The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-08-24

y
ought, with your experience, to know
by this time that women are not always
what they seem"
Miss Oliver had not the least idea
that she was telling anything but the
truth. Miss Sheldon having 10 mind
what Miss Dell Martin had said coming
from church, remarked to her mother
that evening that "soma folks" thought
Bessie Brown painted. Mrs. Sheldon
the following day asked hers boarder
Miss Stephens, if she knew that Bessie
Browns complexion was not natural
and not long after Miss Stephens went
to call on Miss Oliver, and while they
sat chatting together Bessie Brown
trippcd by the window, aud Miss Steph.
ems said
" was quite surprised when | learn,
ed that Miss Brown painted. She
always seemed such guiltless little
thing but it seems she owes her fair
face to the paint brush"
But that Sunday gossip, already re-
corded, did not end here.
Mrs. Winslow related il TO her hus
band that night after they had retired,
telling all that Mrs. Adams said.
Aud | could not help wondering at
her speaking so, she said in conclusion.
al think she must have heard some.
thing about Bessie, but would not
ask her. | am sure | never heard any
thing against the girl"
"Nor l." responded Mr.. Winslow
"but | have had my own suspicious. Z"
Ono thing | have wondered about n
good deal lately, though never spok G
of it to any one before You know Ned
Peters-thc worst scamp in the com
munity, whom no respectable girl would
be seen talking with. Well, he came
into my store on Tuesday night, just at
dusk, aud made purchases to the amount
OF five dollars. lie handed me a ten to
get my pay from, and gave him back
five dollar bill with a patch across its
middle, and one corner torn a little. |
had it in the drawer good while. had
mended it myself, aud should have
known it anywhere, aud of course |
recognized it when Bessie Brown hand
ed it to me early on Wednesday morn.
ing, in payment for some vases and
other knick .knacks she had bought of
me at different times. | knew the bill
in minute, and said mice morning
Miss Bessie, had any customers yet TO-
day y 'No," she said, "it is too early
in the mcrning for them. | got up
quite early to set my shop to rights, aud
as was arranging my flower pots aud
vases | remembered that | owed Won
for them, So thought would Just run
over and pay you before l spent the
money. You know am a little speud.
thrift, Mr.. Winslow," she said kind of
laughingly as she went out of the door.
1t bothers me to understand how she
came with the money | gave Ned Peters
late the night before. Ned has no
mother, sweetheart, or sister that could
have got hold of it, besides it was after
shop hours that he was in, and she said
she had had no customers that morning.
1t looked kind Of dark to me, but |
didn't say anything about it, and
shouldn't now but to you, and you d
better not speak of it out of the family
Bessie is nice little girl to all appear.
ances, and | don't want to start any
scandal.
But Mrs. Winslow could not keep
this rare tit bit to herself. The follow.
Ing afternoon she called upon Mrs
Sheldon, and extracting promise OF
secrecy she made that lady her conf
| dant.
But after Mrs. WinsIow had depart.
ed Mrs. Sheldon became alarmed lest
keeping this precious scrap of gossip a
secret should be "winking at iniquities !"
and having fully assured herself it
would, she donned her bonnet and ran
across the street to talk it over with
Mrs. Adams.
Mrs. Adams was Mortified. "Worse
and worse" she exclaimed rolling her
eyes in distress. "What is that girl
comm to ! Seein' the truth is gettin'
out, may as well tell you what | know.
About week ago my little Willie
was taken with the Group, or touch of
it, in the night. | think twas nearer
eleven o'clock, and there wasn't light
in the village any where. The moon
shone bright as as day most, and as
went to close my window, fearing viii
lie might catch more cold, | heard
voices, snd looking down the street |
saw man just stealin' out of Bessie
Browns shop, | thought Of thieves at
first, bnt | heard the door shut after
him by some one inside, heard the lock
turned, aud then the farther door that