Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-29
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THE MYRrLEylLLE SCANDAL.
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choking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled against
il saying:
Quick, tell mel Is it Mary?"
mo. Mrs. Granger is AS we'll as usual
| believe; but there is very sad story 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 P''
"Well-you-see," stammered his
friend, "the women folks says she eloped
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
Lieutenant Weston Of the navy, though we
did not publish the fact for the benefit OF
the tattlers of Myrtleville.
II am afraid" was the reply. THAT 1t
was the fact of these engagements mat
drove them to secrecy and elopement.
Il tell YOU the whole story Is false!
roared the excited father. I'm make
these mischief makers eat their own
words Ny Belle, indeed! They must be
crazy"
But on his way home, Mr.. Granger met
the report in so many places, heard 1t IN
s1ch plausible versions, that he entered
his wite's roor, with a very grave face,
from which all angry excitement had van
i.hed
Where is Belle, Mary ?"
'.ohe went to New York this morning
to do some shopping. She will stay at
her Aunt Maria's tonight.
Did young Seymour go on the same
train ?''
II suppose so. He usually goes at eight
and that was the train that Belle took.
Mr.. Granger was on the point of telling
his wife the whole story, but on second
thought he restrained the impulse.
Sure in his own fatherly confidence in
his gentle, modest child, that there was
some mistake admitting explanation. he
said nothing. After all, it was subject
of congratulation that none OF the busy
bodies of Mvrtlevilla had invaded the sick
room, and he easily made some trivial et-
cuse for going out again. He was de-
termined to sift the gossip thoroughly be-
fore alarming the invalid, and his first visit
was to the telegraph office at the railway
station.
"Is Belle at your house ?" flashed over
the wires, and was carried to handsome
house in the city.
"Yes. viii be down on the next train
was the answer; for poor Belle imagined
that there was death or frightful illness, TO
cause her fathers message, when visit to
her Aunt's was such common occur
renee.
Satisfied on this point, Mr.. Granger
quietly waited until the train came in,
walked up Main street with his daughter
on his arm, and started out to defy all
Myrtleville.
From house to house he travelled with
exemplary patience, and followed the
snake-like coils of the story, till he faced
Mrs Sawyer, who earnestly assured him:
Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. kitely were in
the sitting room as l came in the back
way through the kitchen. They were
talking, and Just as got to the door, Mrs
Seymour told Mrs. Kitely that her son and
Belle Granger had eloped. They saw me
then. and Mrs. Seymour said very care
lessly:
Here are the morning papers, Mrs.
kitely, Just to change the conversation. :"
And you rushed off to carry the news
all over Myrtlcyile, said MIR. Granger.
well, thought it must be true, from
such an authority"
"Pshaw! YOU misunderstood what Was
said.''
Il tell you I heard her as plain as hear
YOU now"
Telling Mrs. Kitely her son and my
daughter had eloped? ?"
Yes, I'd swear it on my oath = said
Mrs. Sawyer. as if there were several
other ways OF swearing. it she chose to
take her choice.
Suppose you step over to Mrs. kitely's
with me.
We'll. will"
But to Mrs. Sawyer's discomfort, Mrs.
Kitely denied the story entirely. Mrs.
Seymour had never given her any such
information, either in confidence or other
wise-Mrs. Sawyer tcarfully persisted in
her story; and finally the trio went to Mrs.
Seymour's.
The hero OF our story was at home by
this time, ealing his supper when the Wis
itors entered.
1t was an awkward story TO tell, but il
was told ; and Mrs. Seymour face was :,
she picture OF Indignant surprise.
"Ii"-she cried-''I say my Fred ha |
rloped with Belle Granger. Why Mr..
sawyer, YOU surely must be dreaming :"
You said so. heard you,' sobbed
the widow.
You said distinctly, Belle Granger ran
away with my son this morning"
At this moment Mrs. Seymour burst in
- fit of uncomfortable laughter to the
great CONSERVATION of her audience. She
laughed till she was obliged to wipe the
Tears from her eyes; when catching sight
Of Mr.. Changers disturbed face she said,
with sudden gravity:
Pardon me, Mr. Granger, | see have
most innocently caused you serious an
noyance. The truth of the story is this:
Fred, as you know, has all the morning
papers sent to him on the early train, and
many OF the ueighbors come in to borrow
them. Mrs. kitely always likes to see the
sun, and | save il for her; but this morn
ing your daughter stopped on her way TO
ine depot for a paper to read as she rode
to the city. and took the Sun. When Mrs.
kilcly came for the papers, said to her,
Belle has run away with my Sun this