The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-06-29
The Gossip's Mistake.


said Miss Felicia Addertongue, sharp
ly. "Going to be fine lady, eh? Ant
L can remember the time when she
was barefooted girl, picking rasp
berries in her fathers field"
'She has grown up very pretty, said
gentle Widow Markham i'm her quie
an easy way.
Engaged to young Hazel, is she ?
replied Miss Addertongue, with .
vicious look in her coal-black eyes
Il can put a spoke in her wheel,
think. Tall young chap, amt hewitt
black hair curling close to his head
and moustache as black as ink p
Yes said wondering Mrs. Mark
ham, Il didn't know you knew him.
20, l know him. SAID Miss Adder
tongue with toss of her head, and
know one or two things about hin
that Millville society didn't seem to b,
up in.'
You don't say so p said the widow
curiously.
Il do say so, and / mean it. Yor
see, Mrs. Markham, have ways and
means of getting behind the scenes
that no one else has. My sister, Phoebe
Ann. that married Slatterly, and was
left a widow six years ago come next
July, she's housekeeper at the H
Hotel. And was visiting her there
last month, ard that's how 1 came to
see Mr.. Hazel.'
'Myv CALCULATED the widow.
with my own eyes, said Miss Ad-
dertongue. rolling up those organs un-
til there was some danger Of their re-
firing altogether in her head. Harold
Hazel, tall and dark, and always full
of fun?'
Exactly cried Mrs. Markham.
'He was there, 'rema rk ed Miss Felicia,
with his wife,
'His wife!' echoed Mrs. Markham.
1t can't be possible!'
But it is, though asserted Miss
Felicia, with gloomy relish. Il saw
EN- myself. / heard him introduce
1er as Mrs. Hazel and tell somebody
Is how she saw great heiress, Old
,r than him, but still not what you'd
:all an old maid, though of course he
married. her for her money. No kind
If doubt about that. Such diamonds
Is she wore-and such silk gowns and
'verskirts of point lace as you might
cover over with bank notes, and still
lot come up to its value.
But cried out bewildered Mrs.
'he's engaged to JulietReed,
or have seen the engagement ring
she wears
'And he's married to the black eyed
ady,' said Miss Addertongue, with
equal emphasis, because / saw the
ring
'Then what does he mean by max
ng love to Farmer Reeds daughter p
Indignantly cried Mrs. Markham.
'Humph!' said Miss Felicia, pursing
up her lips viciously. That's ques-
ion 1 can't pretend to answer. What
10 men mean generally by their
pranks? Just to have little fun, l
suppose, and amuse themselves for the
lime being.
Its cruel, wicked thing said Mrs.
Markham "and Juliet is such pref
ty girl
Tastes differ said Miss Adder
tongue. "For my part, never fan
cied them big, blue eyes, and hair as
looks as if it had been bleached. Juliet
Reed always did feel above the rest of
the Millville folks
Some one ought to tell her. said
Mrs. Markham.
'Of course they ought said Miss
Il couldn't do it, said the gentle
hearted widow.
Il could said Miss Addertongue. Il
IAN mostly do anything when feel it
% be my ChflStlan duty.
Pretty Juliet Reed was sewing in
he cool porch, where the shadows Of
he great elmtrees made a green oasis
n the desert of sunshine around the
quaint, one-storied farm house. She
grew pale as death as Miss Adder
.ongue unfolded her tale.
Harold married y she cried. 'Har-
Did with another wife! do not be-
ieve it. 1t is false
q saw her with my own eyes, said
Miss Felicia, secretly enjoying Juliet's
lgonized terror. "A great heiress-
md of course man will strike for
But it must be mistake persisted
Juliet, the color coming and going on
her face like rosy Aurora Borealis.
sAlas!' groaned Miss Addertongue,
1T is but too true. Ofcourse it is a
great disappointment to you, Juliet
Reed, but maybe it's meant by ALL
wise Providence as a lesson to lower
your pride and teach you that we're
all poor worms, and
Miss Addertonguc,' said Juliet,
drawing herself up, and fixing her
blue eyes with dignity on the malici-
Gus old gossip, pray be silent. 1t is
not your place to preach discourse
to me, nor dictate in matters which
pertain to me alone. Will you ex.
cuse me if 1 ask you to leave me p
%, certainly, certainly said Miss
Addertongue, rather disconcerted. bu