The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-09-17
MIR. PLUNkETT'S MISTAKE.
BY EEEN f. REXFORD.

BY EEEN f. REXFORD.
1t has come to be popular belle
among most people "of this day and az.
of the world, to quote Deacon Snodgras.
of "our town." that all the mischief il
the ncighhorhood is set afloat by the
women. Now don't believe this. know
better. I'm one of the stronger sex, but
don't like to see my brothers pridins
themselves on Il superiority which they
don't possess. If anybody likes gossip
the men do, and l nave heard rs much
scandal rctailed among group of four
or livr of them, of an evening, as any
dozen women could have disposed of in
the same length of time. And because
I've grown tired of hearing the blame
W laid to the women, where enough
really does belong, I'm going to tell you
about the mistake Mr.. Plunkett made,
and show YOU that men can get up dis
turhance if they only see fit to do so.
And if You lived in "our town" you'd
find that they see nit to quite often.
There goes John Marsh and his wife, "
said Mr.. Plunkett one Saturday morning.
She's got her little girl with her. Iguess
she going over to her mothers to stay
over Sunday
Like enough" answered Mrs. Plum
kctt from the kitchen, where she was en-
RACED in the laudablc business of scrub
bing the face of one of the young Plum
k,ttS
That afternoon, when Mr. Plunke:t
was going down to the postofficc, he saw
Il man and Il woman in the garden back
of Mr.. Narsl's house. OF course he felt
it his duty to know who they were. Mrs.
Marsh was gone. 1t wasn't just the thing
Tor Mr.. Marsh to be quite SO attentive to
other women, especially in his wife's alb
sencc, AZ he seemed to be to this one !;
they pretended to he picking currants,
bat Mr.. plunkett hardly felt prepared to
state that pulling "A woman's sun-bonnet
over her face and holding it together
while she was trying to get away was
the best method of pursuing that branch
OF domestic business, and that was what
Mr.. Marsh was doing, for Mr.. Plunkett
saw him, and what Mr.. Plunkett saw
must be So.
And that wasn't all Mr.. Plunkett saw.
Just as he got directly opposite the
house Mr. Marsh slipped his arm around
the woman's waist, and then-Mr. Plum
kett wouldn't have believed it if any
body had told him of it, but he had to
believe his own eyes-gave her good,
rpu>ing kiss. for which he got his ears
boxed: but" said Mr.. Plunkctt to his
worthy helpmect that night, when he re-
lated the shocking story of MIR. Marsh's
di>graceful conduct, but she didn't act
as if she meant it.
NO, of course not" said Mrs. Plum
in- creature! III warrant she'd catch
it if Mrs. Marsh were to hear about her
CARRYING on when SHE'S out of sight.
Somebody ought to tell her of it,"
In less than week there wasn't a
dozen persons in Grantly Corners who
hadn't heard about the scandalous affair
of Mr.. Marsh making love to their hired
girl in his wifc's absence.
II allus thought he wasn't jest what
he'd ortcr be-" said Mrs. Thompson, TAX
ing Il pinch of snuff by way of emphasis.
Il do pity Miss Marsh Poor innocent
crittcr! It'd nigh about kill her if she
was to find out about her husbands
actions"
An never did like the looks O that
Mary Ann Brown, NEITHER" said Mrs
Jones; " she's got an impidcnt, sassy way
With her But Miss Marsh needn't a had
"a hired girl then. She might done her
own work, as YOU an do, Miss Thomp-
son"
That's what say" responded Mrs
i
work But then Miss Marsh, when she
was girl, always felt her importance
considerable, and she's gettin to be kind
o stuck up III my opinion. She don't
associate with us common folks much.
don't remember as she's been in the
house in six months"
IL wonder ef she'd leave him if she
were to find it Out?" said Mrs. Jones. 81
wouldn't live with him another minnit,
declare"
Nor l nuther," responded Mrs.
Thompson shell probably go back to
her folks. l wonder what'd be done
with the baby? Shed keep it, most
likely, though he might set up to be con-
trary, an take it out O her hands. It's
in them Marshes to be awful mean eff
they set about it,"
You're right there, Miss Thompson"
said Mrs. Jones, feelingly. my man,
he borrowed some corn O. Mr.. Marsh, an
it run along and run along quite spell
after he'd promised tn pay it, an one
day he up an dunned JOSH right afore a
hull lot o men, an had the impotence to
say that he'd sent word to him half a
dozen times by the boys that he wanted
H. What cf he had? JOSH said he didn't
! remember hsarin' anything about it, an
IL hi'oS nun hpIpih HiaN, tSi y"u, w
hcv him take him right there in public
and aforc folks. He'd paid him when
Me got round to it,"
"Sbould a thought it would ha' made
him mad,' said Mrs. Thompson.
In week the whole neighborhood was
in IA fever of excitement. You could
have heard a dozen different stories.
One would have tsld you that Mr.. and
Mrs Marsh were going part. Another
that she had applied for a divorce. And
you would have heard fearful tales OF
his cruelty to his poor wife, and of hel
wasleful extravaganza; and some would
have told you that they had seen this
affair approaching its present crisis for a
long time, but hadn't said anything
about it
One day Mrs. Thompson had a quilt
ing, and all the gossips in the neighbor
hood were there, and "joily good
time" they had over the new scandal. In