The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06
'Ehc Myr,IcviiIe scandal.

1t commenced by Mrs. Sawyer's arrival
at Mrs Muflits early in the forenoon, evil
IDENTITY in a state Of great excitement and
full of news. With an air ofprofound mys-
terry, she drew Mrs MuGit from the wash
tub to the sitting room, and said to her:
'What do you think has happened?
Now Mrs Sawyer was well known in
Myrtleville as ''newso,' as one who lost no
opportunities of collecting the most reliable
and startling items of informntion regarding
the sayings and doings ofthe Myrtleyillians.
Accordingly Mrs MufIit prepared her mind
for tidings of moment.
What is itY' she asked, drying her hands
on her apron and settling !own in chair
for good talk.
you won't tell l told you?
Never
because it wasn't intended for me to hear.
just happened over to Mrs Seymours this
morning. and Mrs kitely was in there, and
the door stood open and couldn't but hear
what was said, you know, and
But what was it? cried Mrs. Aiufli:, as
Mrs Sawyer paused for breath
Fred Seymour AMI Belle Granger have
eloped."
'Elopedr
Mrs Seymour was just telling Mrs Kitcly
as | went in. As soon as they saw me COM
ing, they began to talk about the news in
the mornings paper; but you can't throw
me Off the track in that way
ooh, my goodness cried Mrs Muffit,
suddenly, as if some inspiration had seized
you've heard something too, cried the
widow.
NO, but saw Bell Granger early this
morning, quite early, passing by here, in
Al. 1 81, 81 gI,s, l.,l
| her travelling dress, and her waterproof
and carried her satchel'
Going to meet him on the eight o'clock
train. Oh, the sly, dcccitful thing! Think
of her poor father
And her sick mother. 1t is awful. And
everybody knows Fred Seymour is as good
as engaged to Susy Belknap.'
There I'll go right over to Belknap's,
cried Mrs Sawyer Somebody 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,
sowing. 1t was keen satisfaction to tell
the news there, for Mrs Bclknap being in
delicate health, and possessing ample means,
kept servant and lived in style of refine
ment that Myrtlcville generally condemned
as putting on airs" To take he.' "down
peg" as Mrs Sawyer mentally resolved to
do, was a vulgar triumph she enjoyed great
ly in anticipation. Mrs Bclknap, and her
daughter received the news in Il quiet way,
as if the gossip possessed no especial inter
est for them, asking no questions, and man
ifesting no chagrin. The story had grown
a little on its way through Mrs Mufiits sit
ting room, and Mrs Sawyer had now full
description nf the runaway brides costume
nj IA train enapifo1 ~ hiph tho
young couple travelled
But after Mrs Sawyer had gone to take
her news elsewhere, Susy turned very
pale face to her mother asking pitifully;
'Oh, mamma can it be trueT
Il will go over to Mrs Seymour's, dear
if you wish it,
Not for the world. If it is true, we mus
never let any one know how we feel it,
and her lips quivered. Fortunately, NJ
one knows we are actually engaged. iii
is not true
1T seems to come very direct said Mrs
Belknap, as she drew her daughter into
close motherly embrace. Mrs. Sawyer il
a terrible gossip and busybody, but l nevel
knew her to be guilty of absolute false
hood
Mrs Kitely is very intimate with Mrs
Seymour. l have heard Fred say they wer'
schoolmates. SO it is quite natural for he
to be telling Mrs. Ktely, and speak of some
thing else when Mrs. Sawyer went in.
Il can scarcely believe it of Fred sai'
Mrs. Belknap.
"Nor |. And Belle, too, has been m!
friend so long, and her only interest in Ere,
seemed to be his love for me. Oh mother
| can't believe it,
In the meantime the story was spreading
| 10, ltt1o harn
as it was repeated. Mrs. Gray had seel
Fred Seymour going in the direction of tn
depot at half-past seven, and it did no
seem to occur to the gossps that, as hi
business was in New York, this was sight o
daily occurrence. Another had Away
thought that Miss Grainger's quiet modes
manners covered a deceitiui heart. Som
pited Susy, some congratulated her upo
her escape. The young couple were dis
covered TO have every fault the magma
ton of their accusers could summon W
; and Mrs Bclknap and Mrs. Seymour shar
ed the odium and pity with Mrs. Grange
, who certainly should have attended NOR
strictly to the education of her daughter
f and given her more careful m1ral train
ing
? Every mother in Myrtlevlle was piousl
: thankful it was not her daughter who ha
so disgraced herself, and the daughters, a
n general rule, secretly wished they ha
had Miss Grainger's chance, for Fred Sey
mour was decidedly beau in Myrtleyille
and his mother was known to have prop
erty from her late husband that would max
the young man Independent when in tn
l courseof nature il reverted to him. He wa
engaged on one of the daily evening paper
OF the great metropolis, and considered tai
ented and upright, man who in time wou
make name and position Of honor. Iii
attention to Susy Belknap, though the fac
of their engagement had not yet been pub
lished, had been too marked to escape tn
notice of eyes so prying as those possesse,
{ by the good people of Myrtleville, and hi
, Inconsistency was a matter of marvel, a
Susy was a maiden whom any man nigh
have been proud TO win.
When the four o'clock train came in, MI
Granger, little, nervous man, all excit
J ability, was amazed at the sympathizin
, faces that greeted him on the platform.
child like death seized his heart. For year
his wife had been an invalid, suffering fror
spine complaint. Had she died while h
was away2 White as sheet, he turned I
a friend standing near saying
why do you look at me so? WHAT'S tn
matter at homer"
l MY poor friend, have you heard moth
) ingr
} A choking sensation came over the 10y
ing husband, but he struggled against il
saying
, Quick, tell me Is it Maryy