Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-22
The Myrtleyille Scandal.

1t commenced by Mrs Sawyer's arrival
at Mrs. Mufitt's early in the forenoon evi.
IDENTIFY in n state Of great excitement and
full Of news. With an air Of profound
mystery, she drew Mrs. Muffitt from the
wash.tub to the sittng.room aud said to
her:
What do you think has happened2"
Now Mrs. Sawyer was well known in
Myrileville as newsy, as one who lost
no opportunities of collecting the most reli-
able and startling items Of information re-
garding the sayings and doing Of the Myr-
tlevillians Accordingly, Mrs. Mufiitt pre-
pared her mind for tidings Of moment.
What is to" she asked. drying her
hands on her apron, and settling down in
chair for " good talk"
you'll not tell told you2'
Never"
Because it wasn't intended for me to
hear just happened over to Mrs. Sey-
mour's this morning, and Mrs Kitely was
in there, and the door stood open, and
couldn't but hear what was said, you know,
and"
But what was It." cried Mrs. Mufftt,
as Mrs Sawyer paused for breath.
." FIR d Seymour and Belle Granger have
elopcd."
"Eloped :"
MRS. Seymour was Just telling Mrs.
Kitely as went in. As soon as they saw
me coming, they began to talk about the
news in the mornings paper; hut you cant
throw me off the track in that way"
"Oh, my goodness J" cried Mrs Mufiitt,
suddenly, as if some inspiration had seized
her.
You've heard something too, =" cried the
widow.
"No. but | saw Belle Granger this
morning, quite early, passing by here, in
the direction of the depot, and she had on
her travelling dress, and her waterproof,
and carried her satchel."
"Going to meet him on the eight o'clock
train. Oh, the sly, dcceitful thing Think
of her poor father"
And her sick mother. Ii is awful.
And everybody knows Fred Seymour is as
good as engaged to Susv Belknap"
"There! I'll go right over to Belknap's,'
cried Mrs. Sawyer. "Somebody ought to
break it gently to Susan. Poor girl. Nc
wonder they went off slyy."
And away hustled Mrs. Sawyer to fnd
Mrs. Belknap and Susy in the sitting.room
sewing. 1t was keen satisfaction TO tel
the news there, for Mrs. Belknap, being il
delicate health, and possessing ample means
kept servant, ard lived in style of re-
fnement that Myrtleville guuv'aiiy 900
demued as putting on airs" To take hel
" down peg" as Mrs Sawyer mentally
resolved to do, was vulgar triumph sh,
enjoyed greatly in anticipation. But it wa
in anticipation only. Mrs. Belknap anc
her daughter received the news in a quie
way, as if the gossip possessed no especia
interest for them, asking no questions, and
maniiesing no chagrin. The story had
grown a little on lis wav through Mrs
Mufhtt's stting-room, and Mrs. Sawyer haC
now full description Of the runaway
brides costume, and the train was specified
upon which the young couple travelled.
But after Mrs. Sawyer had gone to TAX
her news elsewhere, Susy turned yer,
pale face to her mother, asking ptifully;
"Oh mamma, can it he true ?"
IL will 90 over to Mrs Seymour's, dear
if you wish it,"
" Not for the world. If it is true. W
must never let any one know how We fee
it, and her lips quivered Fortunately
no one knows We are actually engaged.
it is not true"
alt seems to come very direct" sal
Mrs Bekuap as she drew her daughte
into close mothery embrace. Mr.
Sawyer is a terrible gossip and busy-body
hut never know her to be guilty Of absC
Lutte falsehood"
Mrs. Kitely is very intimate with Mr.
Seymour. | have heard Fred say the
were school.mates. So it is quite naturi
for her to be telling Mrs. Kitely, and spea
ofsomething else when Mrs Sawyer went ip
can scare ly believe it Of Fred sal
Mrs. Belknap.
Nor |. And Belle, too, who has bee
my friend so long; and her only interest
Fred seemed to be in his love for me. Oh
mother | can't believe it,"
In the meantime the story was spreadiu
from house TO house, gaining a little her
and little there, as it was repeated. Mr.
|, Gray had seen Fred Seymour going in Il
direction of the depot at halfpast sevel
and il did not seem TO occur to the GOSSIP
that, as his business was in New York, tn
was a sight Of daily occurrence. Aooth'
one had always thought that Miss GraiT
gers quiet, modest manners covered d'
ceitful heart. Some pited Susy
congratulated her upon her escape. Th
, young couple were discovered to have ever
fault the imagination Of their accusel
could summon up. aud Mrs. Belknap an
Mrs, Seymour shared the odium and pit
with Mrs. Granger, who certainly shoul
have attended more strictly to the educ
tion of her daughter, and given her mol
careful moral training.
Every mother in Myrtlev'le was piousl
thankful that il was not her daughter WI
had so disgraced herself; and the daugl
tiers. as a general rule, secretly wished the
bad had Miss Grainger's chance, for FIR,
+ Seymour was decidedly beau in Myrtl
vile, and his mother was known to have
= property from her late husband that wou
make the young man independent, when,
the course Of nature, il reverted to hin
= lie was engaged on one of the daily eyenir
! papers Of the great metropolis, and consi'
: cred talented and upright man who,
/ time, would make name and position
honor. His attention to Susy Belkna
a - L Al q IL. bf