The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-09-17

the evening the men came to tea, and
then the gossip waxcd hotter than ever.
Mrs. Jones was debating with Mrs.
Plunkett as to whether Mrs. Marsh
ought to accept his support of the child
after they separated or not. Mrs. Jones
held that she ought to he too independ-
ent to do that, and was laying down the
argument in a very convincing and logi-
cal way. Mr.. Plunkett was relating to a
knot of men, who "thought women
might be in better business than talkin'
about their neighbors," the circumstance
which had given rise to this scandalous
state of affairs, and felt himself to be
quite hcro-whcn all ut once came a
knock at the door and, on Mr.. Thomp-
sons opening it, in came Mr.. and Mrs.
Marsh and Mary Ann Brown!
A bomb-shcll-thc smile isn't original
would have caused no greater excite
mcnt and dismay if it had dropped
among them. Mr.. Thompson's efforts to
be polite and ask after their health were
signal failures. Mr.. Marsh couldn't help
laughing at the panic-strickcn faces be-
fore him.
"No, thank you," he said, declining
the proflercd chair. 1--WE won't stop to
sit down. knew that most of the Cos
sips and scandal mongers Of the neigh
borhood would be here [great scnsationl,
and so took the opportunity of calling
to make little explanation, which never
would have been made if it had not been
for Miss Brown, whose name has been
mixed up with some disgraccful reports
which you worthy people have circulated
in an emincntly Christian way. More
sensation. 1t has been told all over
town that Mr.. Plunkctt saw nc kissing
our hired girl. Mr.. Plunkctt, like the
low principlcd, insignificant person that
he is tremendous sensation instead of
waiting to find out whether there was
any foundation for such belief or not,
ut once told it for an actual fact"
AN did see you kiss her, too" said
Mr.. Plunkctt, family, with very rcd
face.
NO, you didn't, neither" exclaimed
Miss Mary Ann Brown. "You never see
any such thing. went home that very
mornin,' an took Miss Marsh's little
girl with me, an l didn't come back till
Monday, an because you'd got to hcv
some scandal an battle again, or bust,
you told that you see him kissin' me,
when twas his own wife he kissed. It's
Il purity piece o bisncss if man can't
kiss his own wife 'thout the hull neigh
borhood's maxim a fuss over it. should
think you'd he ashamed o ycrsclvcs, the
hull mess of yc"
But l MouyM twas you, any way"
said Mr.. Plunkctt, looking as if he could
crawl through very small hole.
"TNought twas me" exclaimed Miss
Brown, scornfully. "What bisncss had
you to tell that it ,ras me if you didn't
kno.r? l wish to gracious l could have
you took up for SANDER, every one of yc.
It'd learn you to mind your own bisncss
next time. You've told lies enough in
the last week to sink Il hull neighbour
hood. Every one that's been to Mr..
Marsh's has told some new story you'd
got started. never was SO mad in my
ife-ncver! I'd jest like to hcv Mr..
Plunkett or any other man say he see a
nan a kissin' me that hadn't any bis
less to-"
Il was mistaken" said Mr.. Plunkctt,
neekly: thought"
Don't make any difference what you |
hought," rctorted the iratc dansel. |
; S'long's you didn't hno,e twas me you'd |
40 bisncss to say anything about it. If
he folks in this neighborhood could
mind their bisne>s it d be blcssin' to
EN-; but they couldn't. They've got to
ncddle, and poke, and pry, an they jest |
rs licves stretch the truth as not, if they |
DC church members. If the devil don't |
eel ticklcd over some O yer work miss |
ny guess. But jest want you, / don't |
:are who, to say he see Miss Marsh's |
nan kissin' me! Jest try it, if you
links best. I'll make you lrore it or
smart for it, one or t'othcr."
IL think you will do we'll to take Miss |
Browns advice" said Mr.. Marsh. |
Think whether you can prove what |
'Ou tell before you tell it. And now |
rood evening" and the trio bowed them
elves out of as discounted group rs
me usually comes across.
Poor Plunkctt! He is more careful
bout making such mistakes now, but he
asn't got over his love for gossip. He's
S bad rs other men in that rcspcct.-
iuru! Ner Yorker.