The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-20

met her cousin, chow could you tell
anybody what T told you about Mr..
Frank Williamsf I certainly thought
that in mentioning thing to you was
safe-I would no sooner have trusted it
to a dumb woman-what possessed you
Gel did not lexaehy tell it, " answered
Mrs. Wells, with crimson face, "or
rather, have no idea of betraying con-
fdence. Mrs. Douglass said something,
from which I had no doubt that Bhe
knew all about it, and answering her
with this idea, of course, very Innocent
ly, made in some measure the disclo-
sure, then concludsdit would be; more
prudent to tell her all and bind her to
secrecy" r., f-
(which she has3not kept, ., said, Mrs.
Fisher, "for she has told Mrs. Davis,
who has told the whole town, I suspect,
for everybody knows it, and it; is max
ing great deal of trouble"
II am very sorry" answered Mrs.
Wells. "What can doa Shall I go
and SEQ Mrs. DouglsssT .''
"Yes, by all means; put on your
things now, and then come to our house
and tell me what she says" replied her
cousin. ..stEs1AtIE
Mrs. Wells was a timid woman, and
it took her some time to broach the
subject.
"You remember what I tcld you
about Mr.. Williamsi" she said, at
length, in low, confused tone!
eyes" answered Mrs. Douglass, with
the most composed air in the world.
"Did you ever tell any one-Mrs.
Davis3" stammered poor Mrs. Wells,
feeling like the victim herself.
"Nol" answered Mrs. Douglass,
"Mrs. Davis told me-"
els it possible 4. SAID, her auditor, in
a delighted surprises. How did she hear
it2"
cit was the same story; it came from
Mrs. Lindsev," answered her friend.
"She told, Mrs. Allan, who, told Mrs.
Johnson, who told .Mrs. White, who told
Mrs. Davis, and she told me" go,
Indeed |" said Mrs. Wells, with an
astonished. expression Of countenance
peculiar to herself. {" .s."'Indeedi"&J
What racing and chasing was there
that livelong afternoon about that
affair" of Mr.. Frank Williams. What
oommotion in eight or ten feminine
hearts (married ones too) Of which he
was most unwittingly the cause. Pur-
pie, brown and stone colored cloaks
we're dodging each other in all direc-
tions, and after explanations and re.
explanations by scores, everybody shook
their hands free, of the matter, voting
that Mrs. Hindsey was the guilty person,
on whom retribution should fall. She
unfortunate woman) was sitting quietly
at home inspleasing ignorance ot,au this
commotion; when Mrs. Vernon, with q
peculiarly pursed-up expression of coun.
tenance, came in. Never since the
memory of man, or woman either, had
her friend and neighboF looked 80 Saw-
fully solemn and rigidly severe. Mrs.
Lindsey bad not heart or voice enough
to bid her " good-evening;" she merely
motioned her to q seat, and gazing
steadfastly at her, waited for her to
begin - ~ Z. =. AZ
II am surprised, Mrs. Lindsey;n at
length said the lady, cat yonr attacking
me with making public that story abont
Mr.. Williams, when you have uniformed
everybody else of it, as aass we'll asSmyself. |"
Still, Mrs. Lindsey said nothing; she
merely looked for further explanation. /.
"You told Mrs. Allan," said her com.
panion, in reply to the look, " and she
told Mrs. johnson, and .....,.-
"I told Mrs. Allan 2" gasped Mrs.
Lindsey, at length; " I never told any
one but YOU" .... - 4. ~
"What | not ono Sunday, coming
from church ?" A sudden light glanced
upon poor Mrs. Lindsey" -! 80" ~ ..
:" But did not tell her anything, "
answered she; "I merely limited at
something"
= "Well that is the amount Of it, "
said her friend; =, it is q hint at some
thing with all of us, and none of us
know what it means; and I, for my
part, am inclined to think the whole af-
fair is but child g nonsense, magpiaed
by very timid, nervous woman" S
And with this neighborly speech up
on her lips, Mrs. Vernon departed. This
was by no means the last of Mrs. Lind
sey's troubles that evening, for her lord
and master came home at nine o'clock
in a towering passion about the same
matter. It appeared that on being in
terrogated by Mr.. Frank Williams as to
the cause and occasion Of the ofense he
appeared to; have given people in gen
eral, his friend, MIR. Maxwell, had told
him that it was something which came
through Mrs. Lindsey, which she had
heard from her husband; and what the
something" was, she nor nobody else
knew. Convinced that there was some
mistake, for Mr.. Williams was not AFT to
suspect his friends, and Mr.. Lindsey he
knew was his friend, he fastened to that
gentleman and asked an explanation.
For q moment Mr.. Lindsey was be-
wildered; he was as ignorant as VIII
liams himself; but thought of Maggie
and his wife's supsicions on that even
ing flashed across him. 49, '.
"My dear fellow" he exclaimed. 81
am distressed that this has happened.
/ understand perfectly what it is !; all
nonsense-silly women, silly women"
And he raced home, leaving his audi-
tor,i If possible, more astonished than
he had found him. Mr.. Lindsey was
really furious, and his meditations on
the way home as to all Williams had
suffered in consequence of his wife's
gossip did not serve to calm his feelings.
"And so, my dear" said he, a. he
dashed into the room, "you've been
making a pretty dish for Yourself.
Mrs. Lindsey heard in silence, while
her spouse walked up and down the
room wondering how women came! to be
such fools and his wife such particular
one, and concluded by striding up to
his terrified nelpmate and asking her
"what he WIS to say to Mr.. Williams
for all her confounded nonsense
"Bnt he has done something dread
full; you know he has" she sobbed, at
length, by way Of palliation. -
"What Go you meant" said her hus-
band, sternly. j..
"You told Mr.. Day, YOURSELF" she
continued, in an agony Of tears. -.
{ eyes, + told him, replied her hus-
band, a"that Mr.; Rennett's silly daugh-
ter chose TO falfin love withsWilliams,
and as her fame evidently was not re-
turned, her father was very glad OF an
opportunity of getting him out Of the
way before the girl madea fool of her
self. This was confded to me- as aqse.
Ecret, which was tie reason T. did not tel]
7 YOU at the timer for r Know very well
what q secret ia in the hands of 9