The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-05-11


{ care. the next day she went sailing
with her beau, and the next day ram
, bling with him away off to the mountain
, and the next forenoon went with him II
carriage to the station. and there not
only wept as she parted from him, but
actually embraced and kissed him.
! What, in broad daylight? exclaimed
Grandma w. Well, if eyer [ seed OF
heard the like ont.
Little Nell, the old lady's youngest
grandchild, wondered to herself, if it were
any worse in broad daylight than at any
| ether time Perhaps you will wonder
too. We do, at least.
There was very large attendance that
afternoon at the weekly meeting of the
sewing society," Everybody went that
could possibly leave home. And what a
chattering there was when the hustle OF
assembling was over. There was but one
topic, but that was all sufficient, all en-.
grossing-the widows beau-for the gen.
tleman must be her beau. or at least, he
ought to be.
Everybody had something to TELL
something to ponder about. But sud-
denly every magpie tongue was hushed,
a universal stroke of numb palsy seemed
to have fallen on the group, as looking
up, it perceived the very lady about
whom they were conversing so eagerly,
standing in the doorway.
Good afternoon, ladies'" said she, in
her usual quiet, lady-Gke way. ~ am
glad to see so large and happy gather
| ing;'' and then she proceeded to the
table, helped herself to block of patch
work, inquired for the sewing-silk, which
having received, she sat down in the only
vacant chair, and commenced hemming
very red bird with yellow wing, on to
very green twig, which latter had al
ready been hemmed on to square piece
of white cloth, and the whole when COM
pleted was designed to form the TWEEN
tieth part of bed-spread. She seemed
all engrossed with the birds bill, and
spoke to no one. Everybody wondered
if she had heard what they were saying
when she came in; but her placid coun-
tenance soon treasured the most fearful,
and every one longed to commence per-
sonal attack.
Old Grandma W. was the first to ven
ture. She meant to do up the matter
very delicately, and in so roundabout
a way the lady should not suspect her of
curiosity So she began to praise Mrs.
C.'s dress. ''Why, it's real beauty"
said she; where did you get t?''
Il bought it, was the quiet reply.
"Here?''
"No."
"Where, then?"
SIN New York, last spring
80, you did, did you? But I thought
you wasn't going to wear anything but
black again" Every eye serutinized
the lady's face in search of blush, but
it continued as pale as was usual, while
she answered.
Il did think and say so once, but /
have finally changed my mind
You have, hal But what made
you p
80, had good reasons Here the
hearers and lookers-on winked express
lively at each other.
But didn't you spoil your beautiful
white dress Sunday night, wearing it
way up there to the burying ground p
Il did not
"You didn't du tell But how could
you help it? There was a wonderful
heavy dew
81 did not aCear 1t p
Here was damper to the old lady.
She had such long lecture to read on
extravaganza, and she was so determined
| to do it too, when unfortunately for
her eloquent strain, Mrs. C's dress
had hung up i'll her wardrobe all the
time. and she had worn ali old black
silk.
After while the old lady took a
fresh start. She would not be so baf-
fed again. She would find out all about
that beau before she went home, that
she would. So she began by saying ::
Your company went away this morning
didn't they ?"
''Ihey did, was the answer, wee
bit Of emphasis resting on the theg
"He didn't stay very long, did hep"
''Not as long as [ wish he had," was
the emphatic answer this time And
now the ladies did look at each other.
1t was as good as a confession.
'When did he come p
Saturday evening"
''Was you looking for him?'
81 have been expecting him fort
night.
why, du tell. if you had then, and
you never told ont either. Had he bus
mess in the place?''
He had"
'What was it?'' This was rather
more direct ard blunt than the old lady
had meant to put it, and she forthwith
apologized by saying, Il didn't mean
that-I-I only thought-I-"
80, I'd as lief you knew as not" said
the lady, with charming air of aairite !;
The came to see me-"
., Widow G, didn't your good name
go down Be careful what you say
next, or you'll only have remnant of
character to go home with. and remnants
go cheap.
| stHa did be did and ho diIn,f ao,,a