Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-01-10

III IoO SceIueu W Oe III Ills AONo I'LL
me. Oh, mother! I can't believe it,"
In the meantime the story was spread
ing from house to house, gaining lit
tie here and a little there as it was re-
peated.
Mrs. Grey had seen Fred Seymour
going in the direction of the station at
half-past seven, and it did not seem to
occur to the gossips, that as his bust
ness was in the city, this was sight of
daily occurrence.
Another one had always thought Miss
Grainger's quiet, modest manners COW
cred deceitful heart.
Some pitied Susie, some congratu-
lated her upon her escape.
The young couple were discovered to
have every fault the imagination of
their accusers could summon up, ard
Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Seymour shared
the odium and pity with Mrs. Grain
ger, who certainly should have attend
ed more strickly to the education of
her daughter, and given more careful
moral training.
Every mother in Myrtleville was pi-
ously thankful it was not her daughter
who had so disgraced herself, and the
daughters, as q general rule, secretly
wished they had Miss Grainger's chance
for Fred Seymour was decidedly beau
in Myrtleville, and his mother was
known to have property from her late
husband that would make the young
man Independent, when in the course
of nature, it reverted to him. He was
engaged on one of the evening papers
of the great metropolis, and consid-
cred talented and upright man, who in
time would make name and position
of honor
His attentions to Susie Belknap,
though the fact of their engagement
had not yet been published, had been
too marked to escape the notice of eyes
so prying as those possessed by the
good people of Myrtleville, and his in
constancy was a matter of marvel, as
Susie was maiden whom any man
might have been proud to win.
When the o'clock train came in,
MIR. Granger, little, nervous man, all
excitability, was amazed at the sympa-
thizing faces that greeted him on the
platform.
A chill like death seized his heart.
For years his wife had been an invalid
suffering from complaint of the spine.
Had she died while he was away?
White as q sheet, he turned to a
friend standing near, saying:
Why do you look so at me? What
is the matter at home?'
My poor friend, have you heard
nothing?"
A choking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled
against it, saying:
"Quick, tell me? What is it
Mary p
"No. Mrs. Granger is as we'll as
usual, believe; but there is very sad
story to break to you regarding your
daughter.
Wrath took the place of terror.
MY daughter!' cried the little man
furiously. "Who dares to carry sto-
ries about my daughter?"
"Well-you-see," stammered his
friend, "the woman folks say she
eloped this morning with Fred Sey-
mour."
Erred Seymour! Why, he's head
over ears in love with Susie Belknap.
My Belle! Why, she has been en-
gagged for two years to Lieutenant Wes-
ton of the navy, though he did not pub
lish the fact for the benefit of all the
tattlers in Myrtleville.
an AFRAID, was the reply, that
it was the fact of these engagements
that drove them to secresy and elope-
ment."
&C l tell you the whole story is falsew
roared the excited father, "Tll make
these mischief makers eat their own
words! My Belle, indeed! They must
be crazy"
But on his way home, Mr.. Grain
ger met the report in SO many places,
heard in such plausible versions, that
he entered his wife's room with very
grave ia ce, from which all angry ex-
element had vanished.
Where is Belle, Mary?"
She went to the city this morning to