Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-05-10

Indignation and spunk are so texing,
and whose friendship is of such dis
couraging value. But this little faint
hearted woman had a conscience, and
her own sense of right - which was
quite as apt to be wrong, in fact-and
the very first thing she did after leaving,
was to go straight to Margaret and de-
tail to her the conversation in regard to
her. Margaret was "not to tell who
told her-no, not for the world" That
she promised. Although her Dutch
blood was reused to fury, she was
one quick to think and equally quick to
act. The idea of allowing such license
of tongue to pass unnoticed, never oc-
cured to her. A woman-and one,
too, who had professed friendship for
her-had dared to make dishonest in
situations against her. 1t was crime
she should suffer for it. She sent
for two men-one her old pastor, and
the other an old friend of her fathers,
Judge Howe. They heard her version
of the affair, smiled at her intensity of
feeling, and advised her not to notice
it at all. She and DR.. McCroud were
both too we'll known to be injured by
any such idle gossip, they argued.
But it is not more for myself than
for other women 1 wage war against
this gossip crusade she exclaimed.
Things have come to such n pass that
the purity of an angel would not be
exempt from the abominable villifying
of idle women's tongues. We who
quietly endure such treatment, only aid
and abet in the villainy by encouraging
such lawlessness of speech. I'll not
be party to screening of any such Vi
olation of Christian demeanor. Mrs.
Sampson is Il very good person to begin
on, for she may be a worse gossip some
day. Moreover. I should like her to
realize the fact that work basket may
contain needles as we'll as newspa-
pers."
Next day Mrs. Sampson received
note, which she opened and read:
"MApAME:-1 have ust been informed
that l was made the subject of especial
conversation at yourhouse on Thursday.
1t will be to your advantage to make
known to me at once your authority for
indulging in certain insinuations which
you did upon that occasion.
MARGARET DALE.
A thunderbolt would not have more
surely transfixed her at that moment
than did that leaf of French note pa
paper. Her alarm was only equalled
by MarSaret's indignation. After re-
covering herself, and looking the mat
ter straight in the face, she concluded
that she better improve the " advan-
tage" her wrathful ladyship suggested.
"My dear Miss Margaret, she began,
after untyinG her bonnet, lit was only
said in the most careless way. No one
thought anything of it,
How do you know? % asked Mar.
Saret, severely.
The question confused Mrs. Samp-
son.
"Why, ILL shouldn't have
thought anything of it, ...
" But it seems you did. You entered
my room during my absence, and made
capital out of what you saw. am not
to be trihed with. You. must either
retract every word you said or suffer
the consequences of public exposure.
L am acquainted with the whole circum-
stance, and have asked counsel"
AT this Mrs. Sampson quailed, and
throwing herself into an abject attitude,
declared that she did not Geliere, and
never had for one moment believed that
there was anything wrong between
, Margaret and DR.. McCroud, but that
folks ,couhl say things for talks sake.
Then let them suffer the conse-
quences, said Margaret
Mrs. Sampson saw her danger, and
in more piteons tone hoped Miss Dale
would not mention the matter to any
one. She would ask her pardon-do
anything she might suggest. if she
would not make n " fuss about it.
"But have already spoken to two
persons about it," she said.
ooh! 1 hope you haven't told my
husband!" the creature implored
"No. One vas my pastor, and the
other, Judge Howe"
"Oh, Miss Dale" and the gossippy
dame was on her knees now, " is there