Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-02-24

| NOO''~'''''N'V,/ y WV '''SV "r'"'J
So, hardly one of the industrious in
habitants of Myrtledale had yet learn
ed to exercise that ennobling christian
charity which induces one to think nc
evil to Judge not, etc. Nor yet had they
become susceptible to the logic of thai
law which holds a person charged
with ofense innocent until proved
guilty. For people seldom stop to
and certainly the Myrtledallians did
not, who found here the very oppor-
tunity for which they had so long
waited in patience. They "would
now teach Mrs. Florence Brown a
lesson which she should profit by"
For time the victim of these cruel
rumors together with her husband re-
mained in blissful ignorance of their
existence tho she noticed that when
she appeared in public her acqualn-
tances seemed to cast cold, suspicious
and reproachful glances at her, yet
she was at loss to imagine what it
al signified ; ard rejecting upon it
subsequently she finally concluded
that it had been the result other mag
nation, and that. her impressions
were entitled to no further considera-
ton,
DR.. Brown, however, soon heard
sufficient to convince him that his
wifes good name had through some
means become prey to the scandal
mongers, and he determined to ferret
the matter out with which resolve
he forthwith went to work, and soon
had so far succeeded as to have traced
the stories to the post Office ''depart-
ment,' which he also made his next
objective point of enquiries. The
postmistress, having essayed at first to
shift the responsibility from her own
shoulders-so to speak-by evasive
replies, finally, finding herself unsuc-
ccssful therein, told him all the Cir
cumstances as before set forth in our
narrative. He was at first staggered
by this seeming evidence of his wife's
guilt. What could it all mean? He
had ever believed her to be the very
embodiment Of virtue, fidelity and
purity. He weighed the matter in his
mind for moment, and then, in evil
dent distrust Of the postmistress's re-
cital, he gave her to understand that
he regarded her as either a fit subject
for lunatic asylum or the tabricator
of a base story, probably concocted
out of sheer malice or envy and hav-
ing requested her to mind her own
business in the future and not to trOu
ble herself concerning his wife's affairs
he repaired to his office and soon lost
sight OF the whole matter, having de-
cided that the foolish umors would
soon spend themselves if let alone,
and only bring disgrace and oppro-
brium upon those who had interested
themselves in preparing and circu
lating them. AT the supper table that
afternoon Florence seemed in unus.
ually buoyant spirits, AND a curious
twinkle played in her lustrious eye,
which was noted by the husband, but
which he did not then interpret to be
the result Of guilt, or to have been the
direct inspiration Of knowledge which
she had that day received through a
communication from a secret cores
pondent, in which communication, as
will be seen hereafter, was the unmis-
taxable evidence of the consumma-
ton of a deliberate plot, concocted by
the mutual efforts of Florence and the
secret correspondent.
All little did,that fond, guiltless,
confiding husband who had rejected
with proud contempt the story of the
postmistress little did he imagine
what was in store for him little could
he foresee the painful phases through
which his feelings were to pass in a
few brief hours {! how rude and severe
q shock his devotion to that woman
whom he now so fondly loved, so fully
trusted, was destined to sustain.
Early in the following evening
Florence threw on her cloak and hat,
came to her husband, threw her arms
round his neck and after the usual ca
ress and endearing terms, impaired to
him the information that she had an
engagement with a very dear friend
that evening, and should be absent an
hour or more. AS she was passing
out at the door u letter fell from her
cloak pocket, unnoticed by herself.
The Dir. picked the letter up after she
had disappeared. Examining the en-
yelope he found it to be addressed, in