The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-11-05
Selert Story.
III 4 WISTAKE.

Mrs. AlVOrd said ut was snanle'
Mrs. Denton wondered how she dared
thns to impose upon people, while score
of mesdames and half a score OF MIR. dam
es. pratifed at somebody's version Of
something that did not happen, rolled
the tit-bit under and Off their tongues
with the gusto of gourmands.
II all happened in the quiet town of
Carlton, where the people mean to be,
and are. good and kind as the world goes.
bnt somehow mistakes will occur and
human nature is prone to ,accept. the
wrong version of things, and then II Is 50
"Put horns on the heads Of our friends
Put intrigues in the heads Of their wives"
ITO think" said Mrs Denton, that
Fanny Howard. the daughter of a con-
yicted felon, should come here to teach
our children, and put on such airs l
never liked the girl; | always thought
there was something wrong about her.
The brand of shame is plainly to be seen
behind her smiling face"
Mrs. Denton's ideas Ofright and wrong
hinged entirely upon what Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Tracy and Mrs. Williams might
think. and that social cOnclaye had al
ready convened and decided
'"As for me" said Mrs. Smith, 81 shall
never speak to her again. | shall take
BENNY from the school at once, and l
think we should ignore her entirely"
Mrs. Smith was the wife of that very
important functionary, the village jus
tice. The counterpart of her phlegmatiC
husband she was tall and angular, sharp
in feature and sharp in tongue. Hei
house, i'm the outskirts of the city, was
the rendezvous of that female-I had al
most said feline-inquest, which seems
TO pertain to small communities, God
in His goodness. had given her one child
the aforesaid Benny-as if thereby tC
soften the asperities Of her nature. What
she might have been without the gift, We
can only conjecture. 1t is therefore i'm
possible to estimate Just what part Ben
nv had played in the softening process.
Twelve months prior to the matters re
lated, Fanny HoHard had come to the
village of Carlton, in answer to an adyer
tisement for school teacher, bringing
letters and concentrations which haC
secured for her the place sought. Fol
one year Fanny had taught the schoO
with much satisfaction, her sweet face
and gentle ways had won the hearts o
the children, while her zeal and cOnsci
entious discharge of duties had won the
appreciation of the parents. As the las
quarter was drawing to close, a stran
ger, staying for night at the inn, haC
seen the schOol-mistress on the street
and upon being informed who she was
had replied 81 thought ! was not mista
ken; have seen her before her fathel
is in the States prison at N"
Upon all the invisible wires of sOcia
intercourse the news flew the very bird
of the air seemed to whisper it tina
concentrated battery of pent-up country
life expended its force in circulating thu
fact As Fanny passed, inquisitivt
groups gathered at the street corners,tht
women watched for her from the win
dows, the children even, silent and shy
seemed to avoid her. ....fl.li..
what can all this mean?" said Fam
hey eyes filling with unshed tears, an
the specter of pain haunting her face
"0h, that Mrs. Carlton was here; sh
would not desert me-"
Mrs. Carlton was the widow of the lat
Colonel Henry Carlton, after whom tn
town had been named. The Carlton es
tate extended over ten miles in ever
direction; its broad acres stretching fror
mountain to mountain, embracing tn
entire valley; its fOcks and herds fe
upon hundred hills. The family mar
sion was situated two miles from tn
town, in the midst of charming ground
beautifully planted and laid out. 1t wa
plain, substantial, comfortable hOm
with broad porches, wide halls, and an
pie rooms, wonderfully suggestive Of ho
pitality.
From the first, Mrs. Carlton had take
to Fanny frequent invitations had bee
extended for her to pass the weekly hOl
, days at "The Grange"-as the place WI
called-while Harry, the only son an
heir, a stout. manly young fellow oftwel
ty-fve, helped amazingly to make III
hours pass pleasantly; there were wall
and drives, and dinners and croquet pa
ties under the trees, and music and daI
cling in the moonlight. Now, alas Mr.
Carlton and Harry were absent, and OF
heroine, depressed by the weight of a
intangible something, wearily bore tn
new burden.
It was the last day of the term on tn
following monday, the LIST of May, was I
be held the annual picnic, AN old countr
tete, revived by Colonel Carlton for hi
people, as he was wont to call them. d.
lightful grounds in the hills, two mile
away, had been setapart for this purpos,
there were groves Of trees, plats Of gree
sward and charming bits Of scenery;
mountain stream came tumblng dow
from the hills in succession of water
falls, forming at their base a tiny lax,
where the fern and flowers seemed mos
to luxuriate.
The May-day sun broke bright an
clear, as it always does in this Arcadia
tinqng the mountain peaks with Grim
son and filling the valley With yello,
amber. There was an early and unwor
ted stir in the village and farm-hOuses
troops ofmerfy children were congrep
ted in the streets and lanes, happy
the birds which gave them greeting. v,
hicles Of all description were to be see
vending their way TO the grounds I.
bles had been spread, booths had bee