It was now Professor C.'s turn to look sur
prised.
Sure enough, why not? What did he know
against the woman of whom all had been
speaking evil' for the last three months
7There is something about this matter that
cannot understand" said the Professor. "You
do not mean to say that my sister has been
resident of your place., and listened to your
preaching for three months, without your call
ing upon her? The duties of a preacher are
surely better defined"
''But did not darep and here the poor
man stammered and stopped.
''Did not dare to call on my sister, the widow
of General Finch ?" and tinge of contempt
mingled with the look of surprise and indigna-
ton with which he contemplated the abashed
and crestfallen young preacher.
After reaching his sisters residence, he ques-
toned her in regard to the matter; but she
could only tell him that since her residence in
the place she had been "let alone" in full ac-
ceptance of the term. Determined to under
stand the wherefore of such a proceeding, he
again demanded explanation OF the minister,
who was finally compelled to admit that he
had supposed from the gossip of church mem
bers, that the woman was very outcast from
society, and that there had been talk of driving
her from the place.
'She will not care to remain" said the Pro-
fessor; "but before she goes l will sift this
matter thoroughly"
And so he 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 to confess
that Mrs Lawrence had merely shrugged her
shoulders and curled her lip when asked her
opinion of her new neighbor
"Ah, indeed" was Mrs. Lawrence's rejoin-
der. "I remember of thinking she could not be
much of lady, as she wore faded delaine and
did her own washing"
The Professor preached the following Sun
day, and at the conclusion of the DISCOURSE re-