Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-01
The MyrtleviIIe Scandal.

It commenced by Mrs. Sawyer's arrival .ah Hrs Muffit's early in the forenoon, eY- idsntly in state of great excitement, and fuH of news. With an air of profound mystery, she drew Mrs. Muffit from the washtub to the sitting room, and said to her:
 sWhat do you think has happened?''
 Now Mrs. Sawyer was we'll known in Myrtleville as 'snewsy," as one who lost nos opportunities of collecting the most reliable and startling items of information regarding the sayings and doings of the Mlrtlevillians. Accordingly Mrs. Mofit prepared her mind for tidings Of moment.
 9What is it?" she asked, drying her haads on her apron, and settling down III . chair for ''good talk" You won't tell told you?"
 sNever"
 ! Because 1t wasn't intended for me to he4r. just happened over to Mrs. Sey- smour's this morning, and Mrs. kitely was in s:there, and the door stood open, and I coaldn't but hear what was said. you know, and"
 .But what was it?'' cried Mrs. Muffit, as Mrs. Sawyer paused for breath.
 Fred Seymour and Bell Grainger have eIoped."
 4Elopedr'
 4Mrs. Seymour was just telling Mrs. Kitely as I-went in. As soon as they saw mo coming, they began to talk about the neFs in. the mornings paper; but you can't throw me off the track in that way. D
 Oh, my goodness!" cried Mrs. Muffit, suddenly, as if some inspiration had seiz- ed her.
 4You've heard something, too?" cried the widow.
 gNo; but saw Bell Grainger early this morning, quite early, passing by here in the direction of the depot, and she had orher waterproof, and carried her satch- el.s
 'Going to meet him on the eight o'clock train. Oh, tho sly, deceitful thing! Think of Der poor father"
 And her sick mother Ii is awful. And everybody knows Fred Seymour is as good as engaged to Susy Belknap.''
 ssThere! I'll go right over to Bel knap's," cried.Mrs. Sawyer. s'Somehody ought to break it gently to Susan. Poor girl. No wonder they went off slyly.''
 And away hustled Mrs. Sawyer to find Mrs. Belknap and Susy in the sitting room. sewing. It was keen satisfaction to tell the news there, for Mrs. Belknap being in delicate health, and possessing ample means, kept q servant, and lived in state of refinement that Myrtleville con- demned as s'putting on airs. To take her ''down a peg" as Mrs. Sawyer men tally resolved to do, was vulgar triumph she enjoyed greatly in anticipation. Mrs. Belknap and her daughter received the news in quiet way, as if tue gossip pos sessed no especial interest for them, ssk- ing no questions, and manifesting no cha grit The story had grown little, on it's way, though, Mrs. Sawyer had now full description of the runaway brides cos tune, and the train was specified upon which the young couple travelled.
 But after Mrs. Sawyer had gone to take her news elsewhere, Susy turned very pale face to her mother, asking pitifully: 9Oh, mamma, can it be true?"
 'sf will go over to Mrs Seymours dear, if npu wish it.
 Not for the world. If it is true, we mdsS 1auvcH let any onO knOw hdssv we feel 1t, and her lips quivered. Fortunately no one knows we are actually engaged. If 1t is not true"
 'sIt seems to come very d1rect," said Mrs. Belknap, as she drew her daughter into close, motherly embrace. ''Mrs. Sawyer is terrible gossip and busybody, but I never knew her to be guilty of an absolute falsehood.
 ''Mrs. Kitely is very intimate with Mrs. Seymour. I have heard Fred say they were schoolmates. So it is quite natural for her to be telling Mrs. Kitely, and speak ing of something else when Mrs. Sawyer went in. <"
 'I can scarcely believe it of Fred" saia Mrs. Belknap.
 ''Nor I. And Bell, too, has been my friend so long, and her only interest in Fred seemed to be his love for me Oh, mother! I can't believe it.''
 In the meantime. the story was spread ing from house to house, gaining a lit tie here and there, as it was repeated. Mrs. Gray had seen Fred Seymour going In the direction of the depot at half past seven, and 1t did not seem to occur to the gossips that. as his business was in New York, this was sight of daily occurrence. Another had always thought that Miss Grainger's modest manner covered de- ceitful heart. Some pitied Susy, some congratulated her upon her escape. The young couple were discovered to have every fault the imagination of their ac- cusers could summon up, and Mrs. Bel knap and Mrs. Seymour sha1ed the odium and pity with Mrs. Grainger, who certain ly should have attended more strictly to the education of her daughter, and given her more careful moral training.
 Every mother in Myrtleville was pious- ly thankful that 1t was not her daughter who had so disgraced herself, and the daughters, as the general rule, secretely wished they had had Miss Grainger's chance, for Fred Seymour was a beau in Myrtleville, and his mother was known to have property from her late husband that would make the young man inde- pendent, when in the course of nature 1t reverted to him. He was engaged on one of the daily evening papers of the great metropolis, and considered talented and upright, man who in time would make name and position of honor. His atten- tions to Susy Belknap, though the fact of their engagement had not yet been pub hshed, had been too marked to escape at tentlon of.eyes so prying as those possess ed by the good people of Myrtleville, and hls inconsistency was a matter of marvel, as Susy was a maiden whom any man might have been proud to win.
 When the four o'clock train came in, Mir. Grainger, 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 spine complaint. Had she died while he was away? White as sheet, he turned to friend standing near saying:
 'sWhy do you look at me so? What is the matter. home?''
 My poor friend, have you heard noth- ingY'
 A choking sensation came over the lov- ing husband. but he struggled against 1t, saying:
 Quick, tell mel Is it Mary?"
 No. Mrs. Granger is as we'll as usual, l believe; but there is very sad story to break to you concerning your daughter. ;
 Wrath took the place of terror.
 My daughterp' cried the little man. furously. "Who dares carry stories about my daughter?''
 sWell-you-see. stammered his friend, st!le woman folks say she eloped thi, morning with Fred Seymour
 Fred Seymourl Why. he's head ovor