The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-10

dear, if you wish it. =
ssNot for the world. IF it is true, we
must never let any one know how we
feel it, and her lips quivered. 'Fortu-
nately no one knows we are actually en-
gagged. IF it istrue-''
cit seems to come very direct" said
Mrs. Belknap as she drew her daughter
into a close motherly embrace. "Mrs.
Sawyer is terrible gossip and busy
body, but I never knew her to be guilty
Of an absolute falsehood.'
s'AIrs. 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 speaking Of something else when
Mrs. Sawyer went IN. -
Il can scarcely believe it Of Fred, .
said Mrs. Bell1nap.
'sNor I. And Belle, too, has been my
friend so long, and her only interest in
Fred seemed to be his love for me. Oh,
mother, 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 Gray had seen Fred Sey-
mour going to the direction Of the de-
pot at half-past seven, and it did not oc-
cur to the gossips that, as his business
was in New York, this was a sight Of
daily occurrence. Another had always
thought that Miss Changers modest
manners covered d deceitful heart.
Some pitied Susy, and .some congratu-
lated her upon her escape. The young
people were discovered to have every
| fault the imagination of their accusers
could summon up, and Mrs. Belknap
and Mrs. Seymour shared the odium
and pity with Mrs. Granger, who GER
tainlY should have attended more strict
" to the education of her daughter, and
given her more careful training.
Every mother in Myrtheville was
piously thankful that it was not her
daughter who hsd so disgraced herself;
and the daughters, as a general rule,
secretly wished they had Miss Changers
chance, for Fred Seymour was beau in
| Mvrtleville, and his mother was known
| to have a property from her late hus-
band that would make the young man
Independent when in course Of nature it
reverted to him. He was engaged on
one of the daily evening papers Of the
| great metropolis, and considered talent
ed and upright, a man who in time
would make position Of honor. His
attention 10 Susy 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
| Myrtleyillel and his INCONSISTENCY was a
matter Of marvel, as Susy was maiden
! whom any man might have been proud
| to win.
| When the four o'clock train came in
Mr. Granger, a little, nervous man, all ex-
citability, was amazed at the sympathiz-
ing faces that greeted him on the plat
form. A chill like death seized his
heart For years his wife had been an
invalid, suffering from spinal complaint.
Had she died while he was away? White
as a sheet he turned to a friend stand
ing near, saying:
"Why do you look at me so What
is the matter at home?''
s'My poor friend, have you heard no
thing?"
| A choking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled against
it, saying:
'sQuick, tell ne! Is it Mary?''
| s.No. Mrs Granger is as well as us
ual, / believe; but there is very sad
thing to break to you regarding your
daughter"
Wrath took the place of terror.
MY daughter cried the little man,
furiously. "Who dares carry stories
about my daughter ?"
"Well-you-see," stammered his
friend, ''the women folks says she elop-
ed this morning with Fred Seymour
''Fred Seymour! Why, he's head
over ears in love with Susy Belknap.
My Belle! Why, she's been engaged
for two years to Lieut.. Weston, of the
navy, though we did not publish the
/ fact for the benefit Of the tattlers of
Myrtleville.
Il an afraid, was the reply, ''that it
was the fact of the engagements that
drove them to secrecy and elopement %
81 tell you the whole story is false !''
roared the excited father. ''Ill make
these Observation-Disclosures eat their own
words. My Belle, indeed! They must