Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-10-20


not move an inch to keep out OF her
way"
II have not. your frmness. L wish l
had. 1t was only yesterday that l crossed
the street to keep from meeting her face
to face"
"You were wrong"
81 can't help it. 1t is my weakness.
Three times already have I put myself
out to avoid her; and if could frame
any goo excuse for staying away from
this party I certainly should do so. l
would give anything for Il good sick head
ache on Tuesday next !"
II am really ashamed of you, Ellen l
thought you more OF a woman" said Mr..
Jones.
The night of the party at length came
round. During the whole day preceding
it, Mrs. Jones could think of nothing but
the unpleasant feelings she would have
upon meeting with Mrs. Todd, and her
s'heart was in her mouth" all the time
She wished a dozen time that it would
rain. But her wishes awaited nothing.
Not cloud to be seen in the clear blue
armament from morning until evening.
"Oh, if I only had some good excuse for
staying at home ~ she said, over and over
again, but no good excuse offered.
Mr.. Jones saw that his wife was in a
very unhappy state Of mind, and tried his
best to cheer her, but with little good eff
feet.
cit is no use to talk to me, can't help
it," she replied to his remonstrance, in a
! husky voice. II am neither stock nor
a stone.''
s'There's Mrs. JONES'" said one friend to
another, Oh seeing the lady they named en-
ter Mrs. IS well filed parlors.
"Where is Mrs. Todd" asked the lady
addressed.
"Sure enough! where is she 20 replied
the other. ooh, there she is in the other
room. wonder why it is that she does
not speak to Mrs. Jones'"
s'No one knows"
"It's very strange"
"I'n tell you what I've heard"
"What ?''
''That she's jealous of Mrs. JONES'"
ridiculous %
"Isn't it ?''
II don't believe word of it.''
"Nor I. I only told you what L had
heard.''
"There must be some other reason.''
sAnd doubtless ISL
Meantime Mrs. Jones found a seat in a
corner. where she ensconced herself, with
the determination of keeping her place
/ during the evening, that she might avoid
the unpleasantness of coming in contact
with Mrs. Todd. All this, of course, was
very weak in Mrs. Jones; but she had no
independent strength of character, il must
be owned.
| ssPoor Mrs. Jones! How cut down she
looks" remarked lady who knew all
about the trouble that existed. 81 really
feel sorry for her."
.sShe takes it a great deal too much to
heart" was the reply. "Mrs. Todd might
refuse to speak to me dozen times if she
liked, wouldn't break my heart. But
where is she p
''In the other room, as gay and lively as
ever saw her. See, there she is!''
eyes, I see her. Hark! You can hear
her laugh to here. must say don t like
it. don't believe she has any heart. She
must know that Mrs. Jones is hurt at
what she has done."
| ssOf course she does, and her manner is
meant to insult her."
Seeing the disturbed and depressed
state of Mrs. Jones' mind, two or three of
her friends held consultation on the SUBJ
ject, and finally agreed that they would
ask Mrs. Todd, who seemed purposely to
avoid Mrs. Jones. why she acted toward
her as she did. But before they could find
an opportunity of doing so, a messenger
came to say that one of Mrs. Todd's chill
dren had been taken suddenly i'll. The
lady withdrew Immediately.
| Mrs. Jones breathed more freely on learn
ing that Mrs. Todd had gone home. Soon
after, she emerged from her place in the
corner, and mingled with the company du-
ring the rest Of the evening.
On the following morning, three ladies.
personal friends of Mrs. Todd, met by APP
pointment, and entered into grave consul
tation. They had undertaken to find out
The cause of offense that had occurred of
so serious a character as to lead Mrs. Todd
to adopt SO rigid course toward Mrs.
Jones, and if possible to reconcile matters.
s;The sickness of her child will be good
excuse for us to call upon her," said one.
eff he is better, we can introduce the mat
ter judiciously.''
II wonder how she will take it % sug-
gested another.
''Kindly, hope" remarked the third.
ssSuppose she does not 20
"We have done our duty"
TRUE And that consciousness ought
to be enough for us.''
s'She is a very proud woman, and my
fear is that, having taken an open and de-
cided stand, she will yield to neither argu-
ment nor persuasion. Last night she over
acted her part. While she carefully avoid
ed coming in contact with Mrs. Jones, she
was often near her, and on such occasions
talked and laughed louder than at any
other time. 1 thought, once or twice, that
there was something of malice exhibited
in her conduct"
To this one of the three assented. But
the others thought differently. After
some other discussion, and an Intellectual
attempt to decide which of them should
open the matter to Mrs. Todd, the ladies
sailed forth on their errand of peace.
They found Mrs. Todd at home, who re-
, ceiyed them in her usual agreeable man~
ner.
elbow is your little boy % was the first
| o,oc+ion after the first sa1utations were