The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-16

should write and inquire particulars, Wv
hikes to slit doubt But, dear me. ~ ho'va
anSweres question Oh P"P
to wait her return .,r,,,. ,,,o h,ioo
,ci,tv and Mrs Grey's private boarding
Iorsoy y,s the center of much social enjoy
MAN., Mrs Athcrton found awaiting hel
,ro, srmn,tbetic welcome which only well
brrd Heonl, are ready to oiler stranger
Even had her antecedents been less establish
cd the graceful and sprightly little woman
would have won her way unaided. Inc re-
snlt proved that the last conner to Mrs Grey
table was social success.
Mrs. Linn and Miss Harris were most Ia
vorably impressed, and once, as she comment
ed on Mrs, Atherton, the former exclaimed
/ "Wbat was my sister Lu thinking OF! !
see no peculiarly about her, except the uh
usual one of being very agreeable
One day, weeks after Mrs. Anterior hau
become entirely domestcated, Mrs. Grey was
entertaining a cousin from the next town, ana
as they asked and answered friendly ques'
lions, the cousin remarked:
"You have Judge Atherton's wife for
boarder?'
A slipht infection of her voice caused Mrs
GREY TO look up as she replied warmly;
"Ycs; YOU never came across q sWeeter
woman 7 wonder that her husband can be
copienled on the other side OF the water!'
"Did you make inquiries about her before
she came 10 Eastman? Do you understand
that her marriage was happy one
Now, Della what do you mean = Mrs
Crews face was flushed and worried ~ gu
can't have been told stories about one oil my
family" ,.
Rnallv | cOuklupr
YOU unwarrantably sensitive. AS for the case
| IN hand. "A person from Eastman told me that
there was talk about Mrs. Anterior before she
left school,"
"Nobody accused her of being tool that
am positive And lady she could not
help being, unless her nature undergoes
revolution"
Honestly" confessed the cousin, II have
no suspicion of any definite charge But
this dressmaker has been informed, very d.
rectly. that there is something queer about
the woman, and, taken in connection win
her husbands absence and her choosing to
board away from home, | should be rather
suspicious"
~ am not suspicious" Mrs. Grey cried
ho,ly. "What dreadful world we live in,
and how unkind it is Of you, Della, to tell
me such reports! No; | take that back.
Your motive was good; but what shall doF
EVIL spirits are more easily reused than
lau, as experience proves, ana before we can
fire from heaven to consume the unjust II Is
desirable to establish the point as to who the
unjust are.
Mrs. GREY moved about with heavy heart
and a clouded brow. She was sorely per
picked in regard to her duty, and shrank
from admitting the necessity OF setting IN
oury on foot Meanwhile, Eastman was
stirred with rnmOrs, and Mrs Atherton, who
perceived no diminuitlon OF respect ana III,
teres. among her aCQuaintances, was touched
by that sensitive magnetism which warns
sensitive spirit of danger. There was no tan
gible evidence that her vague fears were other
than baseless. Only-she was watched IN
stinct tells of such surveillance. Gong out
and coming in, at table, in the drawingrooms,
eyes were upon her whose expression was
that of curiosity, In vain the clew to tins
mystery was sought, but cloud settled
about this sunny being, and Rumor ADDED
the item to the Increasing list Mrs. Atherton
is very unhappy"
Neither Mrs. Linn nor Miss Harris had
joined the gossip, and each wondered what
had given rise thereto, neither sGpposiDg that
the harvest had grown from seed dropped
during morning call. 1t CHANGED, however,
that a young sewing girl occupying an ad.
Joining ROOM had overheard portion OF
that careless chat, and gathered only the con.
clusion that Mrs. Anterior was dreadful
queer This she naturally desired to com
municate, and at every turn the story grew,
until Eastman was credibly informed that
Mrs. Atherton was not only not living with
her husband, but that her unhappy temper
was the cause of her separation.
When Mrs Grey shrinking in every nerve,
laid before her favorite boarder the painful
circumstances of which she could be no lon
ger kept in ignorance, the two good women
cried together.
81 never believed a word, but how was | to
know my ground ?" asked the elder, and the
accused replied
"Mv husband is in Europe. | have left
large family circle behind me for the benefit
of entire change and rest. Whether | am
queer or not he Is likely to be informed, but
his business abroad was to bring home an in
valid mother who is afraid to trayel without
him, and | am deadly seasick on the water,
so prefer remaining on the dry land. Can
you Imagine what created this fearfully un.
Just theory in regard to my aiairs?"
No, Mrs. Grey was in utter darkness, ana
with much regret on either side the landlady
and her boarder parted. Explanations were
but Mrs. Anterior, wounded and indignant,
shook the dust of Eastman from her feet be.
fore the return of her husband.
| Some months subsequent TO these events,
when tongues had ceased TO busy themselves
over an old tale, Mrs. Inns sister arrived
! from Liverpool steamer. She was a breezy,
good-natured body and In reply to query,
What do you think of Mary Earl, Mrs.
Alherton that is?'
She exclaimed THE grandest girl in our
set, bur how she dressed in those days." Miss
Lu was obliged 10 indulgc in loud laugh
before she continued. Mary was under the
care of an antique aunt who made her wear
such duds. The summer we graduated this
relative presented her with bonnet which
Mrs. Noah would have thrown overheard,
and Mary wore it because she would not
hurt the old lady's feelings. | always said
she must be queer TO do such things!'
PAnd was there nothing queer about your
: cr;pnd hut her style of Cluthiury" incurred