Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-06-26

sup. 'If it gives pain to anybody,
we tell it to save them worse
You alarm me, Mrs. Jessup,' said
Mr.. Grey.
swell, you may be alarmed, sir,
said Mrs. Jessup. swell you may. l
have always taken an interest in Miss
Jessie, and | hope she knows it. It's
been the talk Of the place for some,
time that Mr.. Palette is sparkling her.
suppose it's true"
Jessie blushed furiously.
Mr.. Grey replied:
see no use to hideit. Jessie is en-
gagged to Mr.. Palette
"Oh!" said Mrs Jessup.
"Ah !" said Mrs. Bray.
ooh, dear me !" said Mrs. Grill.
ooh, what is the matter ?" asked
Jessie. "Do speak out
"Well," said Mrs. Jessup, q might
as well make it a short story. Mr..
Palette is married already"
Jessie screamed softly.
"You make a strong assertion"
said Mr. Gray.
"And false one" SAID Jessie.
"No, Miss Jessie" said Mrs Bray
Indignantly. "We're all aware of the
fact A lady lives in the house with
Mr.. Palette, and has done so ever
since he moved to the cottage We've
all seen her.
"And a queer sight she is" said
Mrs. Grill,
And then the lady went on to say a
great deal more, and made the matter
quite certain by vivid description of
the lady's conduct and attire, ending
with:
ave thought it our duty to come
Mr.. Grey"
Jessie listened with intense indig-
nation; Mr.. Grey sat very quietly.
When they had done, he said:
81 thank you, ladies. 1t was your
duty to make this statement. I shall
investigate the matter thoroughly"
And as he remained silent after
ward, the ladies felt that it was time to
go.
They said good night, and hurried
down the road together.
"It's hard on Miss Jessie, ant it 2"
said Mrs. Bray.
81 don't know" said Mrs. Jessup.
"Why did she scrape acquaintance
with a stranger like that? One of
our young men might have done-one
bred and born here. Any how, his
tricks are over"
And Mrs. Jessup watching next
morning, saw the clergyman enter the
artists house just little before noon.
She waited until he came out, and
then pounced out upon him.
"Excuse an old friend,' she said,
"but did you see her?'
81 saw the person you saw" said
Mr. Grey, and walked away without
saying another word.
So now Mrs. Jessup felt that there
need be no restraint upon her tongue.
Before night the scandal had blazed
through the village.
The names that were heaped upon
that young artist were too numerous
to record. Everybody had guessed
that he was a rascal. 1t was no news
to any one. When Sunday came, and
the congregation saw the young man
in his accustomed seat, they marvelled.
When, at the end of service, he walk
ed home as asual with Miss Jessie,
they were thunderstruck. Did she
defy her father? Certainly he could
not overlook such thing The whole
town was in a sort of smothered up
roar.
The next morning came another
surprise. A small boy engaged for
the purpose, visited the residences of
all the congregation. He brought
note of invitation, requesting the COM
pany of the heads of each household
at the residence of Mr. Palette, at two
that afternoon. What could it mean i?
Could the mystery be cleared up
Was the lady some grandmother, Or
maiden aunt? Was there no lady ?
Everybody went, of course. The cler-
gyman and his daughter were the first
arrivals. Two by two the others en-