The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-08-21
"OOmparatively young" added Mrs.

comparatively young, Auu6u MIS.
Glenn. 4
"And you don't know yet how very
wicked this world is, . said Mrs. Martin.
"Ah no" said Mrs. Glenn.
i" Nor what men are, said Mrs. Mar
tin.
"Yoq don't often faint, do your"
asked Mrs. Glenh.
"I-uever," said Mrs. Willis.
g That is WE'LL" said Mrs. Martin.
-" | fear we will agitate you very much. "
Mrs. Willis began to look grave.
No accident has happened, she
faltered, " Mr.. Willis-f saw him leave
the house ten minutes ago-nothing
has ?"
''As far as we know, Mr.. Willis is
perfectly safe and WE'LL" said Mrs.
Glenn, severely. =
"Mrs. Willis, feel it my duty, as a
member, to warn you that we should
not have earthly idols. Your one
thought appears to be your husband.
There are other PEG pie HON tie ri
bic things could happen"
''And idols of clay may easily be
shattered, said Mrs. Martin.
Zone naturally thinks of ones own
first" said Mrs. Willis.
81 am sure I shall be distressed to
hear. that y one has met with a mis-
fortune"
eve all meet with misfortunes
sooner or later" said Mrs. Glenn !;
:" and again L say you think too much
of one sinful man"
81 am not aware that have requested
advice on the subject, said Mrs. Viii
lis; "and I scarcely think a woman
could love so good husband too well,
or honor him too much"
Good . said Mrs. Martin.
Mrs. Willis" said Mrs. Glenn,
how do you know he is better than
any other man-that he is not even I'm
true to your"
Mrs. Willis, started to her feet in in
dignation.
How dare you" she began.
"Stop." said Mrs. Glenn. "We
have come to speak, and will speak. 1t
is our duty to unmask a hypocrite."
"Mrs. Willis scarlet with anger, re-
NAMED standing.
Mrs. Martin began to look very
happy. Mrs. Glenn even smiled.
Ny dear friend, !" she said, "we he
lieve that you oughteto know that you
are dreadfully deceived While you
have been absent your husband has de-
voted himself to another lady-a beau
tifuI girl-who arrived at the hotel
almost Immediately after your depart
ure. We have seen him kiss and EN-.
brace her-have we not, Mrs. Martin ?'
sob yes," said Mrs. Martin. "She
is, perhaps, sixteen years 5ld--a dark
beauty. 1t is Quite absurd to think
dark men admire light ladies most. She
is as dark as he is, and very beautiful. -
ooh yes" said Mrs. Glenn. "f1ove-
y outwardly. I think she must be
French. 1t is quite terrible: We feel
1t to be so; bat we fouI it necessary
to do our duty and inform you at once.
"Thank you" said Mrs. Willis, in g
choked voice, as she covered her face
with her handkerchief. 81 Fope," she
said after moments silence, "that you
will not hesitate TO repeat this in the
presence of Mr.. Willis. OF course you
are not afriad to speak the truth before
any one. If you will wait, / will send
for him, will not be long"
@@She still kept her face hidden, but
her agitation was evidently great.
81 must insist upon your presence,
she said, in faltering accents ''ahd il
l separate from Mr.. Willis, [ shall need
you for witnesses. Wait one moment.
I will send for him"
This was rather more than the ladies
had bargained for, but retreat was i'm
possible. Mrs. Willis left the room,
and returned with her face still hidden
in her handkerchief. There was silence
in the room, and as the time passed on,
Mrs. Martin began to wish herself safe
~ at home, but Mrs. Glenn was OF
sterner stuff and braYed the matter out
much better.
Half an hour passed then a latch.
key was heard in the hall-door. II
opened. Mrs. Willis still concealed
her face. A step-nay the steps of two
persons crossed the hall. The parlor
door opened, and Mr.. Willis strobe in
followed by young lady-tbe very
young lady who had been the subject
of their communication pretty girl
and very like Mr.. Willis himself.
And now. Mrs. Willis arose with {
face as bright as it had ever been in al
their remembrance of its brightness
and turned toward them.
Ladies" she said, "allow me to in
| troduce my step-daughter, Adele Willis
She has been with her grandmother il
France, until lately. You know, or dc
not know, that Mr.. WilIis's first wife
was a French lady, and she has just
come home to us. As ] was absent the
hotel was pleasanter for her than the
empty home, and so she has staid there
until to-day. She is just fourteen
The ladies thought you quits sixteen,
you are so tall, Adele and I am very
very glad to have her with me-"
Mrs. Glenn arose; SO did Mrs. Mar
tin.
eyes, to be sure" said Mrs. Martin
delightful, of course" and hurried
out of the room.
GA good motive should atone for 6
mistake, said the brave Mrs. Glenn
"I hope you'll bear no enmity."
"None at all, " said Mrs. Willis. 81
have been very much amused"
But Mrs. Glenn and Mrs. Martin
were not amused, fear and that very
night they quarreled so violently about
the matter, each blaming the other as
instigator, that neither ever spoke to
the other again.